Yoruba Symmetrical Verb Projections
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Date
2015
Authors
Ilọri, J.F.
Olaogun, S.
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Publisher
Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle, UK
Abstract
The syntactic structure of Yoruba symmetrical verbs constructions is still a
puzzle. The problem is that a Yoruba symmetrical verb is able to function
in a pair of clauses with different syntactic structures but a somewhat
unified semantic interpretation. This paper examines the syntactic and
semantic structures of the projections of these verbs within the contexts of
the pair of clauses in which they occur first to determine the nature of the
Subject-V-Object → Object-V-Subject swap and second to account for the
difference in syntactic structures and why they don’t seem to trigger
salient changes in the semantic interpretations of the pair of sentences.
Relying on minimalist grammar and formal semantics assumptions, we
hope to show in this paper that the syntax of the resultant pair of clauses is
driven by a single semantic and syntactic base where the subject is an
experiencer and the V object complement a theme argument. The disparity
in the surface syntax results from an internal merge operation which
targets either of the two arguments with some subtle semantic implication
which rests on speaker’s preference. Therefore, what looks like a swap
superficially is actually the result of a syntactic movement driven by a
semantic choice between the experiencer subject and the theme object
complement of V such that the resultant clause’s subject position becomes
open to either of them.
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Citation
Ilori, J. F. & S. O. Olaogun 2015. ‘Yoruba Symmetrical Verb Projections’. Orie Ọlanike-Ọla, J. F. Ilọri, & L. C. Yuka (eds.) Current Research in African Linguistics: Papers in Honor of Ọladele Awobuluyi, pages 353-367. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle, UK