The Reflexive-Reciprocal Polysemy in Igbo

Abstract

According to Heine (2000) the reflexive/reciprocal polysemy is not fully treated in the grammar books of many African languages. As the Igbo language does not belong to one of those examined by the author, it is worthwhile to find out whether Heine’s conclusion also applies to Igbo. The paper endeavours to examine how such a reflexive/reciprocal polysemy is reflected in the Igbo language. The conclusion is that the polysemy is often misunderstood, leading to wrong conclusions on the nature of the reflexive in Igbo. Furthermore, an identification of the polysemy factor should contribute to a better analysis of the structure in the Igbo language.