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Unusual manner constructions in Shua (Khoe-Kwadi, Botswana)

2017; De Gruyter; Volume: 55; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1515/ling-2017-0013

1613-396X

William B. McGregor,

Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies

Abstract This paper describes a set of three interrelated constructions in Shua (Khoe-Kwadi, Botswana) that make reference to the manner of performance of an event, or to the condition of an entity or entities either in general or as they are involved in an event or situation. There is a subordinate version of the construction that employs reduplication of the verb and a marked case of the subject to signal subordinate status. The other two types are main clause constructions with the overall appearance of copular clauses (i.e., clauses employing a grammeme as a linking device), with a final ‘be’ copula together with an instance of the subordinate variety of the construction. These two constructions, however, show grammatical features that attest to their distinctiveness, distinguishing them from other types of copular clause. The paper discusses the range of meanings and uses of the three manner constructions, and proposes grammatical analyses.