A Description of Wh-Movement in Tiv Using the Phases Approach

Abstract

Although there are a number of existing studies on wh-movement in Tiv, this paper explores the subject using the Phases approach with the aim to provide a better understanding of how this universal syntactic phenomenon is parameterized in the language. Tiv is a Bantoid language within the Benue-Congo family, which is native to North-Central Nigeria. The study utilised the tenets of the Phases approach to analyse data obtained through interviews, meta-linguistic conversations with competent native speakers of Tiv as well as the intuitive perception of the researchers as Tiv native speakers. The study’s specific objectives are to: provide a structural analysis of wh-questions in Tiv and to determine the nature of phases in Tiv. The study finds that the uninterpretable feature of wh-phrases are checked and deleted when such phrases are sent to Spell-Out. The C bearing a wh-feature merges with an object complement of a tensed verb or an object complement of a PP to form a wh-phrase which forms part of a wh-question. This study not only adds to existing literature, but it also opens up ways for further studies on the Phases approach, and for the analysis of wh-movement in Tiv using current trends in generative grammar.