Description of the semantic potential of the si-construction in Basse Mandinka
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of General Linguistics, Stellenbosch University
Abstract
The present paper provides a detailed description of the semantic potential offered by the si-construction in Basse Mandinka (a regional variety of the Gambian Mandinka language), by enumerating all temporal, aspectual, taxis and modal values which this verbal form may convey. The study demonstrates that the si-construction offers a wide range of senses. Most commonly, the construction introduces the idea of futurity, regularly accompanied by modal tones of necessity and obligation. More specifically, in the first person, it expresses desires and promises, obligation and necessity, as well as, permission and deliberation; in the second person, it functions as an imperative; and in the third person, it approximates the category of a jussive. The si-construction also introduces modal ideas of obligation and necessity situated in a past time frame, being additionally able to function as a future in the past category. The si-construction can likewise convey the sense of epistemic possibility with no evident future undertones. Finally, it can denote present habitual and customary activities. A profoundly modal nature of the si-construction additionally justifies its common use with the verb noo "be able, can". In such cases, it introduces various modal nuances, typically bereaved of any future sense.
Description
CITATION: Andrason, A. 2012. Description of the semantic potential of the si-construction in Basse Mandinka. Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics, 41:1-15, doi:10.5774/41-0-41.
The original publication is available at https://spil.journals.ac.za
The original publication is available at https://spil.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Linguistics -- Africa
Citation
Andrason, A. 2012. Description of the semantic potential of the si-construction in Basse Mandinka. Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics, 41:1-15, doi:10.5774/41-0-41.