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Similative and Equative Constructions: A cross-linguistic perspective
Edited by Yvonne Treis and Martine Vanhove
[Typological Studies in Language 117] 2017
► pp. 213–238

Chapter 8
Expressing comparison in Gbaya, a Ubangian language of the Central African Republic

Gbaya, an Ubangian language of Central Africa, shows that all types of comparison are qualitative expressions and not quantitative ones involving a parameter of gradation or degree. Following the theoretical framework proposed in Fuchs (2014), this chapter first presents the use of the dedicated similative circumposition hé … gá. It expresses, in different contexts, a way of doing (modus faciendi) or a way of being (modus essendi). It frames a nominal phrase and can also be used as a subordinating morpheme to frame a clause. Then, the comparison of equality is studied and analysed as a special case of similative comparison, in which the reciprocal morpheme is added to the circumposition. Another construction of comparison of equality, which does not involve the circumposition, also uses the reciprocal and is formed with two verbs hɔ ‘reach’ and ɲɛm ‘suit’. As for the comparison of superior inequality, it is shown that it has a dedicated construction, different from the similative and equative constructions. It is formed with a verb sequence including the verb gan ‘exceed’. Comparison of inferior inequality does not exist. Finally, the functive morpheme is distinct from the similative one.
Keywords: similative, comparison, Niger-Congo, Gbaya, Central Africa
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Expressing comparison
  • 3.Similative comparison
    • 3.1The similative predication
    • 3.2Expanding the comparee
      • 3.2.1Nominal comparee
        • 3.2.1.1Standard = contextual reference
        • 3.2.1.2Standard = prototypical reference
      • 3.2.2Adjectival comparee
        • 3.2.2.1Standard = prototypical reference
        • 3.2.2.2Standard = contextual reference
      • 3.2.3Verbal comparee
        • 3.2.3.1Standard = prototypical reference
        • 3.2.3.2Standard = contextual reference
      • 3.2.4Summary
    • 3.3The similative subordinate clause
      • 3.3.1The similative subordinate clause following the main clause (C1 hé C2 gá)
        • 3.3.1.1Expressing a modus faciendi
        • 3.3.1.2Simulating a modus essendi
        • 3.3.1.3Omission of a similative element
      • 3.3.2The similative subordinate clause preceding the main clause (hé C1 gá C2)
        • 3.3.2.1The causal similative
        • 3.3.2.2Omission of a similative element
      • 3.3.3Summary
  • 4.Comparison of (in)equality
    • 4.1Comparison of equality
      • 4.1.1The reciprocal màá as the standard
        • 4.1.1.1The equative nominal predicate
        • 4.1.1.2Adjectival comparee
      • 4.1.2The reciprocal màá with the verbs hɔ and ɲɛm
        • 4.1.2.1hɔ màá ‘look like, be the same as’
        • 4.1.2.2ɲɛm màá ‘be equal, equivalent’
    • 4.2Comparison of inequality
      • 4.2.1Comparison of superiority
      • 4.2.2Comparison of inferiority
  • 5.The functive
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 31 May 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.117.09rou
References (10)
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Cited by three other publications

Oleniak, Mariana
2022. On an idiosyncratic type of an Old English simile. Acta Linguistica Hafniensia 54:2 ► pp. 235 ff. DOI logo
Bobuafor, Mercy
2021. Comparative constructions in Tafi. Journal of African Languages and Linguistics 42:2 ► pp. 163 ff. DOI logo
Chamoreau, Claudine & Yvonne Treis
2019. Comparaisons d’égalité et de similitude : comme du pareil au même. Faits de Langues 50:1 ► pp. 9 ff. DOI logo

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