ON THE CATEGORICAL STATUS OF PRONOUNS IN YORÙBÁ

Abstract

Words in human language are traditionally classified into lexical and grammatical categories. However, pronouns in Yoruba have long been a subject of controversy, with scholars presenting divergent views on their syntax and morphology. While some argue that pronouns should be classified as a lexical category, others maintain that they belong to the grammatical category. Additionally, there is disagreement regarding whether pronouns are derivable or not. Despite extensive debate, there remains limited consensus in the literature on these issues. In light of this, this study aims to provide new evidence to support the view that pronouns in Yoruba are best classified as a grammatical category, with no forms derived from one another. The research utilizes structured interviews and descriptive methods for data collection and analysis. The results offer both cross-linguistic and language-internal evidence that reinforces the classification of Yoruba pronouns as grammatical categories, thus contributing to the ongoing discourse in this area.