A multi-copular language is a language that possesses more than one copular. The multi-copular languages we know hitherto have two copulas: (Spanish: ser/estar), (Irish:bì/is). Mono-copular languages exist too: (French: être), (English: be). When it come to Bambara, there are four copulatives elements: dòn, bɛ́ yé, ká. Each form requires a specific usage.
In order to understand the use of these elements, we are going to present:
The Bambara language (geography, syntax, demography…)
The definition of a copula in the literature
- The different copulative elements in Bambara and their specifics
- The verbal particles or predicative markers in Bambara (how are they different from copulas)
- The typology of copulative sentences according to Higgins (1973)
- The Bambara copulative sentences according to this typology.
At the end of this course, students may be able to distinguish between a copula and a verbal particle in Bambara, become aware of the different contexts of their usage and justify why Bambara is said to be a multi-copular language. At the end of the course, students will be asked to produce an article analysis.
