About

I am a Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics, University of Ghana. My research concentrates on on formal syntax, especially its interface with semantics, phonology and morphology. My dissertation explored Non-finite complementation in Buli, a Mabia (Gur) language spoken in Sandema in the Upper East Region of Ghana. In this work, I explored finiteness in relation to clause structure, clause size, and the licensing of overt subjects in non-finite clauses. I have also worked on A-bar constructions, tone processes, temporal markers, and the structure of the determiner phrase. I am currently working on Nominalizations in Buli.

Education

Ph.D. 2021, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Mphil. 2012, University of Ghana (UG)
B.A. 2008, University of Ghana (UG)

Research Interest

• Syntactic theory
• Syntax of African languages
• The interfaces between Syntax and phonology
• Temporal reference
• Field work

Publications

Sulemana, A-R. (to appear). Reduced Complements. In Essegbey James & Enoch Aboh (eds.). Predication in African languages, 222-235. John Benjamins Publishing Company

Sulemana, A-R. 2024. Tone and clause structure in Buli. Journal of African languages and Linguistics, vol 45, no. 1, 85-119. https://doi.org/10.1515/jall-2024-2001

Sulemana, A-R. 2024. Passive without morphology: A case for implicit arguments. Linguistic Variation.

Sulemana, A-R. 2022. Temporal Remoteness Markers in Bùlì. Journal of West African Languages 49(1):24-46.

Sulemana, A-R. 2022. Obligatory Controlled Subjects in Bùlì. In Galen Sibanda, Deo Ngonyani, Jonathan Choti & Ann Biersteker (eds.), Descriptive and theoretical approaches to African linguistics: Selected papers from the 49th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, 189–203. Berlin: Language Science Press. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6393754

Sulemana, A-R. 2020. The Definite Morpheme in Bùlì. In Bodomo, A., and Abubakari, H., and Issah S.A., (eds.) Handbook of the Mabia Languages of West Africa, 135-167. Galda Verlag.

Sulemana, A-R. 2019. Q-particles and the nature of covert movement: Evidence from Bùlì. Glossa 4(1): 99. 1–21. DOI :https://doi.org/10.5334/gjgl.810

Sulemana, A-R. 2019. PRO as a partial copy: A movement based account of control. Ronai, E., and Stigliano, L., and Sun Y. (eds.). Proceedings of the fifty-fourth Annual meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society, 493-502. CLS.

Branan, K and Sulemana, A-R. 2019. In Buli, covert movement licenses parasitic gaps. Stockwell, R., and O'Leary, M., and Xu, Z., and Zhou, Z.I (eds.). Proceedings of the 36th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics, 81-90. Cascadilla Proceeding Project, Somerville ,MA.