Deconstructing the verbal STAMP system of Ebira

Abstract

This paper investigates linear and non-linear morphology in verbal inflection in Ebira, a Benue-Congo language of Nigeria. The non-linear morphology does not target the root, but rather occurs within pre-verbal auxiliary-like satellite units called a STAMP (Anderson 2011, 2015, 2016), a mnemonic for subject agreement, tense, aspect, mood, and polarity. This paper deconstructs Ebira STAMPs and identifies individual sub-STAMP morphs based on the extensive description in Adive (1989) and Scholz (1976). The individual inflectional categories for subject agreement (1S, 2, 3S, 1P, 3P), TAM (HABITUAL, COMPLETIVE, SUBJUNCTIVE, CONTINUOUS, and PERFECT), polarity (NEGATIVE), and clause-level meanings (INTERROGATIVE, 'IF', and 'WHEN') are decomposed (in part) as non-linear floating tones, floating moras, unassociated segments, and underspecified segments. While Anderson characterizes STAMPs as fused portmanteaux found widely in West and Central Africa (the Macro-Sudan Belt), we hold that 'STAMP' as a typological category may be too crude to assess areal typology. Instead we propose to investigate areality based on whether STAMP categories form a constituent before and to the exclusion of the verb root (requiring arguments independent of transcription practices). In concluding this paper, we ask why non-linear morphology such as grammatical tone does not target the root, and tie this to the pronounced functional load of lexical tone on roots in Ebira.