3. The augment as a construct form marker in Eton relative clause constructions
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Mark Van de Velde
Abstract
The Narrow Bantu language Eton has two strategies of relativisation, a gap strategy and a resumptive pronoun strategy. In both strategies, relative clause constructions are head marked by means of a prefix ı́- on the relativised noun. This prefix is called the augment in Eton, because it is similar to the augment in other Bantu languages in its form and position and in its demonstrative origin. However, contrary to the augment in most other Bantu languages, it cannot be situated in Greenberg’s (1978) three stage cycle of the development of definite articles to noun markers. Instead, I argue that it should be analysed as a construct form marker that codes the syntactic relation of localising modification, a relation marked in other north-western Bantu languages as well. The chapter closes with a discussion of a number of plausible diachronic scenarios that could have led to this typologically unusual construction type.
Abstract
The Narrow Bantu language Eton has two strategies of relativisation, a gap strategy and a resumptive pronoun strategy. In both strategies, relative clause constructions are head marked by means of a prefix ı́- on the relativised noun. This prefix is called the augment in Eton, because it is similar to the augment in other Bantu languages in its form and position and in its demonstrative origin. However, contrary to the augment in most other Bantu languages, it cannot be situated in Greenberg’s (1978) three stage cycle of the development of definite articles to noun markers. Instead, I argue that it should be analysed as a construct form marker that codes the syntactic relation of localising modification, a relation marked in other north-western Bantu languages as well. The chapter closes with a discussion of a number of plausible diachronic scenarios that could have led to this typologically unusual construction type.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface v
- Contents ix
- Abbreviations xi
- 1. Kaleidoscopic variations on grammatical themes: Relative clauses in Bantoid languages of Cameroon 1
- 2. Accessibility and demonstrative operators in Basaá relative clauses 17
- 3. The augment as a construct form marker in Eton relative clause constructions 47
- 4. Relative clauses and relativization processes in Nugunu 67
- 5. Kenyang relative clauses 89
- 6. Relative clause in (Western) Ejagham 119
- 7. A prolegomenon to the syntax of the relative clause in the Eastern Grassfields Bantu borderland 145
- 8. Relative clause constructions in two Yemne-Kimbi languages 169
- 9. Relative clauses in Vute grammar and discourse 209
- 10. Relative clauses in Wawa 233
- 11. Conclusion 261
- References 267
- Index 277
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface v
- Contents ix
- Abbreviations xi
- 1. Kaleidoscopic variations on grammatical themes: Relative clauses in Bantoid languages of Cameroon 1
- 2. Accessibility and demonstrative operators in Basaá relative clauses 17
- 3. The augment as a construct form marker in Eton relative clause constructions 47
- 4. Relative clauses and relativization processes in Nugunu 67
- 5. Kenyang relative clauses 89
- 6. Relative clause in (Western) Ejagham 119
- 7. A prolegomenon to the syntax of the relative clause in the Eastern Grassfields Bantu borderland 145
- 8. Relative clause constructions in two Yemne-Kimbi languages 169
- 9. Relative clauses in Vute grammar and discourse 209
- 10. Relative clauses in Wawa 233
- 11. Conclusion 261
- References 267
- Index 277
