[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Unearthing adjectives in Wolof: Lexical categories and typological implications

## Details

**Authors** Víctor Acedo-Matellán, Isabelle Roy

**Year** 2026

**Publisher** Natural Language & Linguistic Theory

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Linguistics

**Applied** false

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11049-026-09728-1) 
10.1007/s11049-026-09728-1

## In authors' words

### Abstract

It is widely assumed that Wolof lacks adjectives, encoding property predicates as verbs (e.g., ñuul 'be black'). This paper argues instead that these property predicates are derived from an underlying adjectival category. Evidence comes from a relative construction restricted to property predicates, whose optional nonintersective and noncontrastive semantics are characteristic of attributive adjectives. Building on Baker's (2003b) seminal proposals for Choctaw and Mohawk, the analysis proposes that these predicates originate as attributive adjectives merged with the noun, but in Wolof must subsequently be embedded under the functional head Pred. The adjectival head a raises to and fuses with Pred, causing adjectives to surface as verbs. More broadly, the paper argues for the universality of both Pred and the adjective category, with crosslinguistic variation in the expression of property predicates and the availability of copulas arising from language-specific properties of their interaction.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To determine whether Wolof has an adjective category distinct from verbs.

### Who or what was studied (sample)

Wolof property predicates and a relative construction restricted to them.

### How they did it (methods)

Syntactic analysis of Wolof property predicates and a restricted relative construction, building on Baker's proposals for Choctaw and Mohawk.

### What they found (results)

Wolof property predicates derive from an underlying adjective category merged with the noun and then embedded under the functional head Pred, so adjectives surface as verbs.

## Commentary

### In short

A lexical category boundary (adjective versus verb) is redrawn by showing that one category is nested inside a larger syntactic structure whose parts combine to yield the surface form.

**Patterns it shows** D, S

**Added** 2026-09-29

**How to cite this** Víctor Acedo-Matellán, Isabelle Roy (2026). Unearthing adjectives in Wolof: Lexical categories and typological implications. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory.