Multi-verb constructions in Edo

By

Ota Ogie

Researcher affiliated with the Department of Language and Communication Studies.

NTNU - e-mail:ota.ogie@hf.ntnu.no

(alternatively you can use the TC-internal e-mail to contact me)

Introduction

This study examines multi-verb constructions in Èdó (a Benue-Congo language) with the aim of identifying and classifying them and their argument sharing patterns. Èdó is spoken in Èdó state in Mid-Western Nigeria and belongs to the Edoid language group (Elugbe1979). It is a head initial SVO language with an open syllable system with no consonant clusters.

We draw main background assumptions from the following sources; implemented Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammars for Norwegian (Hellan 2003) and Ga (Hellan 2007) a Kwa language spoken in Ghana; an HPSG account of argument realization patterns (Beermann, Hellan and Sætherø 2003); and a theory of event structure template (Pustejovsky 1995, 2006).

Multi-verb constructions provide useful insight into the question of how languages distinguish between adjunction and complementation. The term multi-verb constructions is defined as consisting of verbs in series that can function as independent verbs in simple sentences, with at least one shared argument and no marking of syntactic dependency (cf. Amaka 2005:2):

Verbal Morphology

With respect to verbal morphology, verbs can be inflected for the purpose of pluralizing nouns they occur with and to mark iteration.

Simple sentence: V+plural suffix

v-tr-suNom_ag_obThincrem-COMPLETED_MONODEVMT

2.

Òzó gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀n-nẹ̣̣̣̣́ èbé

“Ozo wrote a book”

Òzó

òzó

OzoSBJAGT

Np

gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀n-nẹ̣̣̣̣́
gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀n	nẹ̣̣̣̣́
write	IVPLH
Vtr

èbé

èbé

bookDOTH

CN

3.

Ọ̣̣̣̣̀ gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀n-nẹ̣̣̣̣́ èbé

“He/she wrote books”

Ọ̣̣̣̣̀

ọ̣̣̣̣̀

3SGSBJNOMAGT

PN

gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀nnẹ̣̣̣̣́
gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀n	nẹ̣̣̣̣́
write	PLIVH
V

èbé

èbé

bookDOTH

CN

Tense and transitivity are marked on the verb either through tonal changes or by affixation of a past tense suffix –rV under appropriate licensing conditions. With plural verbs,the order is the plural suffix before the past suffix.

4. Simple sentence: Present tense

v-intrImplobj-suNom_ag-NONCOMPLETED_MONODEVMT

Ọ̣̣̣̣̀ gbẹ̣̣̣̣́n

“He/she is writing”

Ọ̣̣̣̣̀

ọ̣̣̣̣̀

3SGSBJNOMAGT

PN

gbẹ̣̣̣̣́n

gbẹ̣̣̣̣́n

writePRESH

Vtr

5. Simple sentence: Past tense

v-intrImplobj-suNom_ag-COMPLETED_MONODEVMT

Ọ̣̣̣̣̀ gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀n-nẹ̣̣̣̣́-rè

“He/she wrote several times”

Ọ̣̣̣̣̀

ọ̣̣̣̣̀

3SGNOMSBJAGT

PN

gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀nnẹ̣̣̣̣́rè
gbẹ̣̣̣̣̀n	nẹ̣̣̣̣́	̣̣̣̣̣rè
write	PL	IVRT
Vtr

Multi-verb constructions:Tense,Aspect,Mood, argumentsharing and situationtype

The verbs in series in multi-verb constructions need not bear one/same marking for tense, aspect, mood or negation and need not share subjects. They include SVCs, consecutive constructions, covert co-ordination, overlapping constructions and V+ infinitival complement constructions.

Èdó

6. Consequential SVC

sv_suObID_suAg-v1tr-v1obThincrem-v2tr-v2obAff-TRANSFER

Òzó lé ìzẹ̣̣̣̣̣́ khiẹ̣̣̣̣́n

“Ozo cooked rice and sold”

Òzó

òzó

OzoSBJAGT

Np

lé

lé

cookIVH

V

ìzẹ̣̣̣̣̣́

ìzẹ̣̣̣̣̣́

rice.AFFDO

N

khiẹ̣̣̣̣́n

khiẹ̣̣̣̣́n

sellIVH

V

7. Covert co-ordination cc_suID_suAg-v1tr-v1obAff-v2tr-v2obThincrem-CAUSE_RESULT

Òzó gbọ̣̣̣̣̀ọ̣̣̣̣́ ívìn , bòló òká

“Ozo planted cooconut and peeled corn”

Òzó

òzó

OzoSBJAGT

Np

gbọ̣̣̣̣̀ọ̣̣̣̣́

gbọ̣̣̣̣̀ọ̣̣̣̣́

plantPASTH

Vtr

ívìn

ívìn

coconut.AFFDO

CN

,bòló

,bòló

peelPASTH

Vtr

òká

òká

cornDOTH

CN

8. V+infinitival complement construction

ic_suID_suAg-v2tr-v2obThincrem-CAUSE_RESULT

Íràn kùgbé-rè tòbíràn rrí ízẹ̣̣̣̣̀

“They ate the rice together by themselves”

Íràn

íràn

They3PLNOMSBJAGT

Np

kùgbérè

kùgbé-rè

jointogetherPASTRT

Vtr

tòbíràn

tòbíràn

by.themselves3PLREFLACC

rrí

rrí

eat

Vtr

ízẹ̣̣̣̣̀

ízẹ̣̣̣̣̀

riceDOTH

CN

9. Ewe

Consecutive constructions

cs3-v1intr-v1suAg-v2intr-v3intr-v3suAg-DIRECTED_MOTION

Mí-nɔ yi-yi-m má-vá

“You be going (and) I will come (i.e.follow)”

Mí

mí

2PLNOMSBJAGT

PN

nɔ

nɔ

be.at

V

yiyim
yi	yi	m
		go
V

má

má

1SGNOMSBJAGT

PN

vá

vá

come

V

Clause chaining serial constructions

Akan

11. sv_AspID_aspCompl-v1ObIDv2su-v1tr-v1suAg-v1obAff-v2tr-v2suAff-CAUSE_RESULT

Ama twee Kofi hwee fam

“Ama pulled Kofi and he(Kofi) fell (Switch sharing) ”

Ama

ama

AmaSBJAGT

Np

twee
twe	e
pull	PAST
Vtr

Kofi

kofi

kofiDO

Np

hwee
hwe	e
fall	PAST
Vitr

fam

fam

under

One of the verbs in sereis in V+modifier constructions is shown to be reanalyzed as an adjunct. The construction has one marking for tense, aspect and mood.

12. V+modifier constuctions

mc-vintr_suAg-ACHVMNT-MOTION_DIRECTED

Òzó rhùlé ̣rè làọ̣̣̣̣́ òwá

“Ozo ran into the house”

Òzó

òzó

ozoSBJAGT

Np

rhùlẹ̣̣̣̣́rè
rhùlẹ̣̣̣̣́	rè
run	IVRT
Vitr

làọ̣̣̣̣́

làọ̣̣̣̣́

enter.V>P

PREP

òwá

òwá

houseGOAL

N

11 verbal constructions in Èdó are shown to pattern into four structural types with respect to the distribution of the past tense suffix –rV, an infinitival marker yá, a floating anaphor tòbórè 'by him/her/it self ', VP adverbs and argument sharing patterns. Of the 11 verbal constructions 7 are shown to be multi-verb constructions:

A. V (P) +V (P) constructions: resultatives, negative resultatives, consequential and covert co-ordination constructions: -rV not licensed, infinitival yá not licensed. The verbs in series have the same values for Tense, Aspect and Mood (TAM).

B. V + mood constructions: purpose constructions: -rV licensed, infinitival yá not licensed. V2 has a positive value for MOOD.

C. V+ infinitival complement constructions: comitative and instrumental constructions: -rV licensed, infinitival yá licensed and V2 is non-finite.

4 of the 11 verbal predicates are shown to be reanalyzed V+ modifier constructions:

D. V+ modifier constructions: durational, directional, locational, manner constructions: -rV licensed, infinitival yá not licensed. One verb in the series is reanalyzed as adverb.

The –rV suffix also interacts in an interesting way with the temporal structures of multi-verb constructions. Overlapping events license –rV while non-overlapping events do not

A typology of multi-verb constructions

The study examines multi-verb constructions in the following languages of the Niger-Congo: Igbo and Yoruba (Benue-Congo), Gurenne (Oti-Volta), Ga, Baule, Akan and Ewe (Kwa) and situate properties of Èdó multi-verb constructions within typology common to these languages.

ÈDÓ

13.Infinitival complement construction

ic_suID_suAg-v2tr-v2obThincrem-CAUSE_RESULT

Íràn kùgbé-rè kó!kó ìzẹ̣̣̣̣̣́

“They joined together and gathered the rice”

Íràn

íràn

3PLNOMSBJAGT

PN

kùgbérè
kùgbé	rè
join	IVRT
Vtr

kó!kó

kó!kó

gather

Vtr

ìzẹ̣̣̣̣̣́

ìzẹ̣̣̣̣̣́

riceDOTH

N

14.Consequential SVC

sv_suObID_suAg-v1tr-v1obAff-v2intr-v2obThincrem-CAUSE_RESULT

Òzó lé ìzẹ́ ré

“Ozo cooked rice and ate”

Òzó

òzó

OzoSBJAGT

Np

lé

lé

cookPASTH

Vtr

ìzẹ́

ìzẹ́

riceDOTH

CN

ré

ré

eatPASTH

Vtr

IGBO

15.Commutative SVC

sv_suID_suAg-v1tr-v1obTh-v2intr-DIRECTED_MOTION

Ó wè-re ìte byá

“S/he came with a pot”

Ó

ó

3SGNOMSBJAGT

PN

wère
wè	re
take	ØASP
V

ìte

ìte

potDOTH

CN

byá

byá

come.ASP

V

AKAN

16.Clause chaining SVC (CCSVC)

sv-Implobj_suObAspID_suAg-v1tr-v1obAff-v2tr-v2obThincrem-CAUSE_RESULT

Ama noa di

“Ama cooks and then eats”

Ama

ama

AmaSBJAGT

Np

noa

noa

cook

Vtr

di

di

eat

Vtr

YORUBA

17.Commutative SVC

sv_suID_suAg-v1tr-v1obTh-v2intr-DIRECTED_MOTION

Ó mú ìwé wá

“He brought the book”

Ó

ó

3SGNOMSBJAGT

PN

mú

mú

take

V

ìwé

ìwé

bookDOTH

CN

wá

wá

come

V

EWE

18.Complement/embedded clause construction

cec-v1intr-v1suAg-v2tr-v2suAff-v2obThincrem-CAUSE_RESULT

Kofí ná (bé) wò-ɖu nú-á

“Kofi made him/her eat the thing”

Kofí

kofí

KofiSBJAGT

Np

ná

ná

give

V

bé

bé

COMP

wò

wò

AFF3SGACCSBJ

PN

ɖu

ɖu

eat

V

núá
nú	á
thingDOTH	DEF
CN

BAULE

19.Empty Subject Constraint (ESC)

esc_suID_suAg-v1tr-v1obThincrem-v2tr-v2obAff-CAUSE_RESULT

ɔsi-li aliɛ-`n sɔkɔ-li tro`n

“S/he pounded the futu and prepared the sause”

ɔ

ɔ

3SGNOMSBJAGT

PN

sili
si	li
pound	COMPL
V

aliɛ`n
aliɛ	`n
foodDOTH	DEF
CN

sɔkɔli
sɔkɔ	li
prepare	COMPL
V

tro`n

tro`n

sause.AFFDEFDO

CN

GURENNE

20.Theme SVC

sv-suObID_suAg_obTh-v1tr-v2tr- PLACEMENT

Bà diki mà tá`asi zí'à ná

“They sent me to that place”

Bà

bà

3PLNOMSBJAGT

PN

diki

diki

take

V

mà

mà

1SGACCDOTH

PN

tá`asi

tá`asi

send

V

zí'à

zí'à

placeENDPNT

CN

ná

ná

DEF

Ga

21. Extended Verb Construction

ev_ditr_suObID_suAg_obTh-pv1tr-vditr-iobEndpossessor-TRANSFER

E kɛ wolo lɛ ha mi

“He gave me the book”

E

e

3SGNOMSBJAGT

PN

kɛ

kɛ

move

V

wolo

wolo

bookDOTH

CN

lɛ

lɛ

DET

ha

ha

give

V

mi

mi

1SGGOAL

PN

Multi-verbs identified include SVCs in all the languages discussed, consecutive constructions and overlapping constructions in Ewe and covert co-ordination in Èdó, Igbo and Baule. Typological features used for identification include: tense, mood, aspect, negation, adverb distribution, predicate cleft and argument sharing patterns. The findings show that the typological features of a language determine the type of multi-verb construction it licenses. Also while, inflection may demarcate multi-verb types within a language, the pattern observed for a language may not map onto another language.

With respect to argument sharing, the following types are discussed; token sharing of subjects; switch sharing; overt reference sharing of subjects; covert reference sharing of subjects; token sharing of objects ; overt reference sharing of objects and covert sharing of objects. The patterns found in the languages studied support the claim that languages with rich verbal agreement features allow recoverability of unexpressed arguments and tend to license null subjects and objects. Object sharing patterns show asymmetry with respect to switch sharing and reference sharing. Languages that have overt reference subject sharing patterns do not have switch sharing (Ewe, Ga and Baule) while those that do not, tend to employ token/covert reference sharing of subjects and switch sharing (Èdó, Yoruba and Akan).This is buttressed by data from Attie and Likpe closely related languages to these languages. With respect to object sharing, these languages that do not have switch sharing all have covert sharing of objects, while those that have, do not have covert sharing of objects. Èdó belongs to the type that does not have overt reference sharing of subjects and tend to employ token sharing of subjects and switch sharing. For object sharing, Èdó does not have covert sharing of objects and employs mainly token sharing of objects.In particular, object sharing in multi-verb constructions in Èdó is analyzed as token sharing by grammatical function.

Schema for multi-verb constructions

Two schemas are posited to account for Èdó multi-verb constructions:

i.Verb-serial-compl (ement)-phrase with a complementation structure for the V (P) +V (P) resultative and V+infinitival complement constructions.

ii.Serial-mod-phrase with an adjunction structure for V+mood constructions, V+modifier constructions and V (P) +V (P); consequential, purpose, and negative resultative constructions.

An Èdó GrammarMatrix

Ota Ogie is developing an Èdó GrammarMatrix based on her Ph.D dissertation Multi-verb constructions in Edo (Ogie 2009a).The grammar is constructed on the LinGo GrammarMatrix (Bender, Flickinger and Oepen 2002, Bender et al 2010) and is based on the Head Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG) (Pollard and Sag 1994, Sag and Wasow 1999, Sag, Wasow and Bender 2003) and the Linguistic Knowledge Builder (LKB) system (Copestake 2002, Copestake et al 2005). Assumptions are drawn from the NorSource GrammarMatrix (Hellan 2003, Hellan and Haugereid 2003, Hellan and Beermann 2006 etc) and the Ga GrammarMatrix (Kropp Dakubu M.E., Lars, Hellan, and D.Beermann. 2007, Hellan 2007). The grammar performs both parsing and generation and accounts for phenomenon like basic clause syntax, agreement, tone, Tense Aspect and Mood, modification and MVCs(Ogie 2011)media:Edo GrammarMatix.zip.