How does the Dani language use verb forms to show likelihood or possibility?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Papuan languages Map of the languages found on the Doberai Peninsula of New Guinea.

In the Dani language, which belongs to the Trans-New Guinea family, verb inflection is used to express mood, specifically to indicate whether an action is likely or possible. This is achieved by transforming the base verb form.1

For example, the verb wathi, meaning "I killed him," can be modified through inflection to convey different degrees of certainty:1

Likelihood: The form wasik is used to express "I will likely kill him."
Possibility: The form waʔle is used to express "I may possibly kill him."