The syntax and semantics of Gã future markers

Audio data comprising naturally-occurring spoken discourse in support of paper on future expression in Gã, whose abstract is below. This paper explores the syntax and semantics of two grammatical markers of future time in Gã (Niger-Congo, Kwa) – bàá- and àá-. The coexistence of àá- and bàá- over a long period, coupled with their overlapping roles, has led to some inconsistency in their analysis. I show that in modern Ga, bàá- is the most prevalent future marker, with àá- existing much less prominently alongside it. Data from natural speech and elicitation reveals that both markers have modal functions in addition to the temporal function. bàá- can also be used aspectually to mark habits. Due largely to the overwhelming frequency of the temporal function in the discourse data, I maintain that the primary function of bàá- is as a future tense marker. It is therefore not purely a modal, as has been suggested by Dakubu (2008). àá- has all but fallen out of use and has a more modal than temporal function. This study uncovers previously unreported non-temporal uses of bàá- and underscores the crucial role played by frequency in the determination of category function. Reference Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp 2008. Ga verb features. In: M.E Kropp Dakubu and Felix K. Ameka (eds.), Aspect and modality in Kwa languages, 91-134 Amsterdam: John Benjamins本数据集包含自然口语语料，用于支撑一篇关于加语（Gã）未来表达的研究论文，论文摘要如下。该论文聚焦加语（Gã，尼日尔-刚果语系克瓦语族）中两类未来时间语法标记——bàá-与àá-的句法与语义特征。àá-与bàá-长期共存且功能存在重叠，这导致二者的分析结论存在一定不一致性。研究表明，在现代加语中，bàá-是使用最为广泛的未来标记，àá-仅作为次要标记与之并存。自然口语与诱导式语料数据显示，两类标记除时间功能外，均兼具情态功能。此外，bàá-还可在体貌层面用于标记习惯性行为。鉴于语料中时间功能的使用频率极高，本研究认为bàá-的核心功能为将来时标记，而非如达库布（Dakubu, 2008）所提出的纯粹情态标记。àá-如今几乎已废弃，其功能更偏向情态而非时间范畴。本研究首次揭示了bàá-此前未被报道的非时间性用法，并凸显了使用频率在范畴功能判定中的关键作用。参考文献：Dakubu, Mary Esther Kropp, 2008. 《加语动词特征》。载于：M.E. 克罗普·达库布与费利克斯·K. 阿梅卡（Felix K. Ameka）主编，《克瓦语族的体与情态》，第91-134页，阿姆斯特丹：约翰·本杰明出版社。