Samuel Alhassan Issah
Biographic Data
| ID | 2790273 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Samuel Alhassan Issah |
| GIVEN NAMES | Samuel Alhassan |
| FAMILY NAME | Issah |
| SIGNATURE | ISSAH S A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Education, Winneba |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3479-5406 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 15 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Tone in Mabia Languages
The Mabia languages belong to the Niger–Congo family and are spoken primarily across the savannah and Sahelian regions of West Africa, including northern Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. Tone plays a crucial role in these languages, shaping both lexical meaning and grammatical structure. This study is a synthesis or an overview of previously described facts about the tonal phenomena in six Mabia languages, …
The structure of the Dagbani conditional clause
The expression of conditional clauses remains unexplored in most African languages including Dagbani. In this paper, I provide an account of the structure of the conditional clause of Dagbani, a Mabia language spoken in Northern Ghana. I show that there are two ways of expressing conditionality in Dagbani including the use of an independent syntactic element yi and the yi-less conditional clause which does not require the overt yi conditional mar…
The semantics of Dagbani cut and break verbs
This article discusses the semantics of cut and break verbs in Dagbani, a Mabia language spoken in Ghana’s Northern Region by the Dagbamba. We demonstrate that cut and break verbs are about different types of separation events with different lexicalisation. We show that BREAK verbs have a transitive/intransitive argument structure and take part in the causative/inchoative alternation; whereas CUT verbs are transitive and therefore require externa…
The heart became hot
This paper provides a comparative study of the conceptualization of ANGER in Dagbani and Dangme, classified as Mabia and Kwa languages respectively. We employ the Conceptual Metaphor Theory as an analytical tool for explaining the empirical facts on the conceptualization of anger in these languages. We show that the mental concepts of the Dangme and the Dagbani people reflect in their conceptualizations of ANGER. We demonstrate that although the …
Visiting A Neglected Lexical Category
This paper provides a descriptive overview of adverbials in Dagbani, a Mabia (Gur) language spoken in northern Ghana, focusing on their distributional characteristics and the possibilities of adverbial sequencing. We show that Dagbani adverbials occur in clause-initial, postverbal, and clause-final positions but are banned in the preverbal position. We also demonstrate that focalization and topicalization are instrumental in the occurrent of Dagb…
Metaphorical Personal Names in Mabia Languages of West Africa
Cultural philosophies, belief systems and experiences serve as superordinate cultural concepts that are reconceptualised and expressed using metaphorical personal names in Mabia languages. Metaphorical personal names are 'vehicles' that transport the worldviews of speakers of Mabia languages to the target audiences. Every metaphorical personal name shares properties of a superordinate umbrella concept such that even newly created metaphorical nam…
Mabia languages and cultures expressed through personal names
This paper is a comparative study of names and naming practices among speakers of Dagbani, Kusaal, Likpakpaanl and Sɩsaalɩ. We discuss in detail the ceremonies that accompany the naming of a newborn among speakers of these languages. By using the framework of ethnopragmatics, the study explores the culture-internal dynamics of personal names by comparing the typology of names in the four languages. It draws attention to the fact that personal nam…
The Structure of Dagbani Sentential Negation
The goal of this paper is to provide an account of the syntactic expression of sentential negation in Dagbani, a Mabia, Niger‐Congo language of West Africa. I show that Dagbani employs two strategies for the marking of sentential negation: negative markers/particles and negative verbs. The overtly expressed negative markers are kù / bì and dì, used for negating declaratives and imperatives, respectively. Besides, the inherently negative verb ká i…
Exploring Euphemisms as Taboo Avoidance Strategies in the Mabia Languages
This article investigates the use of euphemisms in mitigating prohibited expressions in three Mabia (Gur) languages: Dagbani, Farefare (also known as Gurenε) and Kusaal. In the daily interactions of the Mabia people, they avoid using certain expressions, which are unmentionable in most contexts. These include the expressions for snakes and snakebite, sexual intercourse and genitalia, and death. The mention of the explicit terms for these expressi…
Nominal classification in Mabia languages of West Africa
Interrogative Pronouns in Dagbani and Likpakpaanl
This paper provides an analysis of the properties of interrogative pronouns of Mabia languages drawing data from Dagbani and Likpakpaanl. We focus on the inventory, internal structure, and key grammatical characterisation of the interrogative pronouns. We contend that interrogative pronouns are salient syntactic elements in the content question systems of these languages. In addition, we demonstrate that number marking, distinction between human/…
Subject and non-subject ex-situ focus in Dagbani
This paper offers a description and account of the patterns of ex-situ focus in Dagbani. We show that there are two syntactic strategies for creating ex-situ focus in the language, one involving A’-movement to the left periphery, and the second involving base generation in the left periphery combined with coreference to a resumptive pronoun. Furthermore, we argue that subjects are difficult to move from Spec,TP to Spec,CP in the left-periphery be…
The syntax of weak and strong pronouns in Dagbani and Kusaal
Although studies in Dagbani and Kusaal have distinguished between weak and strong pronouns, their syntactic peculiarities remain largely uninvestigated. This paper aims to fill this gap by presenting a systematic investigation of the distribution of these pronouns drawing data from these two languages. We demonstrate that strong pronouns have dedicated syntactic positions including left peripheral focus, predicate focus, and fragmentary answers w…
On body-part nouns and the expression of spatial and locative reference in Dagbani
This paper examines the linguistic means by which spatial relations are expressed in Dagbani, a Mabia (Gur) language spoken in the northern region of Ghana (West Africa). I pay particular attention to the grammar of Dagbani “postpositions” demonstrating that the system of locative expressions comprises words that share heterosemic relations with some body parts and landmark terms. I show that although these locative expressions are related both s…
The Function of the Post Verbal la in Dagbani
This paper investigates the function(s) of the post verbal particle la in Dagbani, a Gur language spoken in Northern Ghana. I contend that the particle marks neither imperfective aspect nor contrastive focus on NP objects and adjuncts, as suggested by earlier researchers. Here, I refine the existing analyses and put forth an alternative proposal in which the particle la marks presentational focus. I suggest that la could mark presentational focus…
The Function of the Post Verbal la in Dagbani
This paper investigates the function(s) of the post verbal particle la in Dagbani, a Gur language spoken in Northern Ghana. I contend that the particle marks neither imperfective aspect nor contrastive focus on NP objects and adjuncts, as suggested by earlier researchers. Here, I refine the existing analyses and put forth an alternative proposal in which the particle la marks presentational focus. I suggest that la could mark presentational focus…
Subject and non-subject ex-situ focus in Dagbani
This paper offers a description and account of the patterns of ex-situ focus in Dagbani. We show that there are two syntactic strategies for creating ex-situ focus in the language, one involving A’-movement to the left periphery, and the second involving base generation in the left periphery combined with coreference to a resumptive pronoun. Furthermore, we argue that subjects are difficult to move from Spec,TP to Spec,CP in the left-periphery be…
The syntax of weak and strong pronouns in Dagbani and Kusaal
Although studies in Dagbani and Kusaal have distinguished between weak and strong pronouns, their syntactic peculiarities remain largely uninvestigated. This paper aims to fill this gap by presenting a systematic investigation of the distribution of these pronouns drawing data from these two languages. We demonstrate that strong pronouns have dedicated syntactic positions including left peripheral focus, predicate focus, and fragmentary answers w…
On body-part nouns and the expression of spatial and locative reference in Dagbani
This paper examines the linguistic means by which spatial relations are expressed in Dagbani, a Mabia (Gur) language spoken in the northern region of Ghana (West Africa). I pay particular attention to the grammar of Dagbani “postpositions” demonstrating that the system of locative expressions comprises words that share heterosemic relations with some body parts and landmark terms. I show that although these locative expressions are related both s…
Interrogative Pronouns in Dagbani and Likpakpaanl
This paper provides an analysis of the properties of interrogative pronouns of Mabia languages drawing data from Dagbani and Likpakpaanl. We focus on the inventory, internal structure, and key grammatical characterisation of the interrogative pronouns. We contend that interrogative pronouns are salient syntactic elements in the content question systems of these languages. In addition, we demonstrate that number marking, distinction between human/…
Mabia languages and cultures expressed through personal names
This paper is a comparative study of names and naming practices among speakers of Dagbani, Kusaal, Likpakpaanl and Sɩsaalɩ. We discuss in detail the ceremonies that accompany the naming of a newborn among speakers of these languages. By using the framework of ethnopragmatics, the study explores the culture-internal dynamics of personal names by comparing the typology of names in the four languages. It draws attention to the fact that personal nam…
The Structure of Dagbani Sentential Negation
The goal of this paper is to provide an account of the syntactic expression of sentential negation in Dagbani, a Mabia, Niger‐Congo language of West Africa. I show that Dagbani employs two strategies for the marking of sentential negation: negative markers/particles and negative verbs. The overtly expressed negative markers are kù / bì and dì, used for negating declaratives and imperatives, respectively. Besides, the inherently negative verb ká i…
Exploring Euphemisms as Taboo Avoidance Strategies in the Mabia Languages
This article investigates the use of euphemisms in mitigating prohibited expressions in three Mabia (Gur) languages: Dagbani, Farefare (also known as Gurenε) and Kusaal. In the daily interactions of the Mabia people, they avoid using certain expressions, which are unmentionable in most contexts. These include the expressions for snakes and snakebite, sexual intercourse and genitalia, and death. The mention of the explicit terms for these expressi…
Nominal classification in Mabia languages of West Africa
The heart became hot
This paper provides a comparative study of the conceptualization of ANGER in Dagbani and Dangme, classified as Mabia and Kwa languages respectively. We employ the Conceptual Metaphor Theory as an analytical tool for explaining the empirical facts on the conceptualization of anger in these languages. We show that the mental concepts of the Dangme and the Dagbani people reflect in their conceptualizations of ANGER. We demonstrate that although the …
Visiting A Neglected Lexical Category
This paper provides a descriptive overview of adverbials in Dagbani, a Mabia (Gur) language spoken in northern Ghana, focusing on their distributional characteristics and the possibilities of adverbial sequencing. We show that Dagbani adverbials occur in clause-initial, postverbal, and clause-final positions but are banned in the preverbal position. We also demonstrate that focalization and topicalization are instrumental in the occurrent of Dagb…
Metaphorical Personal Names in Mabia Languages of West Africa
Cultural philosophies, belief systems and experiences serve as superordinate cultural concepts that are reconceptualised and expressed using metaphorical personal names in Mabia languages. Metaphorical personal names are 'vehicles' that transport the worldviews of speakers of Mabia languages to the target audiences. Every metaphorical personal name shares properties of a superordinate umbrella concept such that even newly created metaphorical nam…
The structure of the Dagbani conditional clause
The expression of conditional clauses remains unexplored in most African languages including Dagbani. In this paper, I provide an account of the structure of the conditional clause of Dagbani, a Mabia language spoken in Northern Ghana. I show that there are two ways of expressing conditionality in Dagbani including the use of an independent syntactic element yi and the yi-less conditional clause which does not require the overt yi conditional mar…
The semantics of Dagbani cut and break verbs
This article discusses the semantics of cut and break verbs in Dagbani, a Mabia language spoken in Ghana’s Northern Region by the Dagbamba. We demonstrate that cut and break verbs are about different types of separation events with different lexicalisation. We show that BREAK verbs have a transitive/intransitive argument structure and take part in the causative/inchoative alternation; whereas CUT verbs are transitive and therefore require externa…
Tone in Mabia Languages
The Mabia languages belong to the Niger–Congo family and are spoken primarily across the savannah and Sahelian regions of West Africa, including northern Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. Tone plays a crucial role in these languages, shaping both lexical meaning and grammatical structure. This study is a synthesis or an overview of previously described facts about the tonal phenomena in six Mabia languages, …
Linguistics (13 works) · Philosophy (12 works) · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation (10 works) · Computer Science (8 works) · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies (6 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Natural language processing (5 works) · Swearing, Euphemism, Multilingualism (4 works) · Anthropology (3 works) · Artificial Intelligence (3 works)