A Feature Based Analysis Of Igbo Complementisers

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Download Free PDFA Feature Based Analysis of Igbo ComplementisersGerald O Nweya

2019, JOLAN

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Abstract

It has been argued that Igbo complementisers are associated with more than one clause type and therefore, cannot be classified based on the type of clause they introduce. This assertion has not been further examined in Igbo as the paucity of studies on Igbo complementisers show. Hence, there is need to characterise Igbo complementisers based on features for the purpose of classification. This study, therefore, reexamines the syntax of Igbo complementisers with a view to determining their distribution and c-selection properties as well as distinguish them based on their features. Data for the study were gathered from primary and secondary sources. The study identified three main complementisers in Igbo. They are nà 'that', mà 'if/whether' and kà 'that'. 'na' c-selects mostly embedded declarative clauses. 'mà introduces mostly interrogative clauses where both the matrix and embedded clauses bear overt question morpheme, while 'kà' is the only complementiser that introduces subjunctive clauses. Based on their behaviours, the study posits that 'na' ''mà and 'kà' have strong declarative, interrogative and subjunctive features respectively. Using distinctive feature matrix, the study characterised and distinguished Igbo complementiser. It was also observed that there is no agreement between complementiser and inflection as obtainable in English since Igbo complementisers are not specified for any tense that matches with that of the c-selected IP. The study concludes that Igbo complementisers can be classified using distinctive features.

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Key takeaways

AI

1. Igbo complementisers can be classified based on their distinctive features: nà, mà, and kà.
2. The study identifies three main Igbo complementisers: nà (declarative), mà (interrogative), and kà (imperative/subjunctive).
3. Nà predominantly introduces declarative clauses; mà is primarily interrogative, while kà serves subjunctive functions.
4. Igbo complementisers do not exhibit agreement with inflection, differing from English's tense specifications.
5. The research highlights the need for a feature-based classification approach for Igbo complementisers due to their multifunctionality.

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References (20)

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FAQs

AI

What are the primary functions of Igbo complementisers nà, mà, and kà?add

The study identifies nà as having strong declarative features, mà as exhibiting strong interrogative features, and kà as having strong imperative and subjunctive features.

How does the feature-based approach classify Igbo complementisers?add

The feature-based approach demonstrates that despite their multifunctionality, Igbo complementisers can be classified according to their syntactic features, as evident in their usage patterns.

What syntactic environment do Igbo complementisers typically occupy?add

Igbo complementisers are hosted in the left periphery of the clause, often influencing both mood and tense in relation to the embedded complement.

What challenges exist in classifying Igbo complementisers?add

Igbo complementisers introduce multiple clause types and often function in other grammatical capacities, complicating straightforward classification.

How do Igbo complementisers compare to those in other languages like Yoruba and Hausa?add

While Yoruba and Hausa also exhibit complementisers with multifunctionality, Igbo's complementisers more frequently introduce varied clause types, complicating their identification.

Gerald O NweyaUniversity of Ibadan, Faculty MemberaddFollowmailMessage

Gerald Nweya is a Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and African Languages at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

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The Igbo Clause Structure and the Cartography of the Complementiser Phrase DomainGerald O Nweya

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The study of clause structure provides information about the form and hierarchy of clausal constituents. Previous studies on the Igbo language relied heavily on the unified approach to the analysis of clause structure and clausal domains which permit one head to bear more than one feature. This approach does not provide detailed information about the content and hierarchical structure of the clausal domains. This study, therefore, analysed the structures of the Igbo verb phrase (VP), tense phrase (TP) and complementiser phrase (CP) with a view to determining the structure, hierarchical order and interaction of lexical and functional projections in the VP, TP and CP domains and make generalisations in terms of clause structure, information structure and cartography. The theoretical framework adopted for the study is the Minimalist Program. Primary data were elicited from purposively selected native speakers of the Igbo language. Instruments for primary data collection include elicitation, observation, and introspection; while secondary data were gathered from extant literary and grammar texts. Acquired data were subjected to grammaticality judgement, interlinear glossing and qualitative analysis. The study discovered that the structure of the VP domain is ʋP-ApplP-VP-DP-AdvP-PP. The syntax of monotransitive constructions involves one probe, the light ʋ while that of double object constructions (DOCs) involves two probes: ʋ and Appl. In this domain ʋP and ApplP are phase domains. The study also discovered that the structure of the TP domain is ApplP-NegP-AspP-TP. From the interaction of TP elements, the study observed that Appl is associated with both TP and ʋP domains and it is possible for T and ASP morphemes to co-occur in Igbo. With respect to the CP domain, the study discovered that the structure of the CP domain is ForceP-TopP-FocP-InterP. The three main complementisers in Igbo are nà ‘that’ (with strong declarative feature), mà ‘if/whether’ (with strong interrogative feature) and kà ‘that’ (with strong imperative feature). The syntax of yes/no questions involves one probe: INTER; the syntax of wh-questions involves two probes: INTER and FOC; while the syntax of focus and topic involves one probe: FOC and TOP respectively. The low tone question morpheme is for clause typing while the movement of wh-words to the clausal left periphery is for focusing and extended projection principle. The study also observed that FOC and TOP is overtly and covertly marked respectively. Based on these observations, the study assumed that the structure of the Igbo basic clause is ForceP-TopP-FocP-InterP-ApplP-NegP-AspP-TP-vP-ApplP-VP-DP-AdvP-PP. The study concludes that syntactic elements that manifest in the clausal domains including the CP are maximal projections and they provide information about the Igbo basic clause in terms of clause typing, clause structure and cartography. They also indicate that scope does not always translate to dominance and that Rizzi’s (1997) CP structure is not strictly universal. . Key Words: Igbo, Clause Structure, Cartography and Complementiser Phrase

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Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2012

This paper examines in some more detail the syntax and semantics of inherent complement verbs in Igbo. This is in addition to Emenanjo (1984, 1986) and Nwachukwu (1987). Here, we have followed Nwachukwu (1987) to assume that inherent complements in Igbo are not the same as the direct objects of transitive verbs. However, contrary to Nwachukwu (1987), it has been observed that there is only a semantic bond between inherent complements and their inherent complement verbs. The bond is not necessarily syntactic. The pronominalization test distinguishes between the objects of transitive verb and inherent complements. Whereas the object complement of transitive verbs can be pronominalized, inherent complements cannot. Contrary to Nwachukwu's (1987) view, it has also observed that there is no movement operation affecting inherent complements when inherent complement verbs license internal arguments. Rather, it is the internally licensed arguments that get raised for feature checking purposes. Also, contrary to the view about Igbo dialects in literature, all Ngwa-Igbo adjectival inherent complement verbs can license internal arguments. The data used in this paper are drawn from the Ngwa dialect 1 of Igbo which the author speaks with native speaker's competence. Index Terms-inherent complement, inherent complement verb, internal argument, feature checking, licensing, pronominalization  Ngwa Igbo is the variety of Igbo spoken by an estimated population of about two million people (Nwigwe 1996, Ogbonna 1999) wh o are located in the

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Language and Semiotic Studies, 2017

This paper examines complementiser and complement clause preference for verb-heads in the written English of Nigerian undergraduates. Data for the study were obtained from the respondents through a written test designed to elicit the preference of complementisers and complement clause types of some verb-heads in English. The findings of the study showed a higher preference for clausal complements introduced by the complementiser that. Of the entire tokens of clausal complements in the data collected, 128 of them (54.46%) were complement clauses headed by that, while complement clauses introduced by whether and if complementisers had preference scores of 31.07% and 8.94% respectively. The complement clause-type which recorded the lowest preference was the one headed by the complementiser for (5.53%). Further findings from the study revealed that the semantic features of relevant embedding verb heads were sometimes not taken into consideration in the choice of complementisers which introduce certain complement clauses. The low preference of the forclause is explicable in terms of the fact that the respondents regarded for as a preposition, and not a complementiser.

downloadDownload free PDFView PDFchevron_rightOn the single entry proposal for inherent complement verbs ( ICVs ) in IgboBenjamin I Mmadike, Cecilia A. Eme

2017

Anyanwu (2003) argues that the inherent complement verb (ICV) with its inherent complement constitutes a semantic unit, not a syntactic one. The syntactic difference is not accounted for to determine the syntactic status of the complement. The elegance of this description notwithstanding, we fail to distinguish it from Nwachukwu (1985) whose position is that both the IC and the ICV are an X category. That is, the ICV and the IC combine as a single entry in the lexicon. This work questions this position because there are cases in which the so-called IC accepts a nominal modifier (cf. Emenanjo, 2005): an indication that it is a minimal category with its levels of projection within the VP. In other words, Uwajeh’s (2003) analysis that the complement of the ICV is object is corroborated. Introduction The important position of verb in language is adequately demonstrated in the syntactic classification of languages, which is done according to some of the fundamental characteristics of the...

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