An Analysis of Tense and Aspect Systems in Ikihehe: A Case of Affirmative and Negative Constructions

This study examines the morphosyntactic properties of the Tense and Aspect systems (henceforth T/A) in Ikihehe. Although some scholars have sketchily discussed it, to date there is no sizable, detailed, typological or truly in-depth study of T/A in Ikihehe. In this endeavour, the study documents the morphological forms which mark T/A appearing in verbs in affirmative and negative constructions. In achieving the study objectives, two temporal theories were applied in the analysis, namely, Reinchebach’s linear model, which was supplemented by Guillaumean cognitive model. The primary data for this study was collected from Iringa district in Tanzania. The study relied much on synchronic observation, whereby information was collected through questionnaires, interviews, tape recording, text analysis and focus group discussions.