Noun class system and Agreement patterns in Logba (Ikpana)

Abstract

The Ghana Togo Mountain (GTM) languages are well known for their noun class system and agreement patterns. However, an insight into the grammar of Logba shows that this language behaves differently from its presumed genetic relatives in the Na sub group. This paper investigates the semantics of Logba noun class classification and the associated agreement. First, I present the markers of the noun class and examine the semantics of each class, noting the semantic grouping that can be set up within each class. The agreement patterns within the NP on the one hand and NP subject and verb on the other are then described. I show that Logba has a singular-plural pairing for nouns, except for those that refer to liquid and mass nouns. In the NP, demonstratives, interrogatives, cardinal numbers from one to six show concord with the noun head. However, adjectives and intensifier do not show any agreement relation with the head noun. The selection of the vowel prefix, however, depends on the class of the noun and the [ATR] value of the vowel in the verb stem