NOUN PHRASE AND CLAUSAL CONNECTIVES IN AKAN

Abstract

Norwegian University of Science and Technology / University of Ghana This paper explores the semantics and pragmatics of noun phrase and clausal connectives in Akan (Niger-Congo, Kwa branch), highlighting dialectal variation. In Fante, noun phrases may be conjoined by nye which encodes comitativity, or na, which is underdetermined between comitative and coordinative meanings. Asante, on the other hand, uses the underdetermined noun phrase connective ne. The interlocutor in Asante thus relies on contextual information to determine the intended interpretation. Clausal conjunction in both dialects is performed by na, but a temporal marker can be aptly used in certain contexts as an alternative to the clausal connective. This situation, where the temporal marker 69* vn certain contrastive contexts. This phenomenon demonstrates the close conceptual affinity between temporal markers and clausal coordinators.