Block 17 · pages 158-169
Chapter 4: NPs with Numerals, Quantifiers, Adjectives, and Postpositional Phrases
4.1.5 NPs with numerals
Numerals 'one' to 'ten' follow the noun: 'one' (fo(oda)) with singular noun, 'two' to 'ten' with plural noun (e.g., bora fodda 'one person', barr-en hinka 'two children'). Tens from 30 to 90 are compounds: unit + t-a-merw-in (e.g., kaarad-a-temerwin 'thirty'). Hundreds and thousands are heads of NPs that take plural when needed (t-a-méedi > t-a-mmad 'hundreds'). Ordinals are formed with ayo + anda + numeral; 'first' is suppletive ayo yizzar-an.
4.1.5.5 Multiplication and distributive clauses
'One and the other' is expressed with a-ffo (a)-cci a-ffo se ('one said to the other'). faddan means 'other, different'. The demonstrative na ayo encodes 'the other (antagonist)'.
4.1.6 NPs with other quantifying modifiers
- káamil 'all' follows the noun, does not agree (e.g., bor-én káamil 'all people').
- kullú 'each, every' follows the noun.
- ittilla 'each/every' precedes the noun, used with singular count nouns and time expressions (e.g., ittilla zayri 'every day').
- kaka 'whatever, whoever' (e.g., bora kaka 'whoever').
- babo-(a)n 'many' is an adjective derived from the verb babo 'be numerous'.
- 'a little bit' is expressed with X n he ('thing of X') or arat an X.
4.1.7 NPs with adjectives
Adjectives follow the noun and agree in number. A demonstrative or determiner may intervene (e.g., t-a-ngud gin-giman '(a) beautiful girl'; aaru ayo ceen-an 'that young man'). Numerals can co-occur with adjectives (e.g., surgoy-en kaarad gin-giman-en 'three beautiful women'). Adjectives headed by ayo serve as NPs (e.g., ayo yaynaday-an 'the new one').
4.1.8 Postpositional Phrases
The postposition follows the head noun and any modifying possessive phrase with wani or demonstrative, but precedes other modifiers like adjectives, numerals, and káamil (e.g., zayri altanin wanji ka 'on a Monday'; tuv-yén ka zadig-anan 'in clean bowls').
Keywords : numerals quantifiers adjectives noun phrase postpositional phrase ordinals distributive
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v 3.2.8.3 Reduplication + -an ........................................136 3.2.8.4 Irregular adjectives .........................................137 3.2.8.5 Plural..............................................................138 3.2.9 Quantificational adjectives ....................................139 3.2.9.1 Basic numerals...............................................139 3.2.9.2 Compound numerals ......................................140 4 Syntax............................. …
Christiansen-Bolli (2010), A Grammar of Tadaksahak, a Northern Songhay Language of Mali, p. 8
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143 Syntax 4 Syntax This chapter starts with a discussion of the syntax of the noun phrase. This includes NPs with possessors, demonstratives, the determiner aɣo/aɣondo and modifiers like numerals and adjectives. In the next section (4.2) the different MAN markers with their uses are presented. Following that is a section about argument structure, i.e., the different types of verbs (4.3), and a special type of clause treated under copular clauses (4.4). In section 4.5 relativ …
Christiansen-Bolli (2010), A Grammar of Tadaksahak, a Northern Songhay Language of Mali, p. 161
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… uctions with the same verb. (3) Salangawey ga mooru. toilet.PLDEF TAM be.distant ‘The toilets are distant.’ 1Abbreviations used BEN benefactive postposition NP noun phrase REF reflexive CAU causative Q question particle TAM tense/aspect marker S DEF definite PASS passive TMP temporal particle GEN genitive PLDEF plural definite 1/2/3s 1st/2nd/3rd person singular LOC locative postposition REC reciprocal 1/2/3p 1st/2nd/3rd person plural N: noun 2Heath 1999:164.
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6 2.3. Tadaksahak 2.3.1. Conjugation Different from Songhay, Tadaksahak always has a subject clitic even if the noun phrase is also present. The TAM markers precede the verb stem and consist of a consonant with a possible vowel: C(V)-. All unbound verb roots begin with a consonant. The unit /clitic+TAM+verb.stem/ has in general only one stressed syllable. (NP) pron.clitic-TAM -(derivator-)verb 2.3.2. Causative and other voice changing devices In Tadaksahak the voice changing …