24 Non-verbal predication in Cushitic
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Mauro Tosco
Abstract
Cushitic languages are one of the six conventional branches of the Afroasiatic phylum; they are spoken in East Africa and centered in the Horn region. This chapter draws data from all described Cushitic languages. Apart from a very few common typological features—such as the SOV order— Cushitic languages, whose internal classification is still debated, do not have much in common, and different strategies are used in non-verbal predication. Many languages have rich nominal case systems, and many make extensive use of a morphosyntactic marking of focus. These features have a major impact on non-verbal predication. One finds different strategies with nouns and adjectives as predicates; this is linked to the status and the very existence of a separate class of adjectives in many Cushitic languages and to word-order asymmetries (with many languages having a noun+modifier order). In general, non-verbal predication is more common with predicate nouns than with other categories. Another widespread feature involves the use of verbal strategies for the negation of non-verbal predication. Non-verbal predication may cover different functions: inclusion, identity, quantification, ostension, and possession. Location, and partially possession (of the transpossessive type), is instead basically expressed with verbal predication. Cushitic non-verbal predication uses three main strategies: juxtaposition, non-verbal copulae and, less common, a predicative form of the noun. While the etymology of copulae and other markers and the history of non-verbal predication in Cushitic remain shrouded in history, predicative nominal forms may show traces of a predicative form of nouns and adjectives similar to that of earlier stages of Semitic.
Abstract
Cushitic languages are one of the six conventional branches of the Afroasiatic phylum; they are spoken in East Africa and centered in the Horn region. This chapter draws data from all described Cushitic languages. Apart from a very few common typological features—such as the SOV order— Cushitic languages, whose internal classification is still debated, do not have much in common, and different strategies are used in non-verbal predication. Many languages have rich nominal case systems, and many make extensive use of a morphosyntactic marking of focus. These features have a major impact on non-verbal predication. One finds different strategies with nouns and adjectives as predicates; this is linked to the status and the very existence of a separate class of adjectives in many Cushitic languages and to word-order asymmetries (with many languages having a noun+modifier order). In general, non-verbal predication is more common with predicate nouns than with other categories. Another widespread feature involves the use of verbal strategies for the negation of non-verbal predication. Non-verbal predication may cover different functions: inclusion, identity, quantification, ostension, and possession. Location, and partially possession (of the transpossessive type), is instead basically expressed with verbal predication. Cushitic non-verbal predication uses three main strategies: juxtaposition, non-verbal copulae and, less common, a predicative form of the noun. While the etymology of copulae and other markers and the history of non-verbal predication in Cushitic remain shrouded in history, predicative nominal forms may show traces of a predicative form of nouns and adjectives similar to that of earlier stages of Semitic.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of the Authors V
- Acknowledgments
- Contents IX
- Crucial issues in non-verbal predication: A questionnaire 785
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Part II: Case studies
- 22 Non-verbal predication in Maltese 789
- 23 Non-verbal predication in Nilotic 829
- 24 Non-verbal predication in Cushitic 865
- 25 Non-verbal predication in Mandinka and other Mande languages 915
- 26 Non-verbal predication in Cuwabo (Bantu) 955
- 27 Non-verbal predication in Ju 993
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Austronesia, Papunesia, Australia
- 28 Non-verbal predicates in Oceanic languages 1021
- 29 Non-verbal predication in Formosan languages 1067
- 30 Non-verbal predication in three families of Papunesia: Teiwa, Tidore and Mian 1103
- 31 Non-verbal predication in Nungon 1143
- 32 Non-verbal predication in Ngumpin-Yapa languages (Australia) 1169
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Part III: Conclusion and prospects
- 33 Non-verbal predication: Results and perspectives 1213
- Subject index 1275
- Language index 1283
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of the Authors V
- Acknowledgments
- Contents IX
- Crucial issues in non-verbal predication: A questionnaire 785
-
Part II: Case studies
- 22 Non-verbal predication in Maltese 789
- 23 Non-verbal predication in Nilotic 829
- 24 Non-verbal predication in Cushitic 865
- 25 Non-verbal predication in Mandinka and other Mande languages 915
- 26 Non-verbal predication in Cuwabo (Bantu) 955
- 27 Non-verbal predication in Ju 993
-
Austronesia, Papunesia, Australia
- 28 Non-verbal predicates in Oceanic languages 1021
- 29 Non-verbal predication in Formosan languages 1067
- 30 Non-verbal predication in three families of Papunesia: Teiwa, Tidore and Mian 1103
- 31 Non-verbal predication in Nungon 1143
- 32 Non-verbal predication in Ngumpin-Yapa languages (Australia) 1169
-
Part III: Conclusion and prospects
- 33 Non-verbal predication: Results and perspectives 1213
- Subject index 1275
- Language index 1283
