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- Language Family: Kwa
- Topic #1: Syntax
- Topic #2: Verbs
The Leteh Give-Verb Nὲ in Multiple Syntactic Contexts
Abstract
The Leteh (South Guan: Kwa) GIVE-verb nὲ occurs in various syntactic contexts in Leteh discourse. This paper conducts a synchronic analysis of its multiple occurrences, using grammaticalization theory as its analytic basis (Hopper and Traugott 2003). The morpheme occurs in five different syntactic environments as: the main verb of an unmarked clause; a causative verb in a serial verb construction; a benefactive verb in a benefactive/goal serial verb construction; a complementizer of a complement clause, and a resultative marker in a cause-effect serial verb construction. The paper demonstrates that in each of the environments, the morpheme acquires a different meaning and function whilst maintaining its form. Data for the study are sourced from a database of Leteh wordlists, folktales and elicitations from language speakers. The paper contributes to literature on the linguistics of the GIVE-verb in African and Kwa languages specifically.