Abstract
The present paper provides a detailed description of the semantic potential offered by the si-construction in Basse Mandinka (a regional variety of the Gambian Mandinka language), by enumerating all temporal, aspectual, taxis and modal values which this verbal form may convey. The study demonstrates that the si-construction offers a wide range of senses. Most commonly, the construction introduces the idea of futurity, regularly accompanied by modal tones of necessity and obligation. More specifically, in the first person, it expresses desires and promises, obligation and necessity, as well as, permission and deliberation; in the second person, it functions as an imperative; and in the third person, it approximates the category of a jussive. The si-construction also introduces modal ideas of obligation and necessity situated in a past time frame, being additionally able to function as a future in the past category. The si-construction can likewise convey the sense of epistemic possibility with no evident future undertones. Finally, it can denote present habitual and customary activities. A profoundly modal nature of the si-construction additionally justifies its common use with the verb noo "be able, can". In such cases, it introduces various modal nuances, typically bereaved of any future sense.
Highlights
Mandinka – one of the languages spoken in Gambia1 and other West African countries – together with Bambara, Maninka, Dyula or Jaahanka, forms the Manding group: a moderately mutually intelligible collection of dialects or languages
The Mandinka variety which will be discussed in the present paper corresponds to a vernacular spoken in the easternmost part of the country, in the capital city of the Upper River Region, Basse and in the following neighboring villages: Manneh Kunda, Mansajang, Kaba Kama and Bassending
Profoundly similar to the language which could be labeled as "Standard Mandinka", the regional variation employed in Basse shows certain peculiarities
Summary
Mandinka – one of the languages spoken in Gambia and other West African countries – together with Bambara, Maninka, Dyula or Jaahanka, forms the Manding group: a moderately mutually intelligible collection of dialects or languages. Following Macbrair (1842), he notes, that the construction may commonly be found with the auxiliary verb noo or the particle fo, providing meanings of possibility (N si taa noo "I can go" and Ali si seyi noo saayiŋ "You can go back "; Colley 1995:14) and obligation/necessity (Maŋ kendeyaa fo n si taa lopitaanoo to "I am not well, I must go to hospital"), respectively. The si-construction may likewise be addressed to the third person singular and plural with a value of future necessity and obligation – comparable to the sense which is available in the remaining persons –, conveying strong orders, commands and instructions. The si-construction approximates the category of a jussive: 14 The slot ka bo means "from"
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