The EK construction in Xhosa : a cognitive account
Date
2017-11-29
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Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Developed within the frame of cognitive linguistics, this paper argues that the
entire syntactic and semantic profile of the EK gram can be unified and viewed
as coherent by modeling it as a map of different but related features. This understanding
gives access both to the extreme variability of the EK form and to
its internal cohesion, without equating this construction with one taxonomical
category or postulating a set of invariant properties. The synchronic evidence
demonstrates that the traits such as intransitivity, non-agentivity, resultativity/
stativity, and modality are prototypical. Other traits, e.g. (semi-)transitivity,
(semi-)agentivity, spontaneity, and impetus are less prototypical or nonprototypical.
The former class is psychologically associated with the EK gram,
while the latter class does not enter into speakers’ representation of this form.
The true cohesion of the EK gram is, however, recoverable only diachronically.
The historical center of the map of the EK form corresponds to an in-/detransitive,
agentless, resultative gram. This input construction has developed
all the other properties visualized as components of the map (e.g. functions
that are more transitive and more agentive, as well as stative and modal senses)
by following a set of crosslinguistically common evolutionary tendencies
or grammaticalization paths.
Description
CITATION: Andrason, A. & Dlali, M. 2017. The EK construction in Xhosa : a cognitive account. Jezikoslovlje, 18(3):383-421.
The original publication is available at https://hrcak.srce.hr/jezikoslovlje
The original publication is available at https://hrcak.srce.hr/jezikoslovlje
Keywords
Xhosa language -- Grammar, Cognitive grammar, Xhosa language -- Verb, ek (The Xhosa verb affix)
Citation
Andrason, A. & Dlali, M. 2017. The EK construction in Xhosa : a cognitive account. Jezikoslovlje, 18(3):383-421