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Article published In:
Studies in Language
Vol. 44:4 (2020) ► pp.964–994
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Ditransitive constructions in Akebu

| Institute of Linguistics RAS
| Institute of Linguistics RAS

This paper contributes to the typology of ditransitive constructions. Akebu (Kwa, Ghana-Togo mountain, West Africa) has four strategies of alignment of ditransitive verbs, if both theme and recipient objects are expressed: a neutral strategy, a possessive-like strategy, a strategy with a pronominal reprise and a ‘take’ serial verb construction strategy. The possessive-like strategy that is most standard in Akebu is rare in a cross-linguistic perspective and has not been attested in other Kwa languages. The factors that license a certain strategy are person, number and noun class of the theme and recipient and the internal structure of the theme noun phrase.

Keywords: alignment, ditransitive constructions, adnominal ditransitives, Akebu, Kwa, rarissima
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Cross-linguistic and Kwa background
    • 2.1Ditransitive constructions in Kwa
    • 2.2Possessive-like ditransitive constructions
  • 3.Overview of Akebu ditransitives
    • 3.1The lexical class of ditransitive verbs
    • 3.2Alignment strategies of ditransitive verbs
    • 3.3Alternative alignment and omission of arguments
  • 4.Neutral strategy
  • 5.Possessive-like strategy
  • 6.Strategy with a pronominal reprise
  • 7.Strategy with a ‘take’ serial verb construction
  • 8.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 23 October 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.19068.shl
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