Ewe Serial Verb Constructions in their Grammatical Context

Abstract

Abstract Serial verb constructions (SVCs) have long been recognized in West African languages (e.g. Christaller 1875; Westermann 1907, 1930) and have been investigated in various frameworks (e.g. Bodomo 2002; Dechaine 1993). Nevertheless, there is very little understanding of their place in the overall grammatical architecture of individual languages (Delplanque 1998). This chapter seeks to describe the features of SVCs in Ewe and to situate them in the grammatical profile of the language. Although Ewe is said to have ‘uncontroversial cases’ of SVCs (Creissels 2000: 240), there is some confusion concerning which structures fall under SVCs (Lord 1993: 2; Co1lins 1997; Agbedor 1994). Another aim of the chapter is therefore to clarify, for Ewe, the relationship between SVC stricto sensu and other multiverb constructions whose functional equivalents may be SVCs in other languages.