SIL International Publications

A Grammar of Akɔɔse: A Northwest Bantu Language

Author(s):
Hedinger, Robert
Description: 

The purpose of this book is to describe the grammatical structure of Akoose, also known as Bakossi, one of the north-western most narrow-Bantu languages of Cameroon.

After a brief sketch of the phonology the structure of the noun is presented, including the noun class system typical for Bantu languages. The chapter on the noun phrase includes a discussion of different noun phrase types as well as the noun modifiers, both those that agree with the head noun and those not manifesting any agreement. The form of the associative noun phrase and the semantic relations expressed are also covered. In the chapter on the verb, the verbal extensions (derivational suffixes) and their effect on verb valency are described.

Also covered are verb tense, aspect, mood and negation. All the verb forms are illustrated with paradigms showing a complex verbal system. The chapter on the verb phrase includes a discussion of auxiliary verbs which have an interesting range of different functions.

There is a chapter on clause types and their constituents. Questions, topicalisation and relative clauses take up another chapter. Reported speech, indirect questions and other clause combinations are covered under complex sentences. There is an appendix giving lists of ideophones, exclamations, comparative wordlists, loanwords and an interlinerised text.

The book is aimed at both linguists with an interest in African and in particular Bantu languages as well as a local audience interested in their own language.

Table of Contents: 

Abbreviations and Symbols

1. Introduction and Outline of Phonology
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Outline of Phonology

2. The Noun
2.1 Noun classes
2.2 Noun genders
2.3 Agreement or noun class concord
2.4 Internal structure of the noun
2.5 Diminutive nouns
2.6 Negative nouns
2.7 Compound nouns

3. The Noun Phrase
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Structure of the noun phrase
3.3 Noun modifiers
3.4 Other elements of the noun phrase
3.5 Negation and the noun phrase
3.6 The associative noun phrase
3.7 Possessive noun phrase
3.8 Coordinate noun phrase
3.9 Prepositional phrases
3.10 Question phrase
3.11 Pronouns

4. The Verb
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The infinitive
4.3 Subject markers
4.4 Verb stems
4.5 Extensions and valency changes
4.6 Tense, aspect, negation and dependent forms
4.7 Verb moods

5. The Verb Phrase
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The simple verb phrase
5.3 The serial verb phrase
5.4 The split verb phrase
5.5 Phrasal verbs
5.6 Infinitives and the verb phrase
5.7 Echo verbs
5.8 Intensification
5.9 Auxiliary verbs

6. The Clause and Clause Constituents
6.1 Non-verbal clauses
6.2 Verbal clauses
6.3 Active clauses
6.4 Oblique phrases
6.5 Subject repetition for emphasis

7. Sentence Modifications
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Questions
7.3 Topicalisation
7.4 Relative clauses
7.5 Fronting
7.6 Vocatives and politeness adverbs

8. Complex Sentences
8.1 Analytic causatives
8.2 Reported speech
8.3 Indirect questions
8.4 Sentence pro-form
8.5 Other clause combinations
8.6 Comparative clauses
8.7 Summary list of conjunctions

9. Negation
9.1 Clause negation
9.2 Non-verbal clauses
9.3 Lexical negation
9.4 Miscellaneous negative items

Appendix A

Lexical Notes and Special Word Forms

Appendix B

Swadesh 100 Comparative Wordlists

Appendix C

Text

Bibliography

Index

Series Volume: 
143
Issue Date: 
2008
Extent: 
xiv, 303 pages
ISBN 13: 
978-1556712227
Subject: 
Grammatical Description
Grammatical Descriptions
ISBN 10: 
1556712227
Size: 
6 × 9 × 0.66 in
Weight: 
1.2 lb
Field: 
Country: 
Cameroon
Subject Languages: 
Content Language: