Doctoral Dissertation Research: A description of Anii, an underdocumented language of West Africa

这篇论文将描述和分析西非多哥和贝宁边境的阿尼语语法的未记录方面。阿尼语是一种夸卡语，大约有4.6万人说。将从讲阿尼族巴西拉方言的人那里收集原始数据，以回答以前非常有限的研究中出现的突出的描述性和理论性问题。阿尼语被归类为夸瓦语，特别是加纳-多哥山区语言(GTM)的一小部分语言中的一员，并且只有一种可能的近亲。因此，对ANII的研究将有助于揭示一个很少被研究的瓜族分支。这个项目的重点领域包括对anii的声调系统的描述，对声音模式的调查，特别是关于元音的研究，对从句句法的描述，以及对anii动词系统的语义的研究。由于ANII实际上没有描述，因此收集的数据将有助于对世界语言的经验知识，并允许测试使用更知名语言的数据开发的理论。此外，该项目还将支持使用anii语言的基层扫盲工作，帮助许多成年文盲第一次学习阅读，并使许多儿童更容易接受教育(通过当地学校设想的anii到法语过渡方案)。这些识字计划的重要一步是开发包括声调的正字法，而为本论文研究进行的声调分析是这一努力成功的关键。该项目还将通过为一本新的anii语言杂志的工作人员收集文本，帮助保护anii语言和文化，并鼓励anii人以其语言遗产为荣。

This dissertation will describe and analyze undocumented aspects of the grammar of Anii, a Kwa language with approximately 46,000 speakers, spoken along the border of Togo and Benin, West Africa. Original data will be collected from speakers of the Bassila dialect of Anii in order to answer outstanding descriptive and theoretical questions that have arisen from very limited previous research. Anii is classified as a Kwa language, specifically a member of a small group of languages called Ghana-Togo Mountain (GTM) languages, and has only one possible close relative. Thus, the study of Anii will shed light on a very under-studied branch of the Kwa family. Areas of focus for this project include a description of the tonal system of Anii, investigation of sound patterns, especially regarding vowels, a description of clausal syntax, and work on the semantics of the Anii verbal system. Since Anii is virtually undescribed, the data to be gathered will contribute to empirical knowledge of the world's languages and allow for the testing of theories that were developed using data from more well-known languages. In addition, the project will support grassroots literacy efforts in the Anii language to help many illiterate adults learn to read for the first time and give many children easier access to education (through envisioned Anii to French transition programs in local schools). An important step for these literacy programs is developing an orthography that includes tone, and the tonal analysis to be undertaken for this dissertation research is key to the success of this endeavor. This project will also aid in the preservation of the Anii language and culture and encourage the Anii people to have pride in their linguistic heritage through collecting texts for the staff of a new Anii-language magazine.