Negation in Igálà
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Date
2012
Authors
Ilọri, J.F.
Oyebade, F.O.
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Publisher
.Universidade Federal de Ceará [/ Federal University of Ceará], Brasil
Abstract
Unlike other Yoruboid languages, Igálà uses a double negation syntax which combines two independent but mutually obligatory elements to generate a single semantic unit of negation. Apart from providing a description of Igálà negation system, this paper, relying on instruments of minimalist grammar as propounded in Chomsky (1995, 1998, 2002), argues for a negative clause projection in which there are two separate but interdependent Neg projections – NegP1 and NegP2 - such that Negº2 takes NegP1 as complement to project NegP2. Spell-out constituent ordering derives from Negº2 ń/nóò attracting NegP1 to Spec-NegP2 resulting in the word order where Negº2 obligatorily ends negative clause expressions in Igálà. This grammar structurally predicts that nothing follows Negº2 ń/nóò in the linear order of words in Igálà negative clause constructions.
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Citation
Ilori, J. F. & F. Oyebade 2012. ‘Negation in Igálà’. Entrepalavras: Revista de Linguistica do Departamento de Letras Vernáculas da UFC [Entrepalavras: Journal of Linguistics, Department of Vernacular Letters], Fortaleza- ano 2, v.2,n.1, pages 25-40.Universidade Federal de Ceará [/ Federal University of Ceará], Brasil.