Syntactic Description of Fulfulde Nominal Negation in Taraba State, Nigeria

applies. The constituent following the marker falls within its syntactic scope, and the expression negates that particular nominal reference or identification. It does not function to negate the verbal predicate of the sentence. (a) non non Mi yaarani Mo EMP 1ST sg V.(took to) 3RD SG (that’s how I took it to him/her) S EmphP TP NP VP Emph N V NP non non Mi hokki Mo S → EmphP + TP EmphP → Emph Emph → non non TP → NP + VP NP → N N → Mi VP → V + NP V → hokkii NP → N N → Mo (b) na non non Mi hokkii Mo NEG 1ST SG V. 3RD SG sg (that’s not how I gave him/her) S NegP TP Neg EmphP NP VP Emph N V NP na non non Mi hokki Mo Phrase structure rule for the above sentence S → NegP + TP NegP → Neg + EmphP EmphP → Emph TP → NP + VP VP → V + NP The constructions show that, non non functions as an emphatic element, while na non non functions as a negative-emphatic construction. In (a), non non occurs in EmphP before the subject Mi and verb phrase hokkii Mo. In (b), na precedes non non to form NegP, giving the meaning “not like that.” The structures follow S → NegP + TP, NegP → Neg + EmphP, TP → NP + VP, and VP → V + NP. Thus, na non non negates the emphatic reference rather than the verbal predicate. Discussion of Findings The findings of this study demonstrate that nominal negation in Taraba Fulfulde is syntactically heterogeneous. The negative markers examined do not occur in one fixed position or form one uniform syntactic category. Instead, their distribution is closely related to the construction in which they occur. The first major finding is that walaa is associated with negative existential constructions. Its syntactic function is not simply to modify a noun but to establish the negative polarity of an existential predication. This distinguishes walaa from an ordinary negative determiner. The structure can consequently be represented through a negative functional projection whose complement contains the existential nominal constituent. The second finding concerns wooda. The form is associated with positive existential predication and provides an important structural contrast with walaa. The relationship between the two forms shows that existence and non-existence are grammatically organized as contrasting predications rather than merely as positive and negative forms of the noun. The third finding is that maraa has a possessive syntactic function. Unlike walaa, it does not primarily express the absence of an entity from a location. Rather, it denies a possession relationship. Its occurrence between the subject and the possessed noun provides evidence that it operates at the predicate level. The fourth finding concerns naa. The marker occurs in identificational and contrastive constructions. Its position between nominal elements indicates that nominal negation may involve predication rather than simple modification. This is consistent with broader findings in African languages that negative elements may have syntactic scope extending beyond the constituent closest to them. Ilori’s (2020) analysis of Yoruba kọ́ is particularly relevant because it demonstrates that the interpretation of a negative construction cannot always be determined from the linear position of the negative element alone. The findings also support the position that syntactic description must be sensitive to individual language structure. Sanusi and Oyewole (2019) demonstrate this point clearly in Idoma and Tiv, where sentence-final negation occurs despite SVO word order. Similarly, Ishaku (2020) demonstrates that Igbo negative forms are sensitive to their grammatical environment. (Jolledu) These studies reinforce the methodological principle adopted here: the syntactic position of a negative element must be established from actual data rather than predicted from assumptions about negation. The findings also have implications for the theoretical framework. The Minimalist Program provides a useful means of representing the hierarchical relations among constituents. The use of NegP is particularly helpful for representing structures in which a negative element occupies a functional position over a nominal or predicational constituent. Chomsky’s Minimalist framework emphasizes hierarchical structure and efficient syntactic derivation, making it suitable for representing these relationships. (MIT Press) However, the analysis also shows that the same structural template should not be mechanically applied to all Fulfulde nominal negative constructions. Walaa, maraa and naa differ in distribution and constructional function. Consequently, a language-specific analysis is necessary. The findings are also consistent with the broader typological observation that West African languages possess diverse negative strategies. Ziegelmeyer (2009) observes differences between negative strategies according to mood in Hausa, Fulfulde and Kanuri, while the broader volume edited by Cyffer, Ebermann and Ziegelmeyer documents variation involving focus, tense-aspect- mood, negative indefinites and multiple negative marking strategies across West African languages. (Benjamins) Finally, the study demonstrates the importance of studying Fulfulde varieties individually. Existing research on Fulfulde often provides information from eastern Fulfulde or broader Fulfulde contexts. The present focus on Taraba contributes additional local evidence. The recent Taraba study by Siuto and Sani (2025) confirms that varieties spoken in Sardauna and Gashaka continue to exhibit distinctive patterns of negation worthy of independent description. Therefore, this study examines the syntactic description of nominal negation in Fulfulde, focusing on the Taraba Fulfulde variety. The study begins by establishing that negation is not restricted to verbal constructions but may also operate in nominal, existential, possessive and identificational structures. The conceptual review distinguishes syntax, negation and nominal negation and established the relevance of examining the structural position and distribution of negative markers. The empirical review demonstrates that negation has been studied extensively in Nigerian languages, including Fulfulde, Igbo, Yoruba, Idoma, Tiv, Igala and Kanuri. However, the majority of these studies have focused on verbal negation, general negative marking or sentence-level negation. The review therefore identified a need for a more focused description of nominal negation in Taraba Fulfulde. The study adopts the Minimalist Program associated with Chomsky (1995) as its theoretical framework. The framework was considered appropriate because it provides a means of analysing hierarchical constituent structure and functional projections such as NegP. The methodology adopted a qualitative descriptive approach based on elicited and naturally occurring data. The analysis focuses on four major nominal negative forms: walaa, wooda, maraa and naa. The findings indicate that walaa participates primarily in negative existential constructions, wooda in positive existential constructions, maraa in negative possessive constructions, and naa in negative identificational and contrastive constructions. The markers consequently occupy different syntactic positions and enter into different constituent relationships. 5. Conclusion The study concludes that nominal negation in Taraba Fulfulde is a structurally diverse grammatical phenomenon rather than a single construction involving one general negative marker. The markers walaa, maraa and naa demonstrate distinct syntactic behaviours corresponding to existential, possessive and identificational structures, respectively, while wooda provides an important positive existential counterpart to negative existential constructions. The findings demonstrate that Fulfulde nominal negation operates through different syntactic configurations in which negative elements may function at the level of existential predication, possession or nominal identification. The study therefore establishes that a satisfactory description of Fulfulde negation must recognize the structural distinctions among nominal negative constructions rather than treating all negative forms as members of one undifferentiated category. 5.Recommendations Based on the findings, the study recommends that: i. further research should investigate the syntactic relationship between nominal and verbal negation in Fulfulde; ii. researchers should document additional nominal negative constructions across Taraba Fulfulde communities; iii. comparative studies may be undertaken to determine the extent of variation among Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe and other Fulfulde varieties; iv. future studies should investigate the interaction between negation and focus in Fulfulde nominal constructions; v. further research should examine the historical development of existential and possessive negative markers in Fulfulde; and vi. researchers should combine syntactic, semantic and discourse-based approaches to provide a fuller account of Fulfulde negation. 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