In this paper I argue that the basic complement order for the Double Object Construction in Ewegbe is Theme-Goal. This is because of the behavior of such verbs, as regarding preposing in the progressive and nominalization, the nya-construction, and pronominalization. Three verbs in the language allow for a Goal-Theme complement order in addition to the Theme-Goal order. In contrast, inherent complement verbs (ICVs) only allow for the basic order. I show that this analysis not only captures important generalizations in the Gbe languages, but it also throws light on some double object verbs that have been described as discontinuous words in other Kwa languages like Akan.
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- 1.
High tone is marked with the acute accent while non-high tones are left unmarked. The following abbreviations are used in glossing: 1 = first person, 2 = second person, 3 = third person, AUX = auxiliary, DEF = definite, DOC = double object construction, FOC = focus, HAB = habitual, LOG = logophoric pronoun, MOD = modal, NEG = negation, PERF = perfective, PL = plural, POSS = possessive, PRES = present, PROG = progressive, PRT = particle, RED = reduplication, SG = singular, SPECI = specific, SUBJV = subjunctive, TP = terminal particle.
- 2.
It could also mean Kosi showed his own photograph to everybody, but that interpretation does not concern us here.
- 3.
Lefebvre (1993) claims that this interpretation is available in Fon.
- 4.
The presence of the habitual morpheme is due to the fact that the subject of this construction is non-specific.
- 5.
The same restriction applies in Fon as well. Lefebvre’s (1993) account is that it is the argument which is affected which can take this form.
- 6.
In Collins’ examples (e.g. ex 27a on page 20), the Goal is a proper name.
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Essegbey, J. (2010). Inherent Complement Verbs and the Basic Double Object Construction in Gbe. In: Aboh, E., Essegbey, J. (eds) Topics in Kwa Syntax. Studies in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, vol 78. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3189-1_8
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