The Verb in Bilin

This paper is a study of the verbal forms of Bilin, 1 which is spoken in and around the town of Keren in Eritrea. Bilin is usually regarded as one of the dialects of the Cushitic language of Agau, 2 but it differs considerably from the Agau dialects of Ethiopia proper, and, while undoubtedly to be classified as Cushitic, has much phonological, and a little morphological affinity with the neighbouring Semitic languages of Tigre and Tigrinya. Research was undertaken in the field in 1952–3; several informants were employed, but much of the material was provided from the speech of one man, Teclamaryam Tecruray, and all the material presented here was verified as valid for his speech.