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Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic

  • Paulette Roulon-Doko
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Similative and Equative Constructions
This chapter is in the book Similative and Equative Constructions

Abstract

Gbaya, an Ubangian language of Central Africa, shows that all types of comparison are qualitative expressions and not quantitative ones involving a parameter of gradation or degree. Following the theoretical framework proposed inFuchs (2014), this chapter first presents the use of the dedicated similative circumpositionhé … gá. It expresses, in different contexts, a way of doing (modus faciendi) or a way of being (modus essendi). It frames a nominal phrase and can also be used as a subordinating morpheme to frame a clause. Then, the comparison of equality is studied and analysed as a special case of similative comparison, in which the reciprocal morpheme is added to the circumposition. Another construction of comparison of equality, which does not involve the circumposition, also uses the reciprocal and is formed with two verbshɔ‘reach’ andɲɛm‘suit’. As for the comparison of superior inequality, it is shown that it has a dedicated construction, different from the similative and equative constructions. It is formed with a verb sequence including the verbgan‘exceed’. Comparison of inferior inequality does not exist. Finally, the functive morpheme is distinct from the similative one.

Abstract

Gbaya, an Ubangian language of Central Africa, shows that all types of comparison are qualitative expressions and not quantitative ones involving a parameter of gradation or degree. Following the theoretical framework proposed inFuchs (2014), this chapter first presents the use of the dedicated similative circumpositionhé … gá. It expresses, in different contexts, a way of doing (modus faciendi) or a way of being (modus essendi). It frames a nominal phrase and can also be used as a subordinating morpheme to frame a clause. Then, the comparison of equality is studied and analysed as a special case of similative comparison, in which the reciprocal morpheme is added to the circumposition. Another construction of comparison of equality, which does not involve the circumposition, also uses the reciprocal and is formed with two verbshɔ‘reach’ andɲɛm‘suit’. As for the comparison of superior inequality, it is shown that it has a dedicated construction, different from the similative and equative constructions. It is formed with a verb sequence including the verbgan‘exceed’. Comparison of inferior inequality does not exist. Finally, the functive morpheme is distinct from the similative one.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Typology and grammaticalisation
  5. Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspective 9
  6. Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology of like -expressions 33
  7. Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation) 79
  8. Chapter 4. Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond 91
  9. Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity 143
  10. Part II. Case studies from around the world
  11. Chapter 6. Comparison, similarity and simulation in Zaar, a Chadic language of Nigeria 167
  12. Chapter 7. Similative, equative, and comparative constructions in Beja (North-Cushitic) 189
  13. Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic 213
  14. Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa) 239
  15. Chapter 10. Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami 259
  16. Chapter 11. Comparative, similative, and equative constructions in Mon 291
  17. Chapter 12. Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker = kán in Pesh 321
  18. Part III. Similative constructions and language contact
  19. Chapter 13. Similative morphemes and their grammaticalisations in Yemsa 341
  20. Chapter 14. The morpheme ‑ (ä)ŋä in Xamtanga 359
  21. Chapter 15. Similarity and related functions in Libido 387
  22. Language index 419
  23. Name Index 423
  24. Subject index 429
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.117.09rou

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Introduction 1
  4. Part I. Typology and grammaticalisation
  5. Chapter 1. Equative constructions in world-wide perspective 9
  6. Chapter 2. Toward a cognitive typology of like -expressions 33
  7. Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation) 79
  8. Chapter 4. Similative morphemes as purpose clause markers in Ethiopia and beyond 91
  9. Chapter 5. The deictic identification of similarity 143
  10. Part II. Case studies from around the world
  11. Chapter 6. Comparison, similarity and simulation in Zaar, a Chadic language of Nigeria 167
  12. Chapter 7. Similative, equative, and comparative constructions in Beja (North-Cushitic) 189
  13. Chapter 8. Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic 213
  14. Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa) 239
  15. Chapter 10. Similarity, equality and the like in North Saami 259
  16. Chapter 11. Comparative, similative, and equative constructions in Mon 291
  17. Chapter 12. Multifunctionality and polysemy of the similative marker = kán in Pesh 321
  18. Part III. Similative constructions and language contact
  19. Chapter 13. Similative morphemes and their grammaticalisations in Yemsa 341
  20. Chapter 14. The morpheme ‑ (ä)ŋä in Xamtanga 359
  21. Chapter 15. Similarity and related functions in Libido 387
  22. Language index 419
  23. Name Index 423
  24. Subject index 429
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