Published In
Studies in the Linguistic Sciences
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 1989
Subjects
Kissi language -- Ideophone, Kissi language -- Verb, African languages, Comparative and general grammar -- Word formation -- Case studies
Abstract
This paper begins with an analysis of ideophones in Kisi (West Atlantic, Guinea). This examination leads to consideration of the diachrony of ideophones, but because of the lack of data with any real time depth, we are limited to finding clues in the synchronic data. This study looks first at verbs, the class of words which Kisi ideophones resemble most closely. Such is also the case in other African languages, where ideophones can often be analyzed as verbs, as has been done for several Southern Bantu languages. I then demonstrate how Kisi ideophones can be derived from verbs, illustrating several possible scenarios for such a process. I then look at possible derivational relationships with other word categories, finding that with other word categories the direction of derivation is the opposite. For example, nouns are derived from ideophones but no vice versa. This generalization holds across other African languages as well and may be true for expressive language in general.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/27702
Citation Details
Childs, George Tucker (1989). Where do ideophones come from. Studies in the linguistic sciences, 19(2), 55-76.
Description
Originally appeared in Studies in the Linguistic Sciences, volume 19, number 2, Fall 1989, published by the Dept. of Linguistics, University of Illinois.