IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURAL STUDIES (RJHCS )

E-ISSN 2579-0528
P-ISSN 2695-2467
VOL. 10 NO. 4 2024
DOI: 10.56201/rjhcs.v10.no4.2024.pg97.107

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A typological sketch of Hausa Language

Abubakar Atiku Alkali

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Abstract

This paper presents a typological account of Hausa, an Afroasiatic language spoken in sub- Saharan Africa. The paper focuses on word order, relative clauses, order of prepositions, head and dependent marking, information structure, case-marking; and verb fronting, making in most cases, a comparison with languages that exhibit similar and/or contrasting features. There does not seem to be a consensus as to whether Hausa is a head or dependent-marking language. Furthermore, although some accounts propose that Hausa has a case system, this paper identifies itself with the accounts that hold a contrary view. However, it calls for further research in these areas.

keywords:

Hausa, Typology, Afroasiatic, Chadic, Head-Marking, dependent-Marking

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