A Comparative Study of Affixation Processes in Akan and Dangme

Abstract

This paper examines affixation processes in Akan and Dangme,languages that belong to the Kwa family of the Niger-Congo group of languages. The study aimed at presenting a comparative study of the positional affixes in Akan and Dangme in the area of derivation and inflection. The current study also sets out to discuss the functions that the affixes play in connection to the roots they have been attached to in both languages. Data for the study were collected from both the primary and the secondary sources.  Findings were analysed using categorization and coding.  The study revealed that affixation in Akan and Dangme results in the formation of new words (class changing or non-class changing) whereas others indicate tense, aspect, gender, diminutive and augmentative.   The data showed that Dangme has a non-classical infix identified in the formation of some negative words that is contrary to what pertains in Akan. On positional affixes, it was observed that, whereas Akan (Twi) has six vowels / e, É”, É›, o, a, í¦/ that can function as prefixes, Dangme has only three /a, o, e/. Both Akan and Dangme have affixes that markdiminutive, gender and augmentation. Findings from this study will contribute greatly to the study of Akan and Dangme morphology and add to the available studies on universals of language.