While a number of Mende grammars have been written (Aginsky 1935; Innes 1967; Spears 1967; Brown 1982), there is no systematic treatment of its adpositional system. In this paper I introduce Mende’s adpositional system, providing a brief, intuitive definition, according to Talmy’s (1983) schematization. I next consider how to categorize its adpositions as lexical, functional, or polyfunctional. I use five diagnostic tests to show how locatives are similar to putative nominals (and different from functional adpositions), then use two tests to show how they differ from nouns. Based on these tests, I propose a (synchronic) syntactic cline, ranging from nouns to light nouns to locatives and functional adpositions. Finally, I explore whether this analysis can also account for complex postpositions, arguing that the first adposition is always farther to the left on the cline.
The paper examines nominal plural marking in Konabere, the northern variety of the Bobo Madare language. The formation of plurals in Konabere is a complex system of different patterns, the choice between which is determined lexically for each noun. The means used to form the plural of nouns (including borrowed nouns, derived nouns and nominal compounds) include at least five suffixes, four of which harmonize for the roundness and [ATR] features to the root vowels, and a number of vowel changing patterns. Tendencies partially determining the choice of the model depending on the structure and semantics of the noun were identified. An analysis of the plural markers attested in several related languages suggests that at least some means of plural formation in Konabere originate from phonologically conditioned allomorphs of the definite marker.
The paper examines nominal plural marking in Konabere, the northern variety of the Bobo Madare language. The formation of plurals in Konabere is a complex system of different patterns, the choice between which is determined lexically for each noun. The means used to form the plural of nouns (including borrowed nouns, derived nouns and nominal compounds) include at least five suffixes, four of which harmonize for the roundness and [ATR] features to the root vowels, and a number of vowel changing patterns. Tendencies partially determining the choice of the model depending on the structure and semantics of the noun were identified. An analysis of the plural markers attested in several related languages suggests that at least some means of plural formation in Konabere originate from phonologically conditioned allomorphs of the definite marker.
The paper focuses on noun-based complex predicates (NVCPs) in Guinean Kpelle (iso 639-3 [gkp], Southwestern Mande). We explore the degree of nominal boundedness and the bracketing within complex predicates by looking at the phonological, morphological, semantic and syntactic patterning of nouns within NVCPs, based on elicitation data from three speakers. We argue that NVCP nouns form a hierarchy of boundedness: non-spatial nouns > body part names > preverbal nouns; however, due to predicate-specific variability, an overarching syntactic analysis remains impossible. We provide a detailed description of how Guinean Kpelle NVCPs function in the so-called `split predicate' constructions, featuring a systematic mismatch between their syntactic structure and semantic interpretation. Our findings suggest that certain NVCP features in Guinean Kpelle-such as the existence of distinct noun-based NVCP types-align more closely with patterns observed in other languages of Western Mande branch, to which Guinean Kpelle is genetically affiliated. However, other features-like the notably strong autonomy of nominal elements within NVCPs-suggest affinities with Southern Mande languages, reflecting Guinean Kpelle's geographical proximity to that group.
Banka, spoken in Southern Mali, is a lect of a group (often referred to as "Samogo") that further consists of the Duun (Mali) and Dzuun (Burkina Faso) varieties. The present article is committed to making lexical data of this variety available. The relevant data were collected in the field in 1999 and 2000. The word list is preceded by a concise introduction highlighting some phonological and morphological features, in order to facilitate the access to and the use of the data.
