Ameka, Felix K. (1988). The grammatical coding of the terminal viewpoint of situations in Ewe: A semantic perspective. Australian Journal of Linguistics, 8(2), 185-217. DOI: 10.1080/07268608808599397

This paper investigates the expression of the terminal viewpoint of situations in Ewe (West Africa) by means of aspectual verbal modifiers. The analytic task of the study is to explore the subtle semantic differences encoded by three forms within the semantic space of the “end-point” of situations. It is argued that signifies that something has happened or has been done completely. When it is used without triplication in certain contexts and with triplication in others, it indicates that a situation is about to be completed. By contrast, indicates that a situation has been terminated and is incomplete, while kpɔ symbolizes the existential status of situations. To emphasize the non-manifest status of situations, kpɔ may be triplicated.


Research carried out in consultation with or under the supervision of one or more experienced NSM practitioners