22 B-applicatives and I-applicatives in Atlantic languages (Niger-Congo)

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of applicative constructions in a sample of 27 languages belonging to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo family. Most of the languages of the sample have two distinct applicative suffixes, and none of them has an applicative suffix that would be equally available to license applied phrases expressing the roles of beneficiary and instrument. After a relatively detailed description of the applicative constructions of Wolof (a language with two applicative suffixes) and Jóola Fóoñi (a languages with just one applicative suffix, in which the applicative strategy is not used to encode beneficiaries), the chapter discusses possible generalizations concerning the Atlantic applicatives that have the ability to license applied phrases expressing the role of beneficiary (B-applicatives) and those that have the ability to license applied phrases expressing the role of instrument (I-applicatives).

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