Structure of the noun phrase in Kafi Noonoo
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa Universiy
Abstract
This thesis is an attempt to give a structural description of the Noun Phrase of Kafi
Noonoo. In Kafi Noonoo words generally end in a final vowel (usually -0/00) in their
lexical entry (i.e. in isolation). Constructions of Noun Phrase structure involve a
change in final vowel and/or tone, reduction, or modification of stem-final vowels or
consonants.
The head of an NP may be a (common) noun, a pronoun, a proper name, or zero; in the
last case one of the adnominal elements (demonstrative, quantifier, etc.). The NP takes
optional specifiers, namely the demonstratives, genitive NPs of possession and
quantifiers. Kafi Noonoo is generally headjinaZ in its NP construction. However, this
order can be reversed where there is a need for emphasis on the head noun; in which
case, both the head and the modifier are distinct phonological phrases. The unmarked
structure of the NP consists of (Demonstrative) - (Numeral) - (Adjective) - (Genitive)
- (NP).
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Structure of the noun phrase