TABU Dag 2013 34th Annual Linguistics Conference Maximilien Guérin maximilien.guerin@univ-paris3.fr Wolof Predicative Constructions: a typological and constructional approach
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch 2
Plan ➊ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch 3
Wolof language Classification: Niger-Congo Atlantic Agglutinative morphology Spoken in Senegambia Vehicular in Senegal 4
Wolof verbal predication Based on phrasal patterns Predicative constructions Predicative Constructions Conjugations tense, aspect, mood, information structure Complex predicates Verb + Predicative Marker Verb lexical meaning Predicative Marker grammatical information + subject affix 5
Wolof Predicative Constructions Subject Focus ma-a liggéey 1SG-PM work Perfect liggéey work na-a PM-1SG Presentative ma-angi liggéey 1SG-PM work Future dina-a PM-1SG liggéey work Complement Focus fii la-a liggéey here PM-1SG work Optative na-a PM-1SG liggéey work Verb Focus da-ma PM-1SG liggéey work 6
Other grammatical categories Suffix on lexical verb Past da-ma liggéey-oon PM-1SG work-pst 'I had worked' Negation da-ma liggéey-ul PM-1SG work-neg 'I haven't worked' 7
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➋ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch 8
Construction grammars Family of theories Cognitive linguistic approach to syntax Divergent from the mainstream generative approach Some shared characteristics Constructions are the basic units of grammar Architecture is non-modular and monostratal Grammar is a network of constructions Performance shapes Competence (usage-based approach) explain language use, acquisition, change 9
What are constructions? Pairings of form & meaning All levels of description involve constructions morphemes, words, idioms, syntactic patterns... semantic pragmatic discourse-functional syntactic morphological phonological Meaning Form Construction 10
Schematic constructions & Instances Uniform representation of all grammatical knowledge All levels of description involve constructions No strict division between lexicon and syntax Each construction is an instance of a more schematic construction schematic construction instantiation specified construction 11
The organisation of constructions Constructions form a structured inventory Grammar = network of constructions Inheritance links Construction inherits form and meaning features Negation V-ul Verb Focus da(fa)-s V Past V-oon schematic constructions da-ma liggéey-ul-oon PM-1SG work-neg-pst 'I hadn't worked' specified construction 12
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➌ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch 13
Constructional approach to Wolof predication An unified and coherent approach Analyse all aspects Descriptive & Explanatory Predicative Constructions Not only an unstructured list Form a network of constructions 14
General network of Wolof Predicative Constructions Aux Verb Aux-S V Perfect Future Optative Focus V na-s dina-s V na-s V Foc Aux-S V Subject Emphasis S-Aux V Complement Focus O la-s V Verb Focus da(fa)-s V Subject Focus S-a V Presentative S-angi V 15
Inheritance links Aux Verb : Aux -S V form and meaning inheritance syntactic inheritance + specific position Focus : Foc Aux -S V form and meaning inheritance instantiation CFoc : O la -S V 16
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➍ Explaining irregular forms ➄ Typological sketch 17
Irregular forms? Aux Verb Aux-S V Perfect Future Optative Focus V na-s dina-s V na-s V Foc Aux-S V Subject Emphasis S-Aux V Complement Focus O la-s V Verb Focus da(fa)-s V Subject Focus S-a V Presentative S-angi V 18
Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus'' Aux Verb Aux-S V Verb Emphasis def-a V Focus Foc Aux-S V Verb Focus V na-s former state: layering (several constructions for the same function) 19
Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus'' Aux Verb Aux-S V Verb Emphasis def-a V Focus Foc Aux-S V Verb Focus V na-s bleaching process (loss of focus features) frequency effect Perfect V na-s 20
Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus'' Aux Verb Aux-S V Verb Emphasis def-a V Focus Foc Aux-S V Verb Focus V na-s Verb Focus dafa-s V Perfect V na-s morphologization + decategorialization 21
Diachronic explanation ''Perfect'' & ''Verb Focus'' Aux Verb Aux-S V Focus Foc Aux-S V Verb Focus dafa-s V Perfect V na-s actual state: reorganisation of the network 22
Plan ➀ Wolof verbal predication ➁ Constructional approach ➂ Network of predicative constructions ➃ Explaining irregular forms ➎ Typological sketch 23
Auxiliary Verb Constructions Features Phrasal patterns Mono-clausal structure Minimally consist in lexical verb + auxiliary Lexical verb lexical content Auxiliary some grammatical or functional content Finite set of auxiliaries Wolof Predicative Constructions Auxiliary Verb Constructions démb la-a liggéey-ul-oon yesterday CFOC-1SG work-neg-pst 'it's yesterday that I didn't work' 24
West African Sprachbund Similar to Mande Moodu dina nelaw Mǎ dù bέnà sùnɔgɔ Modou PM.FUT sleep 'Modou will sleep' Links to Macro-Sudan Belt Split Predicate Sahel Belt Prospects Language contact Comparative linguistics 25
Conclusion An unified and coherent approach Analyse all aspects Descriptive & Explanatory power Cognitive adequacy Wolof Predicative Constructions Not only an unstructured list Form a network of constructions Usage-based approach can explain irregular forms Typological prospects Language contact Comparative syntax 26
References ANDERSON G. 2006. Auxiliary Verb Constructions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ANDERSON G. 2011. Auxiliary Verb Constructions in the languages of Africa. Studies in African Linguistics. vol 40, n 1-2. CROFT W. 2001. Radical Construction Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press. GOLDBERG A. 1995. Constructions: A construction grammar approach to argument structure. Chicago: Chicago University Press. GÜLDEMANN T. 2010. Sprachraum and geography: Linguistic macro-areas in Africa. In Lameli A., Kehrein R., Rabanus S. (eds.), Language Mapping. Berlin : de Gruyter. 561-593. HOPPER P., TRAUGOTT E. 2003. Grammaticalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ROBERT S. 1991. Approche énonciative du système verbal : Le cas du Wolof. Paris: Éditions du CNRS. ZIMA P. 2006. TAM Verbal Paradigms in the West African Sahel. In Caron B., Zima P. (eds.), Sprachbund in the West African Sahel. Louvain-Paris: Peeters. 221-237. 27