Chapter 2. Locative expressions and their semantic extensions in Tima
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Gerrit J. Dimmendaal
Abstract
Tima (Niger-Congo, Sudan), has three copulae playing a central role in locative expressions. The number-sensitive copulae, ŋ̀kɔ́ ‘cop:sg’ and ɲ̀cɛ́ ‘cop:pl’, primarily link two non-verbal phrases. The third copula, ŋ̀kwíyʌ̀ ‘cop’, indicates existence or availability. We discuss the distribution of these copulae in their core functions, in their extended uses as tense-aspect markers and consecutive marker, thereby illustrating instances of heterosemy, as well as their relation to focus marking.
Furthermore, five positional verbs play a role in locative expressions: hɘ́làk ‘stay, remain, reside’, hʊ̀ndɔ́nɔ́/hɘ̀ndáná ‘sit (down)’, dʊ́wà ‘stand (up)’, (k)ʌ́t̪ù ‘lie (down)’, and túùh ‘hang (up) (plur)’. The broad use of these verbs is also investigated, particularly in combination with specifying adverbs in order to describe collocational probabilities and restrictions.
Abstract
Tima (Niger-Congo, Sudan), has three copulae playing a central role in locative expressions. The number-sensitive copulae, ŋ̀kɔ́ ‘cop:sg’ and ɲ̀cɛ́ ‘cop:pl’, primarily link two non-verbal phrases. The third copula, ŋ̀kwíyʌ̀ ‘cop’, indicates existence or availability. We discuss the distribution of these copulae in their core functions, in their extended uses as tense-aspect markers and consecutive marker, thereby illustrating instances of heterosemy, as well as their relation to focus marking.
Furthermore, five positional verbs play a role in locative expressions: hɘ́làk ‘stay, remain, reside’, hʊ̀ndɔ́nɔ́/hɘ̀ndáná ‘sit (down)’, dʊ́wà ‘stand (up)’, (k)ʌ́t̪ù ‘lie (down)’, and túùh ‘hang (up) (plur)’. The broad use of these verbs is also investigated, particularly in combination with specifying adverbs in order to describe collocational probabilities and restrictions.
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Foreword ix
- Introduction 1
-
Section 1. Fieldwork
- Chapter 1. Linguistic fieldwork as team science 20
-
Section 2. Locative predication
- Chapter 2. Locative expressions and their semantic extensions in Tima 44
- Chapter 3. A comparative study of the basic locative construction in Gurenɛ, Asante-Twi, and Tongugbe 74
- Chapter 4. Adposition classes in Tafi and Sɛlɛɛ 99
- Chapter 5. Moving from verbs to prepositions in Gbe 128
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Section 3. Tense, aspect, mood and serialization
- Chapter 6. Lost siblings 154
- Chapter 7. The eventive functional sequence 189
- Chapter 8. Reduced complements 222
-
Section 4. Verb semantics
- Chapter 9. Caused accompanied motion in a direction 238
- Chapter 10. From injecting to planting 263
-
Section 5. Nominalization
- Chapter 11. Constructions with verbal nouns in Iraqw 286
- Chapter 12. Remarks on nominalised adjectives in Gã 314
- Author index 339
- Language index 341
- Subject index 343
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Foreword ix
- Introduction 1
-
Section 1. Fieldwork
- Chapter 1. Linguistic fieldwork as team science 20
-
Section 2. Locative predication
- Chapter 2. Locative expressions and their semantic extensions in Tima 44
- Chapter 3. A comparative study of the basic locative construction in Gurenɛ, Asante-Twi, and Tongugbe 74
- Chapter 4. Adposition classes in Tafi and Sɛlɛɛ 99
- Chapter 5. Moving from verbs to prepositions in Gbe 128
-
Section 3. Tense, aspect, mood and serialization
- Chapter 6. Lost siblings 154
- Chapter 7. The eventive functional sequence 189
- Chapter 8. Reduced complements 222
-
Section 4. Verb semantics
- Chapter 9. Caused accompanied motion in a direction 238
- Chapter 10. From injecting to planting 263
-
Section 5. Nominalization
- Chapter 11. Constructions with verbal nouns in Iraqw 286
- Chapter 12. Remarks on nominalised adjectives in Gã 314
- Author index 339
- Language index 341
- Subject index 343
