A Hidden Conjoint-Disjoint Distinction in Hausa
In this presentaion, I'll compare the Hausa verb grades to the conjoint-disjoint distinction made in Zulu verbs, showing both commonalities and differences in form, distribution and function. In both languages, information structural content such as topicalization, focus and fronting seem to influence the choice of a verb form in comparable ways.
I'll argue that an analysis utilizing syntactic constituency following Buell (2005) captures the data on Hausa like it does for Zulu.
In this presentaion, I'll compare the Hausa verb grades to the conjoint-disjoint distinction made in Zulu verbs, showing both commonalities and differences in form, distribution and function. In both languages, information structural content such as topicalization, focus and fronting seem to influence the choice of a verb form in comparable ways.
Conjoint verbs in Zulu and other, mostly Nguni (Bantu), languages always immediately precede their respective object. Disjoint verbs on the other hand can also appear sentence finally or precede adverbs, often giving them a contrastive focus interpretation.
Hausa verb grades distinguish up to four different types of succeeding objects: no following object at all (A), pronominal object (B), nominal object (C) and indirect (pro)nominal object (D).
I'll argue that an analysis utilizing syntactic constituency following Buell (2005) captures the data on Hausa like it does for Zulu.
Buell, Leston (2005). Issues in Zulu Verbal Morphosyntax.
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