PRONOUNS IN ETULO

Abstract

This study is a preliminary investigation of Etulo pronominal system. The purpose of the study is to identify the different types of pronouns in Etulo, their tone patterns as well as their functions in simple sentences. Data for the study was collected from Etulo informants resident in Adi, Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. Five classes of pronoun are identified and they are the personal, demonstrative, interrogative, reflexive and indefinite pronouns. Our findings reveal that to a large extent, the personal pronouns are identical in their segmental and tonal composition. Reflexivity is expressed by attaching a noun àbuwò ‘self’ to the object form of the pronoun while possession is marked by a prefixation to the object form of the pronoun. The demonstrative pronouns comprise two proximal and two distal demonstratives that maintain an inherent tone pattern within a noun phrase.