Abstract
In this dissertation, our goal was to analyze question
formation in Shupamem. More precisely, we wanted to explain the structures of
interrogative sentences that are peculiar to Shupamem. For this reason, our
main task was to identify questions markers, types of questions and the
structures of interrogative sentences. Also, our aim was to identify some of
the constraints and mechanisms that are generated by questions formation in
Shupamem. Our data revealed that questions are marked in Shupamem by the
following question markers:
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` « ?
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`
», « m?
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», « n?Ì », « I », « nI
» and Wh words. In fact, we used the question markers « ?Ì
»,
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iv
« m?Ì » and « n?Ì » in all
types of questions apart from rhetorical questions where we use « I »
and « nI ». In Wh questions, the question markers are the Wh word and
one of the following interrogators « ?Ì », « m?Ì
», « n?Ì », « I » or « nI ». We found
five (05) types of interrogative sentences in Shupamem. It was discovered that
Shupamem exhibits twelve (12) interrogatives structures. We noticed that
contrary to languages like French and English that admit question formation (as
in «yes» or «no» question) without questions markers, in
Shupamem, there is always a question marker in interrogative sentence.
Moreover, we found out that Shupamem is both a Wh in-situ and a Wh ex-situ
language. In fact, in this language, the Wh word can appear in sentence initial
position (ex-situ) as well as in sentence final position (in-situ). We should
note that the Wh phrase is in-situ when it is not focalized and is ex-situ or
in sentence initial position when it is focalized and when it appears in
verbless question.
Furthermore, we talked about the left periphery. And for this
reason, we talked about focalization, topicalisation and relativization.
Talking about focalization, we found out that all the constituents can be
focalized in Shupamem. And the main techniques used in focalization are
clefting and verb doubling. Talking about topicalisation, we discovered that
topicalised constituents are usually at sentence initial position and may leave
behind a resumptive pronoun. Our data revealed that subjects, objects and
adverbials can be relativized in Shupamem. Finally, it was revealed that
Shupamem does not allow any empty subject position and for this reason, in the
process of focalization and relativization of the subject, the trace of the
subject is replaced by a resumptive pronoun. From this analysis, we discovered
that the left periphery in Shupamem has the following projections in this
order:
- SForce > SRel > (STop1) > SFoc > (STop2)
- SForce > (STop1) > SRel > SFoc > (STop2)
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Abréviations et signes diacritiques
1sg : première personne du singulier
2pl : deuxième personne du pluriel 2sg :
deuxième personne du singulier AC : aspect
accompli
Accs : accord sujet
Adv Int : adverbe interrogatif
BB : bas bas
BH : bas haut
BHB : bas haut bas
BHH : bas haut haut
BHHBH : bas haut haut bas haut
F1 : futur immédiat
F2 : futur 1
F3 : futur 2
HAB : aspect habituel HB : haut
Bas
IMPF: imperfectif
INC: inchoative
INF: infinitif
INH: aspect inhérent
Int Or : interrogateur oratoire
Int : interrogateur
ISV : inversion sujet-verbe
IT : itératif
M.Int : marqueur de l'interrogation
Mot int : mot interrogatif
N AC : Aspect non-accompli
Nég : négation
Ø : morphème zéro
Op.cit. : (opus citatum ou opere citato)
déjà cité
P1 : passé 1
P2 : passé 2
vi
P3 : passé 3
P4 : passé 4
PERF : perfectif
PPR : pronom personnel de reprise
Pro Int : pronom interrogatif
PRS : présent
SInt : syntagme de l'interrogation
SAccor : syntagme de l'accord
SC : syntagme du complémenteur
SClivée : syntagme de la clivée
SFoc : syntagme du focus
SI : subordonnée interrogative
Spéc : spécifieur
SRél : syntagme de la relativation
STop : syntagme du topique
SVO : sujet verbe objet
V.I : verbe interrogatif
Signes diacritiques
/ '/ : ton haut / `/ : ton
bas
/ "/ : ton descendant
/ v / : ton montant
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