20.3188, Disc: Review of 'Boko dictionary'

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LINGUIST List: Vol-20-3188. Mon Sep 21 2009. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 20.3188, Disc: Review of 'Boko dictionary'

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1)
Date: 19-Sep-2009
From: Ross Jones < ross.jones at sim.org >
Subject: Review of 'Boko dictionary'
 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:20:54
From: Ross Jones [ross.jones at sim.org]
Subject: Review of 'Boko dictionary'

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Read Review: http://linguistlist.org/issues/17/17-1514.html 

Idiotov writes: The way the labels ''vt'' (transitive verb) and ''vi''
(intransitive verb) are used in the dictionaries is not completely clear to
me. As in other Mande languages, the distinction between transitive and
intransitive verbs in Boko, Bokobaru and Busa is very straightforward and
easy to make: If the verb has a preposed object then it is transitive, in
all other cases it is intransitive. 

I would like to submit that in Boko the majority of unqualified preposed
objects should be regarded as part of the verb and not as an object. Some
are formally incorporated, others are regarded as verb compounds. There are
less than 200 verb stems, but thousands of these compound verbs. Writing
the verb compound as one word aids comprehension and reading.
For example <le-ye> 'mouth tie' means 'to fast'. It is written as <leye>
and is an intransitive verb. The distinction between transitive and
intransitive verbs is not straightforward. 


Linguistic Field(s): Language Documentation
                     Lexicography

Subject Language(s): Boko (bqc)




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LINGUIST List: Vol-20-3188