SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This thesis deals with the classification of verbs in the Fula language. Both syntactic and semantic criteria are used to arrive at a systematic analysis of the relationships of verbs to the nominals that construct with them. Halliday's approach to transitivity in English is used as the theoretical basis, especially at the semantic level. The thesis contains four chapters and two appendices. The first chapter, a grammatical survey, deals with the maximum number of nominals with which verbs can construct, the question of pronominalisation of the nominals, the possibility of their omission, and their occurrence as subject of the corresponding Passive form. Chapter II outlines the relevant aspects of Halliday's treatment of English, in particular his 'clause types' and 'participant roles'. Chapter III shows how far these are applicable to Fula, and suggests supplementary categories which are required for the Fula situation. Chapter IV demonstrates how Fula verbs can be classified on the basis of the clause types in which they operate and the participant roles of their dependent nominals. Some special Fula verb-types and constructions are described in Appendix A. Appendix B presents, in tabulated form, the behaviour, as described in Chapter IV, of a variety of individual verbs.