A comparison of the interaction of pronominals and word order in Naro and G//ana

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Periodical article

Title:	A comparison of the interaction of pronominals and word order in Naro and G//ana
Authors:	Letsholo, Rose Saul, Isaac
Year:	2015
Periodical:	Language Matters: Studies in the Languages of Africa (ISSN 1753-5395)
Volume:	46
Issue:	2
Pages:	222-248
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Botswana
Subjects:	grammar Naro language Gxana language
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/10228195.2015.1045012
Abstract:	This article compares Person-Gender-Number (PGN) markers, the pronoun system and word order in declaratives in Naro and G//ana, two languages of Botswana. These languages are similar in that (a) nouns are marked for person, gender and number; (b) both have complex pronoun systems; (c) the plural and dual categories distinguish inclusive from exclusive pronouns; (d) main lexical items in both languages can be focused through fronting. They differ in that G//ana NPs are marked for nominative and oblique case through the PGN marker, while in Naro this is not so. In Naro if constituents are re-ordered, the PGN marker of the fronted constituent hosts the PGN marker of the subject NP, thus identifying the subject. The use of pronouns in a sentence impacts word order at sentential level in Naro but not in G//ana. PGN markers are obligatory for subjects only in G//ana. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]