Selected Features of Syntax and Information Structure in Lika (Bantu D.20)

Whereas previous work on Lika (Bantu D.20) has been limited to descriptions of its phonological features, this thesis presents a sketch of Lika grammar. It includes an overview of the morphology and syntax, as well as a description of the syntactic means used to indicate topic and focus. Features which are unusual for Bantu are highlighted.

The analysis of topic and focus follows the work of Lambrecht (1994). Marked topics are indicated by fronting, left-dislocation, external topics, and independent pronouns.

Three kinds of marked focus are identified. First, fronted NPs are indicated by the focus particle nɔ when the focused constituent is a WH-question or the answer to a WH-question. Second, the particle nɔ can also indicate exhaustive listing on fronted NPs. Third, marked focus can occur on words in situ if the focused constituent is accompanied by a focus word such as gʉtʉgʉ ‘even’ and aka ‘only’.[ In the interest of making this work available without further delay, we are posting it as it was accepted by the institution that granted the degree without further peer review.]