THE PROTOTYPICAL IGBO COPULA VERB

Abstract

This paper is based on Uchechukwu’s (2010) examination of the Igbo copula verbs. The effort here is a presentation of the features of the Igbo copula verb divested of much theoretical discussion. The approach adopted is purely descriptive. Three copula verbs of the language are identified: - and - and -n . The verbs are characterized on the basis of their functioning in varieties copulative sentences. The result is that the verb- , which functions in more varieties of copulative constructions than the other two, can be classified as the prototypical copula verb of the Igbo language