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.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Ga-Dangme Education,
Faculty of Ghanaian Languages Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies, in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of degree of
Master of Arts
(Dangme)
in the University of Education, Winneba
MARCH, 2021
