The Hausa "Grade 5/Causative-Efferential" Verb: Causative, Noncausative, or Both? A Critical Assessment Of Previous Analyses

Jaggar, Philip J.

Abstract

This critical review evaluates various semantic classifications of the so-called derivative "Grade 5" Hausa verb. Members of this morphologically distinct class are all transitive but express a diverse range of meanings, e.g., kwantar̃ = Grade 5 ‘lay (down)’ < intransitive kwântaa ‘lie (down)’, sayar̃ = Grade 5 ‘sell’ < transitive sàyaa ‘buy’, jeefar̃ = Grade 5 ‘throw away’ < transitive jeefàa 'throw’. Previous analyses have attempted to explain these interpretations in terms of a semantic causative and/or noncausative framework. In this paper, I conclude that both the 'lie/lay' and "caused-change-of-possession" 'buy/sell' verb-pairs represent stereotypic causative alternations, as distinct from the 'throw/throw away' "change of location" class which falls short of expressing causation.

Citation

Jaggar, P. J. (2014). The Hausa "Grade 5/Causative-Efferential" Verb: Causative, Noncausative, or Both? A Critical Assessment Of Previous Analyses. In S. Boušková (Ed.), The relativity of proximity and remoteness: communication from the perspective of culture and linguistics = Relativité de la proximité et de la distance: La communication dans la perspective culturelle et linguistique. Fakulta humanitních studií Univerzity Karlovy

• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 4, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2024
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Book Title: The relativity of proximity and remoteness: communication from the perspective of culture and linguistics = Relativité de la proximité et de la distance: La communication dans la perspective culturelle et linguistique
• ISBN: 9788087398661
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ISBN: 9788087398661