A Typological Sketch of Noun Class Structure in Awing

Abstract

The paper focuses on a description of noun class structure in Awing. From a structural linguistic perspective, the noun phrases in the Awing language are analysed. The structural approach enables us to identify the basic linguistic form which can eventually be analyed through other theoretical approaches like the generative and the minimalist. The research employed the quantitative and qualitative methods. The data for this research was collected based on sample questionnaire in English that enabled the researcher to collect both words, phrases and sentences from different categories of people. Discussions and interviews with both literacy teachers and students during literacy classes were equally held. This data was verified with the language committee  and during different seminars organised on the language. The analytical procedure consisted in placing the singular and plural forms of nouns in order to identify their noun class markers. In analysing the nouns, emphasis was laid on noun morphology, noun classes and genders, noun agreement classes and agreement pattern. The various phrase types were identified and analysed structurally. Looking at the overall structure of a noun in Awing as demonstrated with examples in this paper, the Awing language and most grassfield Bantu languages as well as French and English share common characteristics.