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The Distribution and Role of the Verb Clitic =a/a=in Different Balochi Dialects

This study investigates the distribution and role of the verb clitic =a/a= in a variety of Balochi dialects. We summarize earlier findings, argue for the interpretation of this morpheme as a clitic, and present new data for four Balochi dialects spoken in Iran. In these four dialects, the verb clitic is variously consistently proclitic (one dialect), restricted proclitic (two dialects), and restricted enclitic (one dialect). We also find that there is a stronger tendency for enclitic attachment of the verb clitic =a/a= the further eastwards a certain Balochi dialect is spoken. The basic semantic component of the verb clitic =a/a= is one of imperfectivity, and it is used with the non-past indicative and the past imperfective indicative verb forms. It can be linked to the homophonous verb clitic found in several other Western Iranian languages.