Syntactic Properties of Dholuo Verbal Extensions

Abstract

According to the existing literatures on verbal morphology of agglutinating languages, there are morphological behaviors characterized by creation of new verb stems from existing roots by affixation of derivative morphemes to the roots. The affixes are referred to as verbal extensions. Verbal extensions have syntactic characteristics realized in verbal matrices of verbs they get attached to. This paper discusses the syntactic properties of Dholuo verbal extensions. The verbal extensions under investigation are the applicative, the locative, the reflexive, the reciprocal and the stative. Although studies exist on syntactic properties of Dholuo applicative, reciprocal and reflexive extensions, effects of these extensions on the argument structure of Dholuo verbs still need further inquiry. This paper therefore analyses syntactic characteristics of Dholuo applicative, reflexive and reciprocal extensions in addition to locative and stative extensions that are yet to be analyzed in Dholuo. Most of the data examined in this study was generated by two of the researchers who are themselves native speakers of Dholuo. In some instances however, consultations were made with other native speakers for cross-checking purposes.

Keywords: valence, in situ, local domain, argument and transitivity.