Niger-Congo Verb Extensions: Overviewand Discussion

Abstract

This paper presents a general overview and discussion of the suffixes known as “verb extensions” in the various sub-branches of Niger-Congo. As indicated in (1), such suffixes may have a variety of functions. (1) Verb suffixes may: a. increase valence causative, benefactive, dative, instrumental, locative, etc. b. decrease valence passive, reciprocal, stative, middle, etc. c. (re-)orient action reversive, directionals (goal/source, towards/from speaker), etc. d. mark aspect pluractional, inchoative, resultative, perfective/imperfective, etc. As seen, verb extensions most frequently have what would be identified as “derivational” functions, although certain inflectional categories are sometimes implicated as well. Although the functions in (1) are perhaps best known from detailed studies of Bantu languages, examples from other branches of Niger-Congo which have direct Bantu analogues are given in (2). (2) a. Causative-EsE in Degema [Edoid; Benue-Congo] (Kari 1995:158) tU ‘be burnt ’ → tU-ɛsɛ ‘cause to be burnt’ tul ‘reach ’ → tul-ese ‘cause to reach’ kir ‘return ’ → kir-ese ‘cause to return’