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The Syntax of Action Nominalization in Wolof

Received: 14 December 2018    Accepted: 29 December 2018    Published: 18 January 2019
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Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of action nominalization in Wolof, a language spoken in Senegal. Following the generative grammar approach to language, the nature of this nominalization process is analyzed by making reference to its syntactic properties. The analysis shows that this nominalization has mixed properties as it can be related to both nouns and verbs. This is substantiated by the way it patterns with respect to adjectives, determiners, adverbs, aspect and tense. Specifically, action nominalization in Wolof can be related to a VP, but not a TP/IP.

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 6, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijll.20180606.16
Page(s) 231-235
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Syntax, Mixed Categories, Morphology, Nominalization, Wolof

References
[1] Alexiadou, A. (2001). Functional Structure in Nominals: Nominalization an Ergativity. Amsterdam: John Benjamins B. V.
[2] Baker, M. C. and N. Vinokurova. 2009. “On agent nominalizations and why they are not like event nominalizations.” In Language. Project MUSE. 517-556.
[3] Chomsky, Noam. 1970. Remarks on nominalization. In Jacobs, Roderick; Rosenbaum, P. (eds.). Readings in English transformational grammar. Waltham, MA: Blaisdell.184-221.
[4] Creissels, D. (2002) Colloque ‘Théories linguistiques et langues subsahariennes’ Université de Paris VIII, 6-8 février 2002 Adjectifs et adverbes dans les langues subsahariennes.
[5] Doke, C. M. (1935). Bantu linguistic terminology. London: Longman.
[6] Dowty, D. (1989). On the semantic content of the notion of “thematic role” In Chierchia, G.; Partee, B; Turner, R. Properties, Types and Meaning. Dordrecht: Kluwer 69-129.
[7] Grimshaw, J. (1990). Argument Structure. Cambridge: MIT press.
[8] Fu J. & Roeper, T., Borer, Hagit. 2001. “The VP within Process Nominals: Evidence from Adverbs and the VP Anaphor Do-So”. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 19 (3), 549-582.
[9] Hazout, I. (1995). “Action Nominalizations and the Lexicalist Hypothesis”. In Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 13 (3), 355-404.
[10] Higginbotham, J. (1993). “Logical form, binding and nominals”. In Linguistic Inquiry 14. 395-420.
[11] Koptjevskaja-Tamm, M. (1993). Nominalizations. New York: Routledge.
[12] Lees, R. (1960). “The grammar of English nominalizations” In International Journal of American Linguistics 26, 1-205.
[13] McLaughlin, F. (2000). “Consonant mutation and reduplication in Seereer-Siin”. Phonology 17(3): 333-363.
[14] McLaughlin, F. (2004) “Is there an adjective class in Wolof?” Adjective classes: a crosslinguistic typology. In Dixon, R. M. W. and Aikhenvald, A. Y. (eds). Oxford: OUP. 242-262.
[15] Ndiaye, M. (2003). Eléments de Morphologie du Wolof. Muenchen: Lincom.
[16] Seck, A. Ng. (1987). Recherches comparatives sur les déterminants morphématiques du wolof et du francais : étude syntactique et référentielle. Nice : Université de Nice.
[17] Tamba, K., Torrence, H. & Zimmermann, M. (2012). “Wolof Quantifiers”. In Keenan, E. & Paperno, D. (Ed) Handbook of Quantifiers in Natural Languages. New York: Springer.891-939.
[18] Tamba, Khady. 2014. Clausal Nominalization in Wolof. PhD dissertation. Lawrence: The University of Kansas.
[19] Torrence, H. (2013). The Clause Structure of Wolof Insights into the Left Periphery. Philadelphia: John Benjamins B. V.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Khady Tamba. (2019). The Syntax of Action Nominalization in Wolof. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 6(6), 231-235. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20180606.16

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    ACS Style

    Khady Tamba. The Syntax of Action Nominalization in Wolof. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2019, 6(6), 231-235. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20180606.16

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    AMA Style

    Khady Tamba. The Syntax of Action Nominalization in Wolof. Int J Lang Linguist. 2019;6(6):231-235. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20180606.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijll.20180606.16,
      author = {Khady Tamba},
      title = {The Syntax of Action Nominalization in Wolof},
      journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
      volume = {6},
      number = {6},
      pages = {231-235},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20180606.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20180606.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20180606.16},
      abstract = {This paper provides an analysis of action nominalization in Wolof, a language spoken in Senegal. Following the generative grammar approach to language, the nature of this nominalization process is analyzed by making reference to its syntactic properties. The analysis shows that this nominalization has mixed properties as it can be related to both nouns and verbs. This is substantiated by the way it patterns with respect to adjectives, determiners, adverbs, aspect and tense. Specifically, action nominalization in Wolof can be related to a VP, but not a TP/IP.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    AB  - This paper provides an analysis of action nominalization in Wolof, a language spoken in Senegal. Following the generative grammar approach to language, the nature of this nominalization process is analyzed by making reference to its syntactic properties. The analysis shows that this nominalization has mixed properties as it can be related to both nouns and verbs. This is substantiated by the way it patterns with respect to adjectives, determiners, adverbs, aspect and tense. Specifically, action nominalization in Wolof can be related to a VP, but not a TP/IP.
    VL  - 6
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Author Information
  • English Department, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

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