A Comparative Study of the Simple Clause Structure of Kyerepong (Okere), Akuapem Twi, and English

Abstract

This paper compares the simple clause structure in three languages of Kyerepong (Okere), Akuapem Twi and English. Again, the paper discusses how the structures mark focus and topic; and how they are used in copula and locative constructions. The paper comprises seven main parts. The first part gives a brief linguistic background of the two Ghanaian languages. The second part looks at the constituent order of the three languages; and the third considers the phonological processes involved. The remaining parts (which constitute the hub of the paper) focus on how the simple clause in these three languages is used in focus, topic, copula and locative constructions.