A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF TEMPORAL ADVERBIALS IN ENGLISH AND NUPE

Abstract

This study seeks to compare two languages, English and Nupe that are typologically very distinct from one another so as to draw out the differences and similarities that may exist between the languages with respect to the expression of temporal relations. Adverbials, especially time adverbials are known to be mobile (even in English, which is a configurational language), but still, they mirror a certain pattern of adverbials in or even sub-pattern of their own. Temporal adverbial functions can be realized by a subordinate clause. This subordinate clause is called temporal adverbial clause. The temporal adverbial clause is marked by a particular word (s) according to its semantic function. Nupe has several temporal adverbial markers which can be in a simple or complex form. The simple form is one word marker; the complex form can be a phrase. Although there is a set of semantic function classifications, but somehow, not all of those semantic functions of the temporal adverbial in Nupe are filled by an adverbial clause. This paper focuses on the markers of those temporal adverbials, which are realized by an adverbial clause. The study adopts Systemic Functional Linguistics as theoretical framework. Systemic Functional Linguistics is a theory of language which centres on the notion of language function. It looks at how language acts upon and is constrained by the social context in which it functions.  Data were collected through direct observation and electronic medium. The result shows that Nupe has a number of marker variations, which do not only depend on the semantic function of temporal adverbial, but also depend on speech level of the utterance. Findings also show the patterns of positioning temporal adverbials in Nupe as well as the temporal adverbial position in both languages.