diigis

Navajo

Etymology

di- (inceptive) + -yi- (transitional) + ∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -d- (classifier) + -gis (neuter perfective stem of root -GIZ, “to twist”).

Verb

diigis

1. he/she/it is stupid
2. he/she/it is clumsy
3. first-person duoplural imperfective of diigis

Usage notes

This is a neuter verb that uses only the yii-perfective mode.

Conjugation

Paradigm: Neuter perfective (yii).

perfective	singular	duoplural	plural
1st person	diisgis	diigis	dadiigis
2nd person	dinigis	doohgis	dadoohgis
3rd person	diigis		dadiigis
4th person	jidiigis		dazhdiigis

Note: This verb has been variously described by Young (1987) as a ∅-classifier/yii-imperfective, and Young (1992) as a ∅-classifier/yii-perfective.

It is here rather described as a d-classifier/yii-perfective, which is the only combination that accounts for both the -iis ending in the 1sg (as per the d-classifier; the ∅- classifier would give -ii) and the -ini ending in the 2sg (as per the yii-perfective; the yii-imperfective would give -ii).