The syntax and semantics of phrasal verbs in Dangme

Abstract

This study investigated the syntax and semantics of Dangme phrasal verbs. It emphasized on the diverse manifestations of the phrasal verb in respect of its transitivity. This study also, from the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) view-point, perceived and discussed the meanings of the phrasal verbs, their idiomaticity and polysemy as well. Data for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The Conceptual Metaphor Theory was used to analyse the data. This purely descriptive and qualitative research objectively revealed two main outcomes: first, the Dangme phrasal verb as a single semantic unit that expresses idiomatic meaning comprises two parts: the verbal element and the post-verbal element. Secondly, Dangme phrasal verbs express both fundamental/literal and metaphorical/figurative meanings, and are usually not polysemous owing to their high idiomaticity. These findings hold significant implications for the Conceptual Metaphor Theory, teaching methods, language documentation and further syntactic and semantics research on Dangme phrasal verbs.