TABU Dag 2013 34th Annual Linguistics Conference
Maximilien Guérin
[email protected]
Wolof Predicative Constructions: a typological and constructional approach
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch
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Plan ➊ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch
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Wolof language Classification: ↳ Niger-Congo ↳ Atlantic Agglutinative morphology
Spoken in Senegambia Vehicular in Senegal 4
Wolof verbal predication Based on phrasal patterns Predicative constructions
Predicative Constructions ≈ Conjugations tense, aspect, mood, information structure
Complex predicates Verb + Predicative Marker Verb lexical meaning Predicative Marker grammatical information + subject affix 5
Wolof Predicative Constructions Subject Focus ma-a liggéey 1SG-PM work
Perfect liggéey work
Presentative ma-angi liggéey 1SG-PM work
Future dina-a
Complement Focus fii la-a liggéey here PM-1SG work
Optative na-a
PM-1SG
PM-1SG
na-a PM-1SG
liggéey work
liggéey work
Verb Focus da-ma liggéey PM-1SG work 6
Other grammatical categories Suffix on lexical verb Past da-ma
liggéey-oon PM-1SG work-PST 'I had worked'
Negation da-ma
liggéey-ul PM-1SG work-NEG 'I haven't worked'
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Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➋ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch
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Construction grammars Family of theories Cognitive linguistic approach to syntax Divergent from the mainstream generative approach Some shared characteristics Constructions are the basic units of grammar Architecture is non-modular and monostratal Grammar is a network of constructions Performance shapes Competence (usage-based approach) ↳ explain language use, acquisition, change
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What are constructions? Pairings of form & meaning All levels of description involve constructions morphemes, words, idioms, syntactic patterns...
semantic pragmatic discourse-functional syntactic morphological phonological
Meaning Construction Form
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Schematic constructions & Instances Uniform representation of all grammatical knowledge All levels of description involve constructions No strict division between lexicon and syntax
Each construction is an instance of a more schematic construction schematic construction instantiation
specified construction
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The organisation of constructions Constructions form a structured inventory Grammar = network of constructions Inheritance links Construction inherits form and meaning features
Negation V-ul
Verb Focus da(fa)-S V
da-ma
liggéey-ul-oon PM-1SG work-NEG-PST 'I hadn't worked'
Past V-oon
schematic constructions
specified construction 12
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➌ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch
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Constructional approach to Wolof predication An unified and coherent approach Analyse all aspects Descriptive & Explanatory Predicative Constructions Not only an unstructured list Form a network of constructions
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General network of Wolof Predicative Constructions Aux Verb Aux-S V
Perfect V na-S
Future dina-S V
Optative na-S V
Subject Emphasis S-Aux V
Subject Focus S-a V
Focus Foc Aux-S V
Complement Focus O la-S V
Verb Focus da(fa)-S V
Presentative S-angi V
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Inheritance links Aux Verb : Aux -S
V
form and meaning inheritance
syntactic inheritance + specific position Focus : Foc Aux -S
V
form and meaning inheritance
instantiation CFoc :
O
la -S V
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Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➍ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch
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Irregular forms ? Aux Verb Aux-S V
Perfect V na-S
Future dina-S V
Optative na-S V
Subject Emphasis S-Aux V
Subject Focus S-a V
Focus Foc Aux-S V
Complement Focus O la-S V
Verb Focus da(fa)-S V
Presentative S-angi V
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Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus''
Aux Verb Aux-S V
Verb Emphasis def-a V Focus Foc Aux-S V
Verb Focus V na-S
former state: layering (several constructions for the same function)
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Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus''
Aux Verb Aux-S V
Verb Emphasis def-a V Focus Foc Aux-S V
Verb Focus V na-S
bleaching process (loss of focus features) ↳ frequency effect
Perfect V na-S
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Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus''
Aux Verb Aux-S V
Verb Emphasis def-a V Focus Foc Aux-S V
Verb Focus V na-S
Perfect V na-S
Verb Focus dafa-S V
morphologization + decategorialization
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Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus''
Aux Verb Aux-S V
Focus Foc Aux-S V
Verb Focus dafa-S V
Perfect V na-S
actual state: reorganisation of the network 22
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➎ Typological sketch
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Auxiliary Verb Constructions Features Phrasal patterns Mono-clausal structure Minimally consist in lexical verb + auxiliary Lexical verb → lexical content Auxiliary → some grammatical or functional content Finite set of auxiliaries
Wolof Predicative Constructions ↳ Auxiliary Verb Constructions démb la-a liggéey-ul-oon yesterday CFOC-1SG work-NEG-PST 'it's yesterday that I didn't work' 24
West African Sprachbund Similar to Mande Moodu Mǎdù Modou 'Modou
dina bέnà
nelaw sùnɔgɔ PM.FUT sleep will sleep'
Links to Macro-Sudan Belt Split Predicate Sahel Belt
Prospects Language contact Comparative linguistics 25
Conclusion An unified and coherent approach Analyse all aspects Descriptive & Explanatory power Cognitive adequacy Wolof Predicative Constructions Not only an unstructured list Form a network of constructions Usage-based approach can explain irregular forms Typological prospects Language contact Comparative syntax 26
References ANDERSON G. 2006. Auxiliary Verb Constructions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ANDERSON G. 2011. Auxiliary Verb Constructions in the languages of Africa. Studies in African Linguistics. vol 40, n°1-2. CROFT W. 2001. Radical Construction Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press. GOLDBERG A. 1995. Constructions: A construction grammar approach to argument structure. Chicago: Chicago University Press. GÜLDEMANN T. 2010. Sprachraum and geography: Linguistic macro-areas in Africa. In Lameli A., Kehrein R., Rabanus S. (eds.), Language Mapping. Berlin : de Gruyter. 561-593. HOPPER P., TRAUGOTT E. 2003. Grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ROBERT S. 1991. Approche énonciative du système verbal : Le cas du Wolof. Paris: Éditions du CNRS. ZIMA P. 2006. TAM Verbal Paradigms in the West African Sahel. In Caron B., Zima P. (eds.), Sprachbund in the West African Sahel. Louvain-Paris: Peeters. 221-237.
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