REFLEXIVE AND RECIPROCAL VERBS IN IGBO

Abstract

In grammar, a reflexive verb is one whose semantic agent and patient are the same. Also, a reciprocal verb is one whose action expresses states in which two participants bear mirror image thematic relations to one another. This paper adopts the government and binding approach to reflexives and reciprocals in carrying out series of tests with four classes of Igbo verbs to find out whether they can be reflexive or not, in terms of their nature, form and manifestation. The first discovery, from the analysis is that =rịta is not the only verbal affix to encode reciprocality in Igbo; the suffix =gwara attached also expresses reciprocality. Furthermore, it can be confirmed that out of the four verb classes tested, three (dynamic, copula
and psychological verb) classes are reflexive while three (dynamic, copula and psychological) also reflect reciprocality. The stative verbs failed the two tests because they produce awkward constructions which are semantically unacceptable for expressing reflexive and reciprocal 
notions; hence, all forms of Igbo stative verbs (present, past, imperative) cannot express reflexive or reciprocal notions. Such, however, is not the case with the dynamic, copula and psychological verbs. The paper therefore, recommends that further tests be carried out with other Igbo verb classes to find out the extent to which they can be used to encode reflexive or reciprocal notions.