315 A LÍNGUA BANTU ANGOLANA MBWELA (K17) E A BUSCA ETIMOLÓGICA... CAPE VERDEAN TA IN ITS ROLE AS A PROGRESSIVE ASPECT MARKER Bart Jacobs Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München bart.jacobs@lipp.lmu.de Abstract: Abstract: Abstract: Abstract: Abstract: This paper deals with the aspectual properties of the preverbal marker ta as used in Cape Verdean Creole (CV). It will be argued that, counter to what is generally held in the literature, CV ta marks not only habitual but also progressive aspect, most notably in gerundive complement clauses, but also in periphrastic progressive markers found throughout the CV dialect cluster. An added aim is to show that, as a progressive marker, CV ta behaves remarkably similar to its Papiamentu (PA) cognate ta, whose status as a general imperfective marker ([+ha- bitual, +progressive]) is widely recognized. This way, Maurer’s (2009) claim that the aspect markers CV ta and PA ta are qualitatively different is proven to be invalid. Keywor eywor eywor eywor eywords: ds: ds: ds: ds: Cape Verdean Creole, Papiamentu, progressive aspect. 1. Intr 1. Intr 1. Intr 1. Intr 1. Introduction oduction oduction oduction oduction 1 This paper reassesses the aspectual properties of the preverbal marker ta as used in Cape Verdean Creole (CV) 2 . It will be argued that, counter to 1 I am grateful to Dominika Swolkien, Incanha Intumbo, Octavio Fontes, Bernardino Tavares, Gabriel Antunes de Araujo, Noël Bernard Biagui, and Nicolas Quint for valuable comments, suggestions and personal communications. Any shortcomings are solely my responsibility. 2 CV is spoken on the Cape Verde Islands, situated off the coast of Senegal. Within the CV dialect cluster, a rough distinction must be made between the varieties of Barlavento and Sotavento. Though the standard non-rural varieties of these two branches are largely mutually intelligible, there are some important differences between them that also concern the TMA system (discussed e.g. in Pereira 2000, Bartens 2000, Veiga 2000, Quint 2000b, Holm & Swolkien 2006). In the present PAPIA 21(2), p. 315-334, 2011. ISSN 0103-9415 Papia 21.2.pmd 24/2/2011, 16:19 315