Abstract
This paper describes the gender system of the Ubangi language Mba, which can be characterized by the co-existence of two different classification systems. The ‘formal agreement’ system is tightly bound with the nominal deriflection system, while the ‘semantic agreement’ system, by contrast, emanates from a tripartite distinction in the language made between masculine humans, other animates, and inanimates. Whereas formal agreement is manifested on different elements that modify the head noun, the semantic agreement system operates in the pronominal domain, mostly outside the noun phrase.
Acknowledgments
Our thanks go to Helma Pasch for helpful comments on previous drafts of this article.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- More diversity enGENDERed by African languages: an introduction
- The gender system of Laal
- The gender system of Khoekhoegowab
- An areal and typological appraisal of gender in Ju
- The two concurrent gender systems of Mba
- The gender system of Longuda
- The gender system of Noon: insights into the reorganization of agreement
- The gender system of Anii
- Reassessing gender in Ogbe-Oloma
- The gender system of Durop
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- More diversity enGENDERed by African languages: an introduction
- The gender system of Laal
- The gender system of Khoekhoegowab
- An areal and typological appraisal of gender in Ju
- The two concurrent gender systems of Mba
- The gender system of Longuda
- The gender system of Noon: insights into the reorganization of agreement
- The gender system of Anii
- Reassessing gender in Ogbe-Oloma
- The gender system of Durop