TRAITS SYNTAXIQUES DES FORMES VERBALES HOMOPHONES-HOMOTONES (original) (raw)

This paper aims at analyzing some similar verbs in lama, an eastern Gur language of Togo. In this language, the same verbal item may carry different meanings at the same time. The core problem is to know whether these formal similarities illustrate cases of synonymy, or rather homonymy. In order to sort out this question, we use Feature Theory, a syntactic approach of the Minimalist Program. The end results of this analysis, shows that these formal similarities are either synonymy or homonymy, according to the sequence of their feature and feature values. Three main features help sort out synchronically all these similarities: feature of verbal valence, case feature and selective constraints’ feature. Keywords: Eastern Gur, Feature Theory, Minimalist Program, selective constraints, LamaThis paper aims at analyzing some similar verbs in lama, an eastern Gur language of Togo. In this language, the same verbal item may carry different meanings at the same time. The core problem is to know whether these formal similarities illustrate cases of synonymy, or rather homonymy. In order to sort out this question, we use Feature Theory, a syntactic approach of the Minimalist Program. The end results of this analysis, shows that these formal similarities are either synonymy or homonymy, according to the sequence of their feature and feature values. Three main features help sort out synchronically all these similarities: feature of verbal valence, case feature and selective constraints’ feature. Keywords: Eastern Gur, Feature Theory, Minimalist Program, selective constraints, Lama