Ikpana Interrogatives

This book explores the interrogative system of Ikpana, an endangered Ghana-Togo Mountain language, and provides a theoretically-informed description and analysis of its grammar, including topics such as polar question formation, wh- movement, wh- in-situ, interrogative intonation, and prosody. The authors demonstrate that theoretically-guided language documentation can contribute to language description and understanding of the human Language Faculty.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate interrogative system of Ikpana, a critically endangered indigenous Ghana-Togo Mountain language spoken in eastern Ghana. Renowned for its unique characteristics, Ikpana's interrogative system stands out in various ways. It defies certain typological trends, presents counterexamples to certain claims about language universals, and showcases fascinating patterns that are either rare or unfamiliar in interrogative systems across languages. Through extensive fieldwork and a multidisciplinary approach encompassing formal/theoretical, experimental, and comparative methodologies, the book offers a comprehensive and theoretically informed description and analysis of Ikpana interrogative grammar. The chapters delve into a diverse array of phenomena, including polar question formation, wh- movement, wh- in-situ, interrogative intonation, and prosody, among others. The authors impressively demonstrate that theoretically guided language documentation goes beyond mere description and plays a vital role in enhancing our understanding of the human Language Faculty. By bringing formal and theoretical concerns to the forefront, the book facilitates the creation of richer and more nuanced descriptions of grammar, surpassing the limitations of purely descriptive approaches. This invaluable work not only contributes to our knowledge of Ikpana but also expands the empirical basis of language typologies, fostering a deeper appreciation for the diversity and complexity of human language.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 240 x 160 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192845009