Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2023)

A Morpho-semantic Description of Adjectives in Kipangwa

https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v12i2.343
Emmanuel Hauli
Sebonde
University of Dodoma
Chrispina Alphonce
Department of Foreign Languages and Literature University of Dodoma

Corresponding Author(s) : Emmanuel Hauli

ehauli@irdp.ac.tz

Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), Vol. 12 No. 2 (2023)

Abstract

This paper presents the characteristics of a lexical category adjective in Kipangwa.
The lexical category adjective is proposed to be universal, but its realisation varies
across languages. This paper offers evidence to authenticate the presence of an
independent lexical category adjective in Kipangwa. The study employed a qualitative
approach in generating data, analysing the data and reporting the findings. The data
for this study were collected through text collections, both spoken and written.
Spoken texts/ sentences with adjectives were collected from 18 informants by
recording them through a digital audio recorder, while written texts were collected
from two (2) Bible storybooks in Kipangwa. The informants were sampled through
snowball sampling, whereas the storybooks in Kipangwa were purposefully sampled.
The paper reveals that, like other Bantu languages, Kipangwa has a class of adjectives
that may be underived or derived. In the derived form, the lexical category nouns and
verbs undergo morphological derivations to establish the adjectival category. The
paper also shows that Kipangwa has adjectives of different classifications based on
13 semantic classes as proposed by Dixon (2004). It further reveals that adjectives
agree in class, number, and person with the noun they modify in the noun phrase.
Furthermore, the paper shows that syntactically, adjectives in Kipangwa can occur in
the noun phrase’s attributive or predicative position. This paper adds knowledge and
understanding of lexical category adjective in Bantu languages.

Keywords

adjective, Kipangwa, morphology, noun, semantics, syntax
A Morpho-semantic Description of Adjectives in Kipangwa. (2024). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 12(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v12i2.343
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. Baker, M. 2003. Lexical Categories, Verbs, Nouns and Adjectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University
  2. Press.
  3. Bessala, G. 2016. The Position of Adnominal Adjectives in Bakoko. Summer-Fall, 40(2).
  4. Biloa, E. 2013. The Syntax of Tuki: A Cartographic Approach, [Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today
  5. . Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  6. Bisilki, A. & Yakpo, K. 2020. Adjectives in Likpakpaln (Konkomba): Structural and Areal-
  7. Typological Aspects. Language Matters, 51(2): 3–24.
  8. Bresnan, J. & Mchombo, S. 1995. The Lexical Integrity Principle: Evidence from Bantu. Natural
  9. Language and Linguistics Theory, 13, 181–254.
  10. Bryan, A. 2005): Social Research Methods. New York: Oxford University Press.
  11. Carstens, V. 1991.The Morphology and Syntax of Determiner Phrases in Kiswahili. Los Angeles:
  12. University of California. Doctoral Dissertation.
  13. Chafe, W. 2012. Are Adjectives Universal? the Case of Northern Iroquoian. Linguistics Typology,
  14. , 1–39. https: //doi.org/10.1515/lity-2012–0001.
  15. Dixon, R.M.W. 1982. Where have All the Adjectives Gone? and Other Essays in Semantics and Syntax.
  16. Berlin: Mouton Publishers.
  17. Dixon, R.M.W. 2004. Adjective Classes in Typological Perspective. In Dixon, R.M.W & A.Y.
  18. Aikhenvald (Eds.). Adjective Classes: A Cross-Linguistic Typology. (pp. 1–49). Oxford: Oxford
  19. University Press.
  20. Flanagan, P.J. 2013. Adjective Stacking and Classification in Northern Sotho, a Bantu Language
  21. of South Africa. In Olmos-Lopez, B-P., Huang, J. & Almeida, J. (Eds). Papers from the LAEL
  22. Conference, 8 pp.4–40. Lancaster, United Kingdom: Lancaster University.
  23. Goodness, D. 2014. The Shinyiha Adjective as a Distinct Lexical Category. Dar-es-salaam:
  24. University of Dar es Salaam. Doctoral Dissertation.
  25. Haspelmath, M. 2012. How to Compare Major Word-Classes Across the World’s Languages.
  26. UCLA Working Papers in Linguistics, 17(3): 109–130.
  27. Hyman, L.M. Jenks, P. & E Makasso, E. 2013. Selected Proceedings of the 43rd Annual
  28. Conference on African Linguistics. In Orie, O and Karen W. Sanders, K.W (Eds). 151–162.
  29. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Proceedings Project.
  30. Johnstone, B. 2000. Qualitative Methods in Sociolinguistics. New York: Oxford University Press.
  31. Kahigi, K. 2008. Revisiting the Adjective in Kiswahili. Kioo cha Lugha, Vol. 6: 20–32.
  32. Lin, J. & Peck, J. 2016. Classification of Mandarin Chinese simple Adjectives: A Scale-Based
  33. Analysis of Their Quantitative Denotations. Language and Linguistics, 17(6): 827–855.
  34. Lusekelo, A. & Mpobela, L. 2017. Lexical Categories in African languages: The Case of Adjectives
  35. Word-class in Nyakyusa. Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in Africa, 8(1): 1–31.
  36. Meira, S. & Gildea, S. 2005. tax. In W. L. Wetzels (Ed.): The Linguistics of Endangered Languages
  37. --- Contributions to Morphology and Morphosyntax (pp. 1–48. LOT Occasional Series. Morrison, M. E. 2011. a Reference Grammar of Bena. Houston: Rice University. Doctoral
  38. Dissertation.
  39. Mpofu, N. 2009. The Shona Adjective as a Prototypical Category (Issue January). University of Oslo.
  40. Muzale, H. R. T. & Rugemalira, J. M. 2008. Researching and Documenting the Languages of
  41. Tanzania. Language Documentation & Conservation, 2(1): 68–108.
  42. Owusu-ansah, V. & Agbetsoamedo, Y. 2022. Adjective in Esahie: A Morphosyntactic Study.
  43. Ghana Journal of Linguistics, 19, 1–19.
  44. Rijkhoff, J. 2002. The Noun Phrase. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  45. Rugemalira, J. 2008. Adjectives in Bantu. Occasional Papers in Linguistics, 3: 23–33.
  46. Segerer, G. 2008. Closed Adjective Classes and Primary Adjectives in African Languages. Halshs-
  47. , 1–16.
  48. van den Berg, R. 2010. Review of Dixon (2010): Basic Linguistic Theory, Volume 1:
  49. Methodology. Studies in Language, 34(3): 737–747.
  50. Wasike, A. 2018. Adjectives in Lubukusu. In H. T. & P. T. D. Jason Kandybowicz, Travis Major
  51. (Ed.): African linguistics on the prairie: Selected papers from the 45th Annual Conference on African
  52. Linguistics, (pp. 325–339.).
  53. Wycliffe Bible Translators. 2017. Ikhitabu isha Luti. Mbeya: Huduma za Kutafsiri Biblia na
  54. Kuendeleza Lugha za Asili.
  55. Wycliffe Bible Translators. 2017. Ikhitabu isha Yoona. Mbeya: Huduma za Kutafsiri Biblia na
  56. Kuendeleza Lugha za Asili.
Read More

Author Biography

Chrispina Alphonce, Department of Foreign Languages and Literature University of Dodoma



How to Cite

A Morpho-semantic Description of Adjectives in Kipangwa. (2024). Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS), 12(2). https://doi.org/10.56279/jhss.v12i2.343
Download

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.