Argument Alternation in Etulo

Abstract

Experiential verbs provide information on the type of stimulus experienced by an entity. The experiential verb class provides certain features across languages. One of the features concerns their ability to allow arguments to change positions in their occurrences as subjects and objects in sentential constructs without a resultant meaning change. The present study explores this verb class in Etulo, a Benue Congo language of the Niger-Congo language family. Specifically, this study attempts a description of the Etulo verbs that convey information about an entity’s experience. The features provided by the Etulo verbs are examined in line with cross linguistics features ascribed to experiential verbs. Data for the study were elicited from competent native Etulo speakers residing