Baker, Mark C. 2005

Baker, Mark C. 2005. On verb-initial and verb-final word orders in Lokaa. Journal of African languages and linguistics 26(2). 125-164. doi: 10.1515/jall.2005.26.2.125. Walter de Gruyter.

@article{59961,
  author           = {Baker, Mark C.},
  journal          = {Journal of African languages and linguistics},
  number           = {2},
  pages            = {125-164},
  publisher        = {Walter de Gruyter},
  title            = {On verb-initial and verb-final word orders in Lokaa},
  url              = {http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jall.2005.26.issue-2/jall.2005.26.2.125/jall.2005.26.2.125.xml},
  volume           = {26},
  year             = {2005},
  abstract         = {Verb phrases seem to be head initial in affirmative sentences in Lokạạ (a Niger-Congo language of the Cross River area of Nigeria) but head final in negative clauses and gerunds. This article aspires to give a comprehensive description of this phenomenon, together with a theoretical analysis. It considers how a full range of grammatical elements are ordered in both kinds of clauses – including direct objects, second objects, particles, weak pronouns, complement clauses, serial verbs, adverbs, prepositional phrases, tense/mood particles, and auxiliary verbs. The pattern that emerges is a bit different from the one found in some superficially similar languages, such as Vata, Bambara, Nupe, and Nweh. I argue that the details are correctly explained by a “remnant movement” theory in which the Lokạạ verb first moves out of the verb phrase to combine with tense/agreement inflection, and then the rest of the verb phrase moves as a unit into a specifier position at the top of the clause. This position is available because the notional subject undergoes dislocation in Lokạạ, as has been claimed for many of its Bantu kin.},
  bestfn           = {africa\baker_lokaa2005.pdf},
  besttxt          = {ptxt2\africa\baker_lokaa2005.txt},
  cfn              = {africa\baker_lokaa2005.pdf},
  citekeys         = {cldf4:typ_Baker_Lokaa},
  delivered        = {africa\baker_lokaa2005.pdf},
  doi              = {10.1515/jall.2005.26.2.125},
  fn               = {africa\baker_lokaa2005.pdf, africa\baker_lokaa2005_o.pdf},
  hhtype           = {specific_feature},
  inlg             = {English [eng]},
  isreferencedby   = {cldf4},
  issn             = {0167-6164},
  keywords         = {;waf;nga;lng;grm;t.279;},
  lgcode           = {Lokaa [yaz]},
  macro_area       = {Africa},
  src              = {cldf, degruyter, eballiso2009, hh, weball, zurich},
  subject_headings = {waf, nga, lng, grm, t.279},
  zurichcode       = {Loko [YAZ]}
}