Aspect and modality in Kwa languages / edited by Felix K. Ameka, M.E. Kropp Dakubu.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Ameka, Felix K.

Kropp Dakubu, M. E. (Mary Esther)

Series:

Studies in language companion series ; v. 100.

Studies in language companion series ; v. 100

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kwa languages.

Niger-Congo languages.

Physical Description:

viii, 333 p. : ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia ; Amsterdam : John Benjamins Pub. Co., c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book explores the thesis that in the Kwa languages of West Africa, aspect and modality are more central to the grammar of the verb than tense. Where tense marking has emerged it is invariably in the expression of the future, and therefore concerned with the impending actualization or potentiality of an event, hence with modality, rather than the purely temporal sequencing associated with tense. The primary grammatical contrasts are perfective versus imperfective. The main languages discussed are Akan, Dangme, Ewe, Ga and Tuwuli while Nzema-Ahanta, Likpe and Eastern Gbe are also mentioned. Knowledge about these languages has deepened considerably during the past decade or so and ideas about their structure have changed. The volume therefore presents novel analyses of grammatical forms like the so-called S-Aux-O-V-Other or "future" constructions, and provides empirical data for theorizing about aspect and modality. It should be of considerable interest to Africanist linguists, typologists, and creolists interested in substrate issues.

Contents:

Introduction / Felix K. Ameka and M.E. Kropp Dakubu

Tense, aspect and mood in Akan / L.A. Boadi

Akan as an aspectual language / E. Kweku Osam

Ga verb features / M.E. Kropp Dakubu

Aspect and modality in Ewe : a survey / Felix K. Ameka

The potential morpheme in Ewe / James Essegbey

Imperfective constructions : progressive and prospective in Ewe and Dangme / Felix K. Ameka and M.E. Kropp Dakubu

Tense, aspect and mood in Tuwuli / Matthew Harley.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612152054

9781282152052

128215205X

9789027291387

9027291381

OCLC:

233634787