Chapter 6: Nonverbal predication in Shilluk

Abstract

This chapter covers the morphosyntax of nonverbal predication in Shilluk, that is, the properties of predicates that are not headed by a verb. Shilluk presents an extensive range of nonverbal predicate constructions. With respect to the formal properties of nonverbal predications, we find three types: headless predicates; predicates headed by morphologically invariant copulas; and predicates headed by function morphemes that are verb-like in that a) they present a range of inflections and b) they require syntactic licensing. These inflecting function morphemes differ from verbs in that they invariably present fewer inflectional distinctions, and also in the extent of the syntactic licensing requirement.