10 Is there an Adjective Class in Wolof? 261TABLE i. A comparison of the relevant characteristics of adjectives and non-
adjectival verbs
Reference Characteristic Adjectives Non-adjectival Vs
§2.4
§2.4
§2.4
§2.2
§2.2
§2.2
§2.1
§2.3
§1.0, §3.0, §3.2
§3-3
§3-5
§4-4
§4-4
§4-3
§4-3
§4.1, §4.2, §4.4
§4.0, §4.5
Function as copula complement
Function as intransitive predicate
Function as transitive predicate
Inflect for tense
Inflect for aspect
Inflect for mood
Take verbal extensions
Participate in syntactically encoded
focus system
Relativizer separated out from defin-
ite article in definite simple relative
clauses
Relativizer separated out from defin-
ite article in definite extended relative
clauses
Adjacent to modified noun in relative
clauses
Take adverbs
Can form a compound
Comparatives using gen
Comparatives using gena
Take coverbal ideophones
Open classNo
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
YesYesNoYesYes
Yes
No
Yes
Some
YesNo
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
YesNoNoNoYes
Yes
No
Yes
Some
Yesversal perspective behave in Wolof in a manner that is overwhelmingly verb-like,
there are none the less some subtle differences in their behaviour, especially in rela-
tive clauses, that set them apart from other verbs. Their properties are summarized
in Table i. Most notably, as a sub-class of verbs, adjectives conform to the semantics
of adjective classes and occur closer to the noun they are modifying than do other
types of verbs. While it is possible to isolate a class of adjectival verbs in Wolof, the
extent of class membership is not completely clear since many lexical items may be
used either as adjectives or as non-adjectival verbs. As this chapter has shown, while
there maybe good evidence to posit an adjective class within the class of verbs in
Wolof, the class cannot be said to be distinct from the class of verbs.
References
AMEKA, F. K. "The adjective class in Ewe'. Ms.
BERLIN, B., and P. KAY. 1969. Basic colour terms: their universality and evolution. Berkeley:
University of California Press.