Qualitative and quantitative analysis of grammatical features elicited among the Gbe language varieties of West Africa

Abstract

This paper describes a synchronic analysis of grammatical features elicited among the Gbe language varieties of West Africa, conducted to explore how the investigated varieties might be treated as clusters and to establish priorities for further sociolinguistic research. For some of the investigated varieties, the current synchronic typological analysis yields a classification within the Gbe language continuum that differs from the findings of more recent sociolinguistic surveys conducted among some of the Gbe communities as well as from the findings of Capo's (1991) and Stewart's (1994) diachronic genetic analyses. The paper discusses how the results of these different approaches compare to each other, how the identified disparities should be weighted, and what conclusions can be drawn from these findings.