Abstract

This study examines Oblique Case and Genitive Case assignment in Gbagyi within the framework of Government and Binding Theory, particularly Case Theory as proposed by Chomsky (1981). Oblique Case in Gbagyi is assigned to noun phrases functioning as objects of prepositions, adhering to the adjacency condition and principles of government. Data from the language demonstrate that the preposition o governs the noun phrase, assigning it the Oblique Case. This pattern aligns with theoretical assumptions that prepositions act as Case assigners within their local domain. Similarly, Genitive Case in Gbagyi follows a prenominal genitive pattern, where the possessor precedes the possessed noun. The study categorises genitive constructions into possessive, partitive, subjective, objective, and descriptive types. The analysis reveals that Gbagyi employs abstract genitive marking rather than an overt genitive particle, with word order serving as the primary indicator of possession. This study contributes to the understanding of Case assignment in Gbagyi, highlighting its syntactic structures and the theoretical implications for cross-linguistic studies. The findings reinforce the universality of Government and Binding Theory in accounting for Case assignment, demonstrating that while Gbagyi exhibits language-specific structural variations, it adheres to general syntactic principles. The study concludes that both Oblique and Genitive Cases in Gbagyi follow well-defined syntactic rules, confirming the preposition as a Case assigner and the possessor as governing the possessed noun.