The Syntax of Igbo Causatives

Ndubuisi Anyanwu

Description

The Landmarks Series is a research and publications outfit funded by the Landmarks Research Foundation to publish recent outstanding doctoral dissertations on any aspect of Nigerian linguistics, languages, literatures and cultures. This study examines causatives in Igbo within the minimalist program. It identifies three types of causative: analytical, morphological and lexical. The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 is the general introduction, while Chapter 2 examines in some details the theory of causativity. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 focus on the analytical, morphological and lexical causative respectively.

Informations

• Publié par: M and J Grand Orbit Communications
• Date de parution: 14 décembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 30
• EAN13: 9789785431100
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 14 Mo

Extrait

The Syntax of Igbo Causatives

In the same series 1.Ajiboye, Oladipo.The Syntax & Semantics of Yorùbá Nominal Expressions 2.Anyanwu, Ogbonna Ndubuisi.The Syntax of Igbo Causatives: A Minimalist Account 3.Ngulube, Isaac.The Eleme Phonology 4.Obiamalu, Greg Orji.Functional Categories in Igbo: A Minimalist Perspective 5.Onumajuru, Virginia C. Affixation and Auxiliaries in Igbo 6.Ashipu, K.B.C.Bette Ethnography: Theory & Practice 7.È ̩ j ̩ èbá, SalemǑchála.A Grammar of Ígálâ 8.Isaac, Baridishi Hope.Aspects of the Grammar of Gokana

The Syntax of Igbo Causatives A Minimalist Account Ogbonna Ndubuisi Anyanwu Department of Linguistics & Nigerian Languages University of Uyo

M & J Grand Orbit Communications Ltd. Port Harcourt

The Landmarks Series Publications Landmarks Research Foundation Box 237 Uniport P.O. University of Port Harcourt,Nigeria e-mail: [e-mail] Mobile Phone: [phone] Copyright © Ogbonna N.Anyanwu 2016 First Impression 2007 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner, by print, photoprint, microfilm, or any other means, without the written permission from the Copyright owner except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. ISBN: 978-978-54127-7-2 Published by The Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) In Collaboration with M & J Grand Orbit Communications Ltd.,Nigeria Reprinted and Distributed Overseas by: African Books Collective PO Box 721, Oxford OX1 9EN, United Kingdom Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone] US Tel: [phone] Customer Services please email [e-mail] For Warehouse/shipping/deliveries: [phone]

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Professor Ozo-mekuri Ndimele, my mentor and role model.

Editorial Note he Landmarks Series is a research and publications outfit founded by the T Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), and solely funded by the Landmarks Research Foundation. The main interest of the Landmarks Series is to publish well-written and outstanding doctoral dissertations on any aspect of Nigerian linguistics, languages, literatures and cultures. The purpose is to encourage the circulation of ideas generated by some recently completed doctoral dissertations by members of LAN. We are, however, working out modalities to extend this rare privilege to non-members as well. Dr. Ogbonna Ndubuisi Anyanwuwas among the first to respond to this all important invitation to members of LAN who completed their doctoral dissertations within the last 10 years to submit the revised version of their dissertations for consideration and publication in the Landmarks Series. I am happy to announce to you the appearance of the second volume in the series of Landmarks.  This bookis a revised version of Dr. Anyanwu’s doctoral dissertation.It examines causatives in Igbo within the minimalist program. It identifies three types of causative: analytical, morphological and lexical. Both the analytical and morphological causatives constitute what the author refers to as the -mécausative. This is because the main VP of each of these two causative constructions is headed by the causative verbal element -mé ‘cause’.The author argues that the causative verbal element -méhas a dual morphosyntactic status. In the analytical causative, -méfunctions as an autonomous verb, while in the morphological one; it functions as a strong affixal light verb. Using evidence from topicalization, clefting and pronominal subject clitic strategies, Dr. Anyanwu argues that the analytical causative construction consists of two clauses: a main clause and an embedded one. As was earlier mentioned, the VP of the main clause is headed by the causative -mé,while the embedded VP can be headed by any transitive verb or intransitive verb. Thus, both the main verb and the embedded verb in the analytical construction are generated at different VP positions, and they remain so throughout the course of derivation. They are also assigned different thematic grids. The -mémorphological causative construction, which is essentially monoclausal in overt syntax, is, however, derived from its analytical counterpart via incorporation or head movement, and it provides an alternative

 vii paraphrase option for the expression of the analytical causative. Hence, it is the marked -mé causative construction, consisting of the morphological causative verb, which is a product of a syntactically motivated word formation process that results in the creation of the morphological causative verb. In the formation of morphological causative verb, the causative verbal element -méincorporates an intransitive verb, but never a transitive one. Both the causative -méand the incorporated intransitive verb which, before incorporation headed two different VPs, end up as a unit in overt syntax with a single thematic grid, with their respective arguments becoming the arguments of the derived morphological causative verb. The lexical causatives in Igbo are expressed through the use of causative verbs. In terms of morphological structure, Dr. Anyanwu argues that a lexical causative verb can be bipositional or non-bipositional. He, however, observes that this group of bipositonal causative verbs constitutes the majority of lexical causatives in Igbo. While some bipositional causative verbs are just transitive, others alternate their transitivity. As should be expected, the transitive alternant of a bipositonal verb is causative, while the intransitive alternant is non- causative. Dr. Anyanwu also argues, in line with minimalist assumptions, that all the bipositionan verbs are products of morphological merger in the Igbo lexicon. The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 is the general introduction, while Chapter 2 examines in some details the theory of causativity. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 focus on the analytical, morphological and lexical causative respectively. To be candid, I have been part of the history of the making of this excellent master-piece, and I hasten to say that the book is well-researched, and that the project is well-executed. One of the striking qualities of this book is how the author gives an overview of the minimalist enterprise in a straightforward and lucid prose. So, scholars who want to be initiated into the Chomskyan minimalist school should begin by reading the outline of the minimalist program as contained in this book. I am strongly encouraged by the responses to the invitation to the Landmarks Series. In addition to the two volumes already in print, there are six other submissions currently undergoing editorial scrutiny, and we hope they will be ready in print in a few months to come. I want to still use this medium to solicit more quality submissions. Please make use of this golden opportunity while the Landmarks Research Foundation and LAN continue in their present health. Ozo-mekuri Ndimele, PhD Professor of Comparative Grammar Founding Editor & National President, LANSeptember 2007

Preface his book grew out of my PhD dissertation which I defended at the T Department of Linguistics & Communication Studies, University of Port Harcourt, in August 2005. The book discusses three types of causatives in Igbo. These are the analytical (syntactic), the morphological and lexical causatives. The analytical and morphological causatives constitute what I refer to as the - me. This is simply due to the fact that the main VP of both types of causative is headed by the causative verbal element -me. The causative verbal element -me has a dual morphosyntactic status. In the analytical causative, -meas behaves an autonomous verb, while in the morphological one, it functions as an affix. Facts from topicalisation, clefting and resumptive pronoun strategies reveal that the Igbo analytical causative consists of two clauses: a main clause and a dependent one. The -memorphological causative is derived from its analytical counterpart via incorporation (head-movement) (Baker 1988). The derived verb in the morphological causative construction comprises the causative -meand an embedded intransitive verb; both count as a unit in overt syntax with a single thematic grid. The lexical causatives in Igbo are either non-bi-positional or bi-positional in terms of their morphological structure. Whereas some bi-positional verbs alternate their transitivity, others are either transitive or intransitive. It is assumed in this book, that Igbo bi-positional causative verbs are derived from the lexicon through a morphological merger.  Many people have contributed towards ensuring a successful completion of this book, and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to them. Prominent among them is my supervisor, Professor Ozo-mekuri Ndimele, who not only supervised my PhD dissertation, but also made his library accessible to me. His guidance and advice have been most helpful.  My sincere thanks go to my lecturers who contributed in molding me academically. They include Late Professor Kay Williamson, Professor E.N. Emenanjo, Dr. C.E.W. Jenewari, Professor (Mrs.) Shirely Yul-Ifode, Professor (Mrs.) P.E. Ejele, Dr. E.E. Efere and Mrs. C.C. Isukul.  I sincerely appreciate the interest shown by my friends and colleagues: those at Port Harcourt and those at the National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba. These friends and colleagues have been a source of encouragement to me.  I remain eternally grateful to my parents, Chief E.A. Adiele and Mrs. Beatrice Adiele; my uncles, aunties, step brothers and sisters for their support.

 ix Special thanks go to my siblings, Nwambe, Mwamma, Ukaa, Okey, Deedenwa, Anyisoand Mucheya, for their love and prayers. I am also grateful to Mrs. N.C. Enyia and Tina Eze who did the typesetting.  Finally, I thank JEHOVAH, the Almighty God, for His kindness, mercies and love towards me.