Argument structure of cut and break verb in Ezza dialec

Abstract

Verbs are separated into two classes, namely cut verbs and break verbs. The two classes are distinguished based on the semantic properties of the verbs, which supposedly influences their syntactic behavior. This study examined the argument structure of cut and break verbs in Ezza dialects of Igbo language. A data elicitation session was conducted from the Bohnemeyer video clips. These videos consisted of various scenes, depicting different types of cutting and breaking events. The reading of the verb ‘cut’ in this study describes separation, damage of an object or entity and generally involves the use of a bladed instrument (for example a knife, machete, and scissors) which is used by an agent to carry out the action, finally leading to a separation or a change in the ‘material integrity’ of the object. The cut verbs can participate in different constructions, while the Break verbs have the ability to occur spontaneously without the involvement of an agent. The instruments are indicated by the verbs which refute the claim of linguistic literatures that one distinguishing feature of break verbs is that the type of instrument used for the activity is not denoted.