Comparing Demonstratives in Kwa
Loading...
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Legon Journal of the Humanities, University of Ghana
Abstract
This paper is a comparative study of demonstrative forms in three Kwa languages,
Akan, Ga and Ewe. It examines the syntax, morphology, semantics and pragmatics
of the demonstrative systems in these languages. The existence of various categories
such as demonstrative determiner, demonstrative pronoun, demonstrative adverb,
demonstrative identifier and the under-described ‘particular’ demonstratives in
these three languages is examined. Semantically, we observe a basic two-way
deictic contrast for most of the demonstrative systems, even though there are a
few variations. The most significant qualitative feature distinction observed is one
of humanness. The dearth of the morphology of these forms is noted. Finally,
the role of the demonstratives in the organisation of speech flow is considered.
The description of the demonstrative systems of these languages could lead to an
eventual re-construction of the demonstrative system in the proto-language.