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Chapter 9. Expressing similarity in Yulu and other Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi languages (Central Africa)

  • Pascal Boyeldieu
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Similative and Equative Constructions
This chapter is in the book Similative and Equative Constructions

Abstract

Yulu – a Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi (SBB) language of the Central African Republic and South Sudan – expresses similarity by means of two related morphemes, namelybə̏ ~ bȅ‘like, as’, andbȅndē‘like, as, as if’. The second, presumably a compound form has a wider use: it may introduce a proper name, a personal pronoun, or a demonstrative substitute. It can also mark verbal clauses. The first part of the paper is devoted to the behaviour of these terms in Yulu. In particular it considers the syntactic units that may be modified bybȅndē, and reviews the secondary values that are attested besides actual “similarity”: “categorization”, “conformity”, “approximation”, and “illustration”. It then raises the question of a possible link betweenbə̏‘like, as’ and the homophonous locative prepositionbə̏‘at (somebody’s place)’, equivalent to Frenchchez, and argues for different origins. Finally some clues strongly suggest thatbə̏ ~ bȅ‘like, as’ originates from a noun*bȁawith the likely meaning ‘way (of being), manner’. The second part of the paper shifts to a concise account of similar facts in some genetically related SBB languages. Only some of them display cognates of Yulubə̏ ~ bȅwhich also function as prepositions/conjunctions (‘like, as, as if’). Likely related forms may be found in other languages, mostly with the meaning of ‘thus, like this/that’. Lastly, other means of expressing similarity are quickly reviewed in a dozen of related languages. In most cases the markers represent grammaticalised forms of verbs meaning ‘be similar, alike’ or body-part nouns with a secondary value of ‘manner, conformity’. In this respect, SBB languages display a variety of forms and strategies that contrast with their genetic closeness and point to the historical instability of the linguistic material used in this functional and semantic domain.

Abstract

Yulu – a Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi (SBB) language of the Central African Republic and South Sudan – expresses similarity by means of two related morphemes, namelybə̏ ~ bȅ‘like, as’, andbȅndē‘like, as, as if’. The second, presumably a compound form has a wider use: it may introduce a proper name, a personal pronoun, or a demonstrative substitute. It can also mark verbal clauses. The first part of the paper is devoted to the behaviour of these terms in Yulu. In particular it considers the syntactic units that may be modified bybȅndē, and reviews the secondary values that are attested besides actual “similarity”: “categorization”, “conformity”, “approximation”, and “illustration”. It then raises the question of a possible link betweenbə̏‘like, as’ and the homophonous locative prepositionbə̏‘at (somebody’s place)’, equivalent to Frenchchez, and argues for different origins. Finally some clues strongly suggest thatbə̏ ~ bȅ‘like, as’ originates from a noun*bȁawith the likely meaning ‘way (of being), manner’. The second part of the paper shifts to a concise account of similar facts in some genetically related SBB languages. Only some of them display cognates of Yulubə̏ ~ bȅwhich also function as prepositions/conjunctions (‘like, as, as if’). Likely related forms may be found in other languages, mostly with the meaning of ‘thus, like this/that’. Lastly, other means of expressing similarity are quickly reviewed in a dozen of related languages. In most cases the markers represent grammaticalised forms of verbs meaning ‘be similar, alike’ or body-part nouns with a secondary value of ‘manner, conformity’. In this respect, SBB languages display a variety of forms and strategies that contrast with their genetic closeness and point to the historical instability of the linguistic material used in this functional and semantic domain.

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.117.10boy

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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