The structure of questions in Bokyi Language
Keywords:
Bokyi language, tag question, polar declarative sentencesAbstract
This paper describes the different question types in Bokyi language spoken in Cross Rivers state Nigeria. To this end, four question types were examined namely; tag question, echo polar question, non-echo polar question and wh-question. Data for this study were gathered primarily through oral interview conducted by the researcher. The method adopted in this research is purely, findings show that tag questions are derived from their declarative counterparts by adding a tag structure to the declarative component; echo polar questions are derived by a rising intonation; non-echo polar questions are derived by inserting the question marker di at the right-most part of the sentence; wh question are either base generated at the rightmost part of a sentence or preposed into spec-c position outside the sentence.
References
Breeze, M.J. (1990). A Sketch of the phonology and grammar of Gimira (Benchnon). In Hayward, Richard J. (ed.), Omotic language studies, 1-67. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Chomsky, N (1977). On wh-movement. In P.W Culicover et al (eds). Formal syntax. New York: Academic Press.
Dol, P. (1999). A Grammar of Maybrat: A Language of the Bird's Head, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. University of Leiden.
Haegeman (1991). Introduction to government and binding theory. Oxford: Blackwell Ltd.
Lewis, M. P. (2016). Ethnologue: Languages of the world, 16th edition. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics International. http://www.ethnologue.com. Accessed 23/09/2016.
Matthews, S.D. (2005). polar question. http://wals.info/chapter/116. Accessed 2/10/2016.
Ndimele, O. (1994). On the nature of wh-questions in Echie. Journal of West African Languages XXIV,2: 31-43
Radford, A (2006). Minimalist syntax: exploring the structure of English. Cambridge: C.U.P
Sadock, J.M., & Zwicky, A.M. (1985). Speech act distinctions in syntax. Shopen, 155–196. SIL http://www-01.sil.org/linguistics/glossaryoflinguisticterms/WhatIsATagQuestion.htm Accessed 2/10/2016.
Van den Berg, Helma. (1995). A Grammar of Hunzib. Lincom Studies in Caucasian Linguistics, 1. München: Lincom Europa
