Focus and constituent question formation in Dagbani
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4314/gjl.v2i1.35Keywords:
SpecFoc, focus marker, clause initial, constituent interrogatives, information profileAbstract
This paper explores how constituent interrogativization and focus play out in Dagbani, a Gur (Niger-Congo) language. I show that in the formation of constituent interrogatives, the interrogative word enters into a syntactic configuration with the focus markers kà or n depending on the grammatical role of the argument that an interrogative word substitutes for. This involves putting the interrogative word clause initially, and immediately following it with the appropriate focus marker. This distributional property of interrogative words serves as evidence in favour of my argument that focused interrogative words and focused elements share morphosyntactic parallelism. The data used in the analysis are drawn from text-based sources and some are constructed by me as a native speaker. The data are examined in line with the proposal that the variation in the positioning of interrogative words in languages can be explained by assuming that movement of interrogative words is universally triggered by [+wh] and [+focus] features, both of which are [+interpretable] and can be specified as [±strong]. I conclude that interrogative words occur in in-situ when no strong [+focus] features are introduced in the syntax, suggesting that Dagbani has both focused and non-focused interrogative words.References
Abels, K. & P. Muriungi, 2007. The focus particle in Kîîtharaka. ZAS Articles in Linguistics 42: 219-239.
Aboh, E. O., 2007. Focused versus non-focused wh words. In Enoch O. Aboh, Katharina Hartman, and Malte Zimmerman (eds.) Focus and Grammar: The Contribution of African Languages. Berlin: Mouton. Pp 297-325.
Aboh, E. O., 2004. The Morphosyntax of Complement-head Sequences. Clause structure and word order patterns in Kwa. Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
Adger, D., 2003. Core Syntax. A Minimalist Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ameka, F., 1992. Focus constructions in Ewe and Akan: A comparative perspective. In Chris Collins and Victor Manfredi (eds.) Proceedings of the Kwa comparative syntax workshop. M.I.T Working Articles in Linguistics vol 17.1-26. Cambridge MA: MIT Dept. of Linguistics and Philosophy.
Amfo, N. A. A., 2010. Lexical signaling of information structure in Akan. Linguistics 48.1: 195-225.
Boadi, L. 1990. Questions in Akan. Frankfurter Afrikanistische Blätter 2: 70–92.
Boadi, L. 1974. Focus marking in Akan. Linguistics 140: 5–57.
Bresnan, J.W. 1970. On Complementizers: towards a syntactic theory of complement types. Foundations of Language 6: 297-321.
Brody, M. 1995. Focus and checking theory. In István Kenese (ed.) Approaches to Hungarian V 29-44. Szeged: JATE.
Belletti, Adriana (ed.), 2004. Structures and Beyond. Volume 3 of Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax, The Cartography of Syntactic Structures. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chomsky, N., 2000. Minimalist Inquiries: The Framework. In R. Martin et al. (eds.), Step by Step. Essays on Minimalist Syntax in Honor of Howard Lasnik pp. 89-155. Cambridge/Mass.: MIT Press.
Chomsky, N. 1995. The Minimalist Program. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Cinque, G. 1999. Adverbs and functional heads - a cross-linguistic perspective. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cinque, G. ,2006. Restructuring and functional heads. Oxford studies in comparative syntax: The cartography of syntactic structures. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
Cinque, G., 2002. Functional structure in DP and IP. Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax. Oxford University Press.
Dakubu, M. E. Kropp, 2003. Interrogative structures in Farefare. Cahiers Voltaïques/ Gur Papers. 6: 57-66.
Dakubu, M. E. Kropp, 2000. The particle la in Gurene. Cahiers Voltaïque/Gur Papers 5: 59-65.
Drubig, Hans B. and W. Schaffer, 2001. Focus constructions. In: Haspelmath, M. et al. (eds.), Language Typology and Language Universals. International Handbook. Vol. 2 pp. 1079–1104. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
Fusheini, H., 2012. Focus particles in Dagbani, a descriptive analysis. Journal of West African Languages 39.1: 97-129.
Horvath, J.1986. Focus in the Theory of Grammar and the syntax of Hungarian: Dordrecht: Foris.
Issah, A. S., 2012. Phrasal identificational and contrastive focus in Dagbani. Journal of West African Languages 39.1: 75-96.
Issah, A. S., 2011. The correlation between aspect and transitivity alternation in Dagbani. The Buckingham Journal of Language and Linguistics 4: 53-69.
Issah, A. S., 2008. Information packaging in Dagbani. Unpublished M.Phil Dissertation, University of Tromsø, Norway.
Jackendoff, R., 1972. Semantic Interpretation in Generative Grammar. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Kotey, C., 2002. Question Formation in Ga. Unpublished M. Phil. Dissertation. Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana, Accra.
König, E. and P. Siemund, 2007. Speech Acts Distinctions in Grammar. In Timothy Shopen (ed.), Language Typology and Syntactic Description Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kroeger, P. R., 2004. Analyzing Syntax: A Lexical-Functional Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lasnik, H. and M. Saito, 1992. Move Alpha. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Marfo, C. and A. Bodomo, 2004. Information processing in Akan question-word fronting and focus constructions. In Mariam Butt and Tracy Holloway (eds.) Proceedings of the LFG04 Conference, University of Canterbury, pp. 353-369.
Muriungi, P. K. 2004. Wh-movement in Kitharaka as focus movement. Handout at ESSLLI workshop “Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics of Questions”. Nancy, 9th – 14th August 2004.
Olawsky, K. J., 1999. Aspects of Dagbani Grammar, with special emphasis on Phonology and Morphology. PhD dissertation; Munich: Lincom.
Rizzi, L., 2004. The structure of CP and IP - the cartography of syntactic structures, volume 2, volume 2 of Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax. The Cartography of Syntactic Structures. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rizzi, Luigi. 1997. The Fine Structure of the Left Periphery. In L. Haegeman (ed.) Elements of Grammar. Handbook of Generative Syntax pp. 281-337. Dordrecht: Foris.
Rizzi, L., 1991. Residual Verb Second and the Wh-criterion. Technical Reports in Formal and Computation Linguistics 2. Geneva: University of Geneva.
Ross, J. R., 1967. Constraints on Variables in Syntax. Doctoral Thesis, Cambridge MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Saah, K. K. 2000. Interrogative Sentences in Akan. University of Ghana/Utrecht Institute of Linguistics. Unpublished manuscript.
Sabel, J. 1998. Principles and Parameters of Wh-Movement. Habilitationsschrift, University of Frankfurt.
Saah, K.K. 1988. Wh-questions in Akan. Journal of West African Languages 18.1: 17–28.
Sabel, J., 2003. Malagasy as an optional wh-fronting language. In Cedric Boeckx & Grohmann Kleanthes (eds.), Multiple Wh-fronting, pp. 229-254. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Sabel, J., 2002. Wh-Questions and extraction asymmetries in Malagasy. In Andrea Rackowski & Norvin Richards (eds.), Proceedings of AFLA 8 (MIT Working Articles in Linguistics 44) pp. 309-324. Cambridge, MA: MIT.
Sabel, J., 2000. Partial wh-movement and the typology of wh-questions. In Uli Lutz, Gereon Muller & Amim von Stechow (eds.), Wh-Scope Marking pp. 409-446. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Siemund, P., 2001. Interrogative constructions. In Martin Haspelmath, Ekkehard König, Wulf Oesterreicher, and Wolfgang Raible (eds.), Language Typology and Language Universals pp. 1010–1028. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Simpson, A., 2000. Wh-Movement and the Theory of Feature Checking. Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Stockwell, R., 1977. Foundations of Syntactic Theory. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
DAGBANI TEXT
Ministry of Education, 2008.Chɛliya ka ti karim ka sabi Dagbani; Karim Kundili 2. Accra: Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.
Aboh, E. O., 2007. Focused versus non-focused wh words. In Enoch O. Aboh, Katharina Hartman, and Malte Zimmerman (eds.) Focus and Grammar: The Contribution of African Languages. Berlin: Mouton. Pp 297-325.
Aboh, E. O., 2004. The Morphosyntax of Complement-head Sequences. Clause structure and word order patterns in Kwa. Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
Adger, D., 2003. Core Syntax. A Minimalist Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ameka, F., 1992. Focus constructions in Ewe and Akan: A comparative perspective. In Chris Collins and Victor Manfredi (eds.) Proceedings of the Kwa comparative syntax workshop. M.I.T Working Articles in Linguistics vol 17.1-26. Cambridge MA: MIT Dept. of Linguistics and Philosophy.
Amfo, N. A. A., 2010. Lexical signaling of information structure in Akan. Linguistics 48.1: 195-225.
Boadi, L. 1990. Questions in Akan. Frankfurter Afrikanistische Blätter 2: 70–92.
Boadi, L. 1974. Focus marking in Akan. Linguistics 140: 5–57.
Bresnan, J.W. 1970. On Complementizers: towards a syntactic theory of complement types. Foundations of Language 6: 297-321.
Brody, M. 1995. Focus and checking theory. In István Kenese (ed.) Approaches to Hungarian V 29-44. Szeged: JATE.
Belletti, Adriana (ed.), 2004. Structures and Beyond. Volume 3 of Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax, The Cartography of Syntactic Structures. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Chomsky, N., 2000. Minimalist Inquiries: The Framework. In R. Martin et al. (eds.), Step by Step. Essays on Minimalist Syntax in Honor of Howard Lasnik pp. 89-155. Cambridge/Mass.: MIT Press.
Chomsky, N. 1995. The Minimalist Program. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Cinque, G. 1999. Adverbs and functional heads - a cross-linguistic perspective. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cinque, G. ,2006. Restructuring and functional heads. Oxford studies in comparative syntax: The cartography of syntactic structures. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
Cinque, G., 2002. Functional structure in DP and IP. Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax. Oxford University Press.
Dakubu, M. E. Kropp, 2003. Interrogative structures in Farefare. Cahiers Voltaïques/ Gur Papers. 6: 57-66.
Dakubu, M. E. Kropp, 2000. The particle la in Gurene. Cahiers Voltaïque/Gur Papers 5: 59-65.
Drubig, Hans B. and W. Schaffer, 2001. Focus constructions. In: Haspelmath, M. et al. (eds.), Language Typology and Language Universals. International Handbook. Vol. 2 pp. 1079–1104. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
Fusheini, H., 2012. Focus particles in Dagbani, a descriptive analysis. Journal of West African Languages 39.1: 97-129.
Horvath, J.1986. Focus in the Theory of Grammar and the syntax of Hungarian: Dordrecht: Foris.
Issah, A. S., 2012. Phrasal identificational and contrastive focus in Dagbani. Journal of West African Languages 39.1: 75-96.
Issah, A. S., 2011. The correlation between aspect and transitivity alternation in Dagbani. The Buckingham Journal of Language and Linguistics 4: 53-69.
Issah, A. S., 2008. Information packaging in Dagbani. Unpublished M.Phil Dissertation, University of Tromsø, Norway.
Jackendoff, R., 1972. Semantic Interpretation in Generative Grammar. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Kotey, C., 2002. Question Formation in Ga. Unpublished M. Phil. Dissertation. Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana, Accra.
König, E. and P. Siemund, 2007. Speech Acts Distinctions in Grammar. In Timothy Shopen (ed.), Language Typology and Syntactic Description Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kroeger, P. R., 2004. Analyzing Syntax: A Lexical-Functional Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lasnik, H. and M. Saito, 1992. Move Alpha. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Marfo, C. and A. Bodomo, 2004. Information processing in Akan question-word fronting and focus constructions. In Mariam Butt and Tracy Holloway (eds.) Proceedings of the LFG04 Conference, University of Canterbury, pp. 353-369.
Muriungi, P. K. 2004. Wh-movement in Kitharaka as focus movement. Handout at ESSLLI workshop “Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics of Questions”. Nancy, 9th – 14th August 2004.
Olawsky, K. J., 1999. Aspects of Dagbani Grammar, with special emphasis on Phonology and Morphology. PhD dissertation; Munich: Lincom.
Rizzi, L., 2004. The structure of CP and IP - the cartography of syntactic structures, volume 2, volume 2 of Oxford Studies in Comparative Syntax. The Cartography of Syntactic Structures. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rizzi, Luigi. 1997. The Fine Structure of the Left Periphery. In L. Haegeman (ed.) Elements of Grammar. Handbook of Generative Syntax pp. 281-337. Dordrecht: Foris.
Rizzi, L., 1991. Residual Verb Second and the Wh-criterion. Technical Reports in Formal and Computation Linguistics 2. Geneva: University of Geneva.
Ross, J. R., 1967. Constraints on Variables in Syntax. Doctoral Thesis, Cambridge MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Saah, K. K. 2000. Interrogative Sentences in Akan. University of Ghana/Utrecht Institute of Linguistics. Unpublished manuscript.
Sabel, J. 1998. Principles and Parameters of Wh-Movement. Habilitationsschrift, University of Frankfurt.
Saah, K.K. 1988. Wh-questions in Akan. Journal of West African Languages 18.1: 17–28.
Sabel, J., 2003. Malagasy as an optional wh-fronting language. In Cedric Boeckx & Grohmann Kleanthes (eds.), Multiple Wh-fronting, pp. 229-254. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Sabel, J., 2002. Wh-Questions and extraction asymmetries in Malagasy. In Andrea Rackowski & Norvin Richards (eds.), Proceedings of AFLA 8 (MIT Working Articles in Linguistics 44) pp. 309-324. Cambridge, MA: MIT.
Sabel, J., 2000. Partial wh-movement and the typology of wh-questions. In Uli Lutz, Gereon Muller & Amim von Stechow (eds.), Wh-Scope Marking pp. 409-446. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Siemund, P., 2001. Interrogative constructions. In Martin Haspelmath, Ekkehard König, Wulf Oesterreicher, and Wolfgang Raible (eds.), Language Typology and Language Universals pp. 1010–1028. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Simpson, A., 2000. Wh-Movement and the Theory of Feature Checking. Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Stockwell, R., 1977. Foundations of Syntactic Theory. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
DAGBANI TEXT
Ministry of Education, 2008.Chɛliya ka ti karim ka sabi Dagbani; Karim Kundili 2. Accra: Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.
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Published
07/01/2013
How to Cite
Issah, S. A. (2013). Focus and constituent question formation in Dagbani. Ghana Journal of Linguistics, 2(1), 39–62. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjl.v2i1.35
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