Cameroon

When working with interlinearized texts for use in grammatical analysis, one often is confronted with problematic words which are difficult to translate into an analysis language (English or French). As more and more grammatical knowledge is discovered in a language, fewer of these unknown words are left. However, there are certain small words whose precise meaning and function leave researchers scratching their heads for answers. This paper deals with such a word in the Bafanji language, a particle for which there is no easy translation into English. It seems to share the same form as the far-distal demonstrative (lá) and is often found at the end of relative clauses and other subordinate clauses. This paper attempts to reveal its meanings and functions within the Bafanji language, an Eastern Grassfields, Nun language, whose speakers are located in the village of Bafanji, in the Ngo-Ketunjia Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. An attempt will be made to correlate its form and function with several other related Nun languages, such as Bambalang (nɛ́), Bangolan (né), Mungaka (a/e), Bamun (nə̀), Bamali (nə), Bamukumbit (lɔ̀), Baba 1 (lá).