Lexicalization patterns in color naming in Gbaya, a Ubanguian
language of CAR
In this chapter, I show that Gbaya, a Ubanguian language
of the Central African Republic, does not lexically distinguish
color from the visual aspect resulting from a variety of parameters.
I first analyze in detail the lexical terms and the grammatical
devices that Gbaya uses for color naming. Then, I discuss how Gbaya
speakers put these terms into actual use in a daily task. Gbaya
illustrates the main role played by grammar to organize the lexicon
according to properties expressed by adjectives, processes expressed
by verbs, and visual conspicuousness express by nouns. Beyond
language idiosyncrasies, the case of Gbaya illustrates, once more
(Wierzbicka, 2008), a
possible universal tendency among hunter-gatherers in the partition
of the visual aspect.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Lexical and grammatical devices for color naming
- 2.1Nouns
- 2.1.1The generic noun dàp
- 2.1.2Color nouns
- 2.1.3Deadjectival human nouns
- 2.2Verbs
- 2.3Adjectives
- 2.3.1The primary adjective bú (PA)
- 2.3.2Verbal adjectives (VA)
- 2.3.3Adjective-adverbs (AAs)
- 2.3.4Summary
- 3.When and how do the Gbaya use color terms in a daily
task?
- 3.1Colors in compound nouns
- 3.1.1Color adjectives
- 3.1.2Name of an entity referring to color
- 3.2Colors in actual use
- 3.2.1Plants
- 3.2.2Caterpillars and larvae
- 3.2.3In oral productions
- 4.Conclusion
-
Notes
-
References
-
Appendix
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Cited by
Cited by 1 other publications
Seel, Laura & Nico Nassenstein
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