16. The Future Paradigm
The future paradigm is based upon the progressive.
It is apparently formed by adding a prefix di- to the
progressive forms. The resulting combinations, however, are irregular and cannot be explained
in terms of the present day languages.
| Person |
Chiricahua |
Mescalero |
| Sg. 1 |
doosh- |
doosh- |
| Sg. 2 |
dóó- |
dóͅóͅ- |
| Sg. 3 |
da- |
da- |
| Sg. 3a |
jida- |
ch'ida- |
| Place |
goda- |
goda- |
| Indef. |
'ida- |
'ida- |
| Du. 1 |
doo[d]- |
d oͅoͅ [d]- |
| Du. 1 |
hah- |
hah- |
The future is the only obligatory tense form in
Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache. All other tense variations are expressed periphrastically by
means of enclitics [see number 20].
