(Im)perfectivity and actionality in East Ruvu Bantu

Abstract Temporal/aspectual morphology often serves as a diagnostic for actional classes. Bantu languages are known their highly developed tense, aspect (and mood) systems. The East Ruvu of Tanzania unusual in that they exhibit decidedly reduced set temporal/aspectual morphemes. This paper contributes to the growing body research on actionality showing despite not being encoded overtly, perfective distinguishes between at least two We suggest, however, imperfective, morphologically by present and non-past tense morphology, does clearly delineate verb discussion highlights complex interaction aspect.