Non-verbal predication and copular variation in Eastern Bantu
This dissertation explores the nature of the copula through a typological investigation of copularvariation in the expression of non-verbal predication in five Great Lakes Bantu languages, namelyKihavu (JD52), Mashi (JD53), Kinyamulenge (JD61a), Kirundi (JD62), and Kifuliiru (JD63). Ishow that the form of the copula in these languages is sensitive to particular environmental factors,resulting in similar patterns of copular allomorphy across languages. Specifically, two generalpatterns of allomorphy are observed. First, cognate forms of the copula are shown to appear insimilar interpretive contexts. Much like the contrast between the Spanish copulas estar and ser(Clements 1988, 2006, Maienborn 2005, Deo et al. 2017), reflexes of the proto-Bantu copula*-de (e.g., -li/-ri) are associated with limited, context-specific interpretations of the predicationrelation, while reflexes of the proto-Bantu copula *-bà (e.g., -ba) are associated with more generalinterpretations. Second, cognate forms of the copula are shown to appear in similar morphosyntacticcontexts. As in many other languages, the form of the copula is sensitive to various morphosyntacticfactors, particularly tense/mood environment. Though multiple copular forms are attested in thepresent indicative, other tense/mood environments restrict the form of the copula; in general, onlyreflexes of proto-Bantu *-de appear in the past tense, and only reflexes of proto-Bantu *-bà appearin irrealis environments. I argue that these patterns reflect a core fact about the functional natureof the copula; in addition to its morphosyntactic function as a relational element (Lyons 1968,Hengeveld 1992, Stassen 1997, Pustet 2003, Bjorkman 2011, Myler 2016, a.o.), the copula alsoserves a semantic function as a means of distinguishing distinct types of non-verbal predicationrelations.
Linguistics, Bantu, Copula, Morphology, Predication, Semantics, Syntax
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