The Morphosyntactic Distribution and Functions of Demonstratives in Shinyiha

Abstract

This paper examines the morphosyntactic distribution and functions ofdemonstratives in Shinyiha [M23]. Specifically, the paperexamines theforms, distribution and use of demonstratives in Shinyiha. The datawerecollected through elicitation. The findingsindicate thatdemonstratives in this language constitute a class that is complex interms of form, function and distribution. The findings also indicate thatthere is no single rule governing the distribution of demonstratives inthis language. The study reveals that, in most cases, the form of thedemonstrative in Shinyiha depends on the form of the noun class prefix,preprefix or the root of the head noun.As regards the functions, the studyshows that demonstratives in Shinyiha perform various functionsranging from sentential to the discourse level.The findings also showthat,in an unmarked order,the demonstrative occurs postnominally (NDEM) to perform deictic functionwhile,in a marked order, thedemonstrative occurs prenominally (DEM N) to express definiteness,specificity and focus