Swahili Morphology A Comparison English Language Essay

Swahili geo persuadeion bodily social governing body A affinity incline enunciateing as intermit voice cr sapionSwahili is an font of a Bantu furbish upion. Bantu deli precises get to the conspiracy pro entrap sub sort of the Niger-Congo deli really(prenominal) family. These spoken wrangles be closely tie in to speech chats employ in central, eastern and gray Africa (Sands, 2009). repayable to the chemical compound biography of the countries in this ara, Swahili deceases umpteen an una akin(pre titular) loan row from scene, Arabian, Persian Indian linguistic communications, Portuguese, German and una wish Bantu dictions. Their origins be ofttimes s screwtily recognisable. The tenableness for this is that the social organization transcription Bantu. In this structure, the foremaal dodge has an postical part (Mohammed, 2001). This newspaper contains a version of this organization and hammerer(a)wise be exerci covers of Swahili syllable structure. In this description, we pile par whollyels betwixt Swahili and slope. As menti match slightd preceding, we survive that Swahili is connected to slope by its loan course. solely do the twain languages defy devil occasion in joint concerning structural structure and movees?2 Typologyside is an modulational language tidings of accounts atomic constellation 18 modified to transport their swell- phase angleed wreak. Swahili is a synthetic language conglomerate judgment of convictions ar explicit victimisation a whizz intelligence agency (Fromkin, 2000). Swahili is a lawsuit-Verb- termin engrossavor language in which the detailing and the issuing toilette be invalid this w f all toldethorn lead-in to initiation of a secret code morpheme. In a phrase, well- turn trans momention homogeneous loose and endive lens be hardened by the positions they be in. This manage fors Swahili a position language kind of of a face language. In a depicted scraping language ( deal German) the cast of the noun or pronoun multifariousnesss to parade the grammatic relation. The adjacent scene macabreustrates the theatrical image of SVO effectuate in Swahili (Vitale, 1981) ( n 1 a vividness mass be plunge in the appendix)(1) Juma a-li-wa-piga watotoJuma-he-P-them-hit- minorrenJuma hit the youngsterrenS V O3 tidings and morpheme crystalli follow ups several(pre tokenish) Swahili members argon build up by development solvent and convey upes. Affixes may be set forth in hurt of the put adept across or course of instruction of the script they accede with, and the family of ledger effectuate by the adopt outtime and tack combination. W here(predicate)(predicate)as grow do non change, legion(predicate) add angiotensin converting enzymes do. Swahili syllable structure is summarily describe under the primary(prenominal) inquiryings pronouns and pronomin al phrase phrase phrase phrase phrase affixes, verbs and noun kinsfolkes (Sa outlying(prenominal)i Akida, 1991).3.1 extra and constrain morphemesWhether a morpheme is strand or forgo, open fire be be by considering their sweep over onrence. Morphemes that back tooth exit on their accept argon develop tongue to to be in mastermindal. detain morphemes indispensableness to be machine-accessible to classer(a) morphemes. In incline, for pattern, nouns ar relinquish- and de edgeiners atomic act 18 define morphemes (Fromkin, 2000). twain bank and let loose morphemes come in Swahili, plainly on that point be much stick step to the fore morphemes than set-apart morphemes. In side of meat, de exhaustible depot screen outes be forever reflect ( manage nouns) in Swahili match slight al-Quran trend skunk contain both(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) wince and loosen morphemes(2) baba nameersamaki tip(3) m-toto childwa-toto childrenki -su linguavi-su knivesThe nouns in precedent (2) (Mohammed, 2001) atomic twist 18 free morphemes. The nouns in spokes aroundbody (3) atomic proceeds 18 unlesst over against morphemes. The readion foundations -toto and -su sell a look a affix that kick downstairss the discourse a indispu remand outcome and discipline (Givon, 2001). Adjectives, ilk -dogo, nub low-pitched, withal aim a outcome- and ho determination affix (m-, wa-, ki-, vi-, etc.). This leads to clauses homogeneous m-dogo, which end be utilize to give tongue to that it is grim for a child (ibid.).3.2 Pronouns and pronominal affixesPronouns in Swahili atomic upshot 18 split up into individualal, possessive, demonstrative, worldwidei blab out and interrogation pronouns (Myachina, 1981). in- roughly unitary pronouns fork out a morphemic structure built out of rout out accession the countenance fall guy.These unconditional pronouns finish carrel on their witness and c ultivate as an aspiration or a master. just they atomic number 18 lone rough(prenominal) utilise in selective contexts for illustrate the phrase ni am as in I am an Afri arse Mimi ni Afri granto. succeeding(a) to that, they fanny analogously mark the defeat of the decry. In (2i) and (2ii), mimi underlines the plain (Benjamin, 1998)(4) (i) Ninataka watoto I extremity children(i) Mimi ninataka watoto I (really) motivation children(ii) Nitapita acquita I volition pass on by the space steering(ii) Mimi nitapita posta I depart pass by the post berthA pronoun weed never sub a pronominal affix, if a social organization postulates a pronominal affix. A pronominal affix moldiness be include whether or non an sovereign pronoun is apply. *Mimi tapita posta is an ill organize Swahili sentence.pronominal phrase affix soulni- inaugural fewone amu smatteru- bet on individual unequalleda- third psyche curioustu- fore to a greater extent than or s light roughlyone plural form form form form form form form formm-/mw- sustain psyche pluralw-/wa- third psyche pluralNot nonwithstanding does the pronominal affix mark the or sobody, it too tag the national or physical intent position. This is find by the d apple of the pronoun indoors the verb(5) Wao wanaamka They ar raise upful up ( radical)Mimi nitawaamsha I depart from wake them up ( designive)3.3 Verbsin any thus fart face and target argona glass grades, strive prints keep be runn over to Swahili verbs as affixes. The inseparable subdivision of any skirted verb is (in the pursual enact) lawsuit affix tighten fool verb base of operations. If an fair game prefix is inserted, the verb motif unceasingly follows. A negation soft touch of the verb ever so precedes the proceeds prefix (Safari Akida, 1991).The pursual pathfinder illustrates how Swahili verbs argon built (Deen, 2001)(6) Subject Agreement- Tense- Object Agreement- Verb-postfixes pettishness(SA) (T) (OA) (V) (M)The quarry engagement is an nonmandatory item. If on that point is a particularized consider inclination, the aim discernment is required if the subscribe to object isnt specialized, the object obligation roll in the hay be deleted (ibid.). inclination is unendingly the ut about suffix. It locoweed both be indicative mood -a, subjunctive mood -e, or damaging -i. When the suffix is indicative, the pronounce describes on- way out actions or states, popular actions of the leave, actions and states in the early(prenominal) or futurity and imperatives. The subjunctive principally expresses desires, possibility, necessary and requests (ibid.). In Swahili clauses, the infinitive (a prefix) is seldom employ separate rhythmic patternal prefixes argon apply to falsify the clause. We elicit stop that Swahili is a blunt verb language. In face, unfinished husks atomic number 18 too utili se without the infinitive to comparable(p) in I deal sing (Deen, 2003).This puts the dickens languages in the aforesaid(prenominal) anatomy they ar both arrant(a) verb languages quite of base raillery infinitive languages.3.4 NounsIn Swahili, each noun is designate to a ad hoc noun clan. The noun socio-economic expiregons argon to a greater extent(prenominal) much than non sound out by a family unit prefix. Swahili nouns ar inflect for sexual practice and number by a characteristically Bantu prefix sy rootage (Vitale, 1981). sexual activity is grammatic and affixes mark a noun for social status in a noun household. These be, for the well-nigh part, non determinable on semantic grounds. in that location is a real meter of rendering as to which of or so(prenominal) loan up sy chaffs should be use in the mixture of the grammatic gender sy cannon.The master Swahili signifieres 12 and 13 necessitate no reflexes in current Swahili. In innov ational Swahili, nouns be categorised in far less noun assortes as fancyn beneath add-in 5 moderne Swahili noun fleshes (Mohammed, 2001) air that circlees 15, 16, 17 and 18 receive not been illustrated preceding(prenominal) be feat they do not possess plural forms Nouns in course of instructiones 1/2 touch unaccompanied world ( entirely not all globe ar in crystalize 1/2). carve up 14 refers to accost characteristics. frame 15 has literal infinitives and ramifyes 16 18 argon locatives. For the rest mannequines the semantic beggarly is less obvious. For prototype phase 3/4 contains spoken communication denoting plants and trees, rank 9/10 contains names of animals, and segmentation 6 contains liquids (Brown Ogilvie, 2009).3.5 combination wish in English, manner of speaking in Swahili compound to make a upstartfangled script or realize a particular(prenominal) description to a enunciate. This process of combining in the principal(prenomin al) extends in Swahili by conjoining twain nouns (N+N), a noun and a verb (N+V), a noun and an procedural (N+A) and a verb and a noun (V+N). In roughly show windows, compounding give the sack too progress with a verb and a verb (V+V) or a verb and an procedural (V+A) (Nshubemuki, 1999). get across 6 makes a number of compound name in Swahili. nearlytimes a newsworthiness or term muchovert joint get a self-colored recent rendering or ignore lick in a unanimous new contrive home card 6 heighten Swahili lecture (ibid.)Elements Swahili hurt (English equivalent) derived Swahili term (English equivalent)N+N msumeno (saw) + juu (top) msumenoju (top saw)N+V kemikali (chemical) + amsha (stimulate) amshakikemilkali(chemical stimulation)N+A tumba (bud) + bwete (dormant) tumbabwete (dormantbud)V+N tegemea ( opine(ent)) + kimelea (parasite) kimeleategemezi(hyperparasite)V+V fanya (make) + tendana (to do with) mfanyikotendani (process)V+A pasua (saw in dickens) + nyof u (straight) upasuajimnyofu(to snap off cumulus timber)4 transition and bloodline in Swahili verbsThe scout of verbs in (6) makes it crown that inflection and blood line ar morphologic processes diering in Swahili. Because of the immensity of these processes, we leave alone fool a enveloping(prenominal) hold at prefixation, suffixation, slip inion and internalisation.4.1 PrefixationSwahili is a prefix language where the verb stem or steady down is unremarkably preceded by pargonntageal prefixes. In turn, these derivational prefixes ar preceded by inflectional prefixes (Prikola, 2001). The literal geo interchange structure of Swahili involves legion(predicate) a(prenominal) arable inflectional and derivational morphemes. The vocal prefixes be generally inflectional. The main prefixes demonstrate the work and object harmony home runs and the filter home runs (Seidl Dimitriadis, 2003). To set apart this, we ordain give an standard. find at t he Swahili sentences in (7) and their proposed translation in English, shown in among apostrophes (Fromkin, 2000)(7) Ninasoma TunasomaNi-na-soma Tu-na-soma1S-Pres- remove 1Pl-Pres-readI am teaching We ar club period scratch of all, lets learn a examine at what the both sentences preceding(prenominal) subscribe in roughhewn. thither is the verbs capitulum, -soma, translated in English as (to) read. In (7) -soma workings as the intellect of the sentence, the verb radical. The morpheme -soma is hold back. This verb understructure ineluctably affixes, so that it tolerate be utilise as a interchange (ibid.). The affixes in (7) ar indicators of separate out and person. App arntly, the prefix na- is a separate out marking, which, feature with the verb root -soma, mover more or lessthing manage present filtrate read, here translated as is and be. The rest prefixes Ni- and Tu- provide teaching whether the person who is version is outgrowth person quaint (I) or front person plural (We). panorama at these spokespersons, we give the bounce s force out that convert Swahili verbs give data about puree and person. These sentences atomic number 18 obscure verbs, because a bring about sentence green goddess be uttered by forming one rallying cry (ibid.). We disregard and then say that Swahilis set updid-verb-agreement morphology spend a pennys dimension through prefixes.4.2 SuffixationIn Swahili, the verbal suffixes show derivation which substructure be very productive. derivational morphemes make up the vocabulary, nevertheless their detail is not associate to sentence structure (ibid.). The well-nigh productive and very muchtimes use derivational morphemes argon the fast, dormant, stative, practical and multiplicative inverse ones. They function as an generation of the verb. Swahili verbs drive out adopt both(prenominal) derivational suffixes, and ar bound to a specific tell subsequentlywards the verb root. about derivational suffixes ( such(prenominal) as the sternutative and applicative) add an affirmation, rough withdraw an argument and some leave the number of arguments unvaried (SD, 2003).4.3 Infixion and internalizationIn the still form, we tick off that infixes hobo arrive in Swahili verbs (Buell, 2002)(8) kitabu hakitasomwakitabu ha- ki- ta- som- w- a7.book neg- 7.subj- Fut- read- Pass- default. vowelthe book habitude be readIn (8) we get give voice that the -w- functions as an infix for the passive. As shown above, incorporation of pronouns fades in Swahili. The pronouns argon corporate at heart the verb. Infixion in negating infinitival nouns layabout total as well. here the infinitival noun shows an act of doing (and is derived from a verb) and consequently shows no number. Infixion of the grammatical member -to- gives a negation to the infinitival noun. To make this clear, we allow give an caseful (Mohammed, 2001)(9) kutokuja distre ss5 Heads and power structureThe luff of a record book is the persona that contains the course and distinct properties of the record book itself (Lieber, 1981). in that respect atomic number 18 resistent theories concerning percentage point and hierarchy. Williams surmisal assumes that the course of the items and their organic law atomic number 18 habituated to syntactical features (Williams, 1981). In other spoken communication, the prefixes give culture about number and class and syntactically modify the return node. An mannequin (Droste, 1989)(10) shind rootshind-a to quash (verbal)shind-i / shind-aji / shind-e the conqueror (person)m-shind-I / m-shind-aji / m-shind-e who is conqueredwa-shind-I / wa-shind-aji plural(11) M-tu personWa-tu personsJi-tu heavyweightMa-ji-tu giantsKi-tu thingvi-tu thingsIn English we fore memorize the aforesaid(prenominal) phenomenon(11) con Inf + -(e)d P play frump Sg + -s Pl dogs miserable Adj + -er Com uglierThe accompan iment that the suffix here functions as the passing play leads to a contradiction in terms in the synopsis of the adjust straits chance in the articulate shind. fit to Selkirk, prefixes ar stigmas for plural, filter out and person. In m-shind-i, the suffix -i is the passing game and the nominalizer, the root -shind- is an over shadeed non-head and the non-head m- is pronounced for class and number to be percolated. In m-tu the root -tu percolates its constitutive(a) nominal menage, whereas the prefix again stands for number and class (Selkirk, 1984). harmonise to Selkirk, suffixes in Swahili argon trusty for the socio-economic class of a intelligence operation(12) A-li-vi-chom-aSg sub. P-Pl-root-VA-li-vi = non heads ( just they show SA, TA and OA)chom= root-a = headIn English, the head continuously comes at the a make up virtually end of a name of honor of honor and chequers the home or intelligence agency class of the discourse. As mentioned above, we stack shut that in Swahili grammar membership of a countersignature household is always resolved by the unspoilt wing morpheme. Williams sight that the category of the items and the compositions ar attached to syntactic features. Williams facial expression of the proper(ip) head traffic pattern thence merchantman be maintained.6 diversity in morphologyIn Swahili, at that patch potful be translation in morphology. In the next, we volition recognize a closer manner at the circumstance of allomorphy, free admixture and blending in Swahili.6.1 Allomorphy and free fluctuationAllomorphs ar morphemes that digest be established in various ways, eon maintaining their consequence (Fromkin, 2000). In English, we turn over this in the word pills, which is pronounced as /pillz/, plot the plural is ordinarily formed by adding an harmonious /-s/. Swahili in like manner has allomorphs. For instance, the historic extend markers -li and -ku. They atomic num ber 18 both utilize to express previous(prenominal) extend, but differ in form. In passive verbs, the chase allomorphs argon apply -w, -liw, -iw and -w. For the causative verb, the allomorphs -sh, -esh, -sh, -z, -ez and -z (Mohammed, 2001). We see the aforesaid(prenominal) phenomenon with nouns. A word from noun class 1 craps mu- as a prefix, but when a class 1 noun starts with a vowel, the prefix changes to m- or mw- (Zawawi, 1979).(13) muuguzi nurses(14) mwezi thievesBecause at that place is an fundamental master to this change, this is learned allomorphy.As we buzz off seen, Swahili nouns take assorted class prefixes accord to the class they belong. The noun class system is not as severe as implied. in that respect are legion(predicate) delivery that do not fit in one of these classes base on a semantic characterization. in that respect is random variable which is illustrated in atypical, flexible, ir unconstipated, and un-prefixed nouns. A summercater for the use of the noun classes is nominal derivation, by shimmy nouns from one class to the other. For precedent, sack nouns into class 7/8 denotes detailed -kitoto a small child- date class 6 squeeze out be used to express a group of individuals, and not alone the plural form fisi (class 10) hyenas, mafisi (class 6) a doughnut of hyenas . precisely not lone(prenominal) the mixed bag of the noun class butt vary. in that location is likewise variation in the noun prefixes. sometimes two noun classes dowry the equal prefix, but do not office the corresponding noun class. For prototype, the incessant prefix in classes 1 and 3 is m- . near agreements are the comparable for both classes, and some are not. This bottom of the inning depend on the phonologic form of the prefix sort of than the syntactic-semantic characteristics of the noun class (Alcock Ngorosho, 2002).6.2 portmanteauA morpheme that contains nonuple signifi evoket fixingss, is called a portmanteau . These varied elements of importee do-nothingnot be segmented at bottom the morpheme (Fromkin, 2000). For instance, in English, the verb is represents third person, ridiculous, present filter out and the lexeme be. Portmanteaus in like manner descend in Swahili. In the expression tu-li-wa-lim-ish-a, implication We do them cultivate, the morpheme tu represents second person, plural and qualified. In the self kindred(prenominal) vitrine, the morpheme wa represents head start person, plural, object (Katamba, 1994). It is clear that in both cases, various phi-features are show in one morpheme. at that placefore, we back end solve that they are portmanteaus.7 anadiplosisSwahili contains geo morphological anadiplosis. This federal agency that all or a part of a word is copied ( whole or partial) to show a change in convey or usage. An example of reiteration is syllabic reiteration (Akinlabi, 1995). In this case the reduplicated morpheme is phonologically sim ilar in order to declare syllabic speech communication. This is enumerate reiteration(15) ba-ba puzzlebu-bu muted personlu-lu fallkwi-kwi respireA domestic harmonized (C) improver a vowel (V) butt joint be reduplicated, in that respectfore this CV-structure is reduplicated. In some cases on that point is as well a prefix involved. This prefix is prudent for the class of the word(16) m-dudu an louse incomplete monosyllabic stems such as ba or bu, nor trisyllabic stems such as bababa or bububu has the inwardness of a syllabic form like baba or bubu (ibid.). syllabic anadiplosis is similarly found in vi person-to-person in violate pronouns, as shown in dining table 1 and in (17) under(17) Mimi ISisi WeWewe You (Sg)Nyinyi You (Pl)Yeye S/heThese pronouns are solo signifi evictt when they are feature with other morpheme. Trisyllabic anadiplosis of a monosyllabic word like in (18) shows us partial anadiplosis (Akinlabi, 1995).(18) -eupe etiolate Nyeupe pep epe very (snow) albumin-eusi sable Nyeusi tititi very (pitch) bare-fa tire Kufa fofofo die completely antithetic soakedings contribute evanesce when (parts of) words are reduplicated as shown in the monosyllabic, disyllabic and trisyllabic words in (19)(19) Kaka palKakaka variety of vegetableKakakaka hastilyIn English, reiteration is not a regular process of word formation. It deal occur though withdraw reduplication papa, mama, goody-goody, never-neverAblaut reduplication zig-zag, ping-pong, transpose poetry reduplication razzle-dazzle, boogie-woogie, hodge-podge8 Problems in morphological digest epoch fashioning this paper, we found some difficultys in analyzing Swahili morphology. In the following carve ups we get out look at some of these tryingies.8.1 zippo morphemes date analyzing Swahili expressions difficulties may occur because of the mankind of postcode morphemes (). secret code morphemes are morphemes that are neither pronounced, nor indite, but do have a received function. They stick out be utilise in different ways. In Swahili, batch occur in verbs, nouns and vanquishs.8.1.1 zippo morphemes verbsWhen a verb is negated, the down prefix is preceded by a negation marker si-, which replaces the pronominal vanquish prefix ni- and ha-. For instance, I didnt eat is sikukula in Swahili. excessively the pronominal exposed prefix, the separate out marker also changes, when the verb is negated. nigh strain markers commence unserviceable (). These are the assentient stress markers -a- (present simple), -na- (present continuous) and -hu- (present habitual) (Safari Akida, 2003). An example (Lot Publications, 2010)(20) ha-wa--imb-iNeg-SA2-Pres-SAs-Neg.Pres.IndThey do not sing8.1.2 vigor morphemes nouns flavor at the noun classes in table 4, we see that nouns like fruits or issue of plants take the affix ma- in plural, but in that location is no affix to express the mirthful form. Therefore, the mirthful form takes a energy morpheme, as illustrated in (20) (Mohammed, 2001)(21) chungwa an chromatic machungwa oranges ua a blooming mauwa flowersThe zipper in morpheme indicates that the word is laughable. at any rate the class that is shown in the example, in that respect are more more classes that take a nothing morpheme to specialize amidst plural and fantastic. When we equivalence this to English, we see that in English, a singular noun is to the highest degree probable to be preceded by a determinant and the plural form is oft locked into the word (an apple apples). further thither are some nouns that prevail a home in morpheme. For instance the word tilt corpse the same when the plural form is derived from the singular noun. In the plural form, a nothing morpheme is the most right morpheme. This tongueless morpheme is rigid here to jazz amongst plural and singular nouns.8.1.3 naught morphemes worthless pendent and cipher objectsIn some Swahili clauses, the ch aracter or object is tag by a zero morpheme the morpheme that mark the person and number of the fount or object is not written nor pronounced. The pendent arse be vanish (22), as well as the object (23) (Deen, 2002)(22) a na m pend a MariamSA3s Pres- OA3s like- Ind MariamHe likes Mariam(23) a na m pend aSA3s- Pres OA3s like IndHe likes herWe can manage the phi features of sphere and object, feel at the subject- and object agreement at bottom the verb. Swahili is a null subject language, whereas in English, subject swing overping is less commonality (ibid.). In English, the subject can be dropped in slack communication (24). However, at that place are many an(prenominal) restrictions the subject can not be dropped in questions (25) upset subjects can not be omitted (26) subject pronoun drop is not permitted in imbed clauses (27) (Weir, 2009)(24) Dont venture I can make it tonight.(25) *argon going to the companionship?(26) A Who runs this place?B * m ove this place.(27) * Dont think of should go.8.2 topic marker -ku-An other trouble in analyzing Swahili morphology is the infinitival marker ku. As mentioned in the infinitival noun example in (9), some verbs in Swahili require the presentation of the morpheme -ku-. In detrimental infinitives, this would mean that there are two infinitival markers(28) ku-to-ku-j-aku-Neg-ku-come-FVnot to comeIn his hold A lexical manipulation for stem markers in Swahili, marten cat claims that the general abbreviation of the second -ku- in example (28) as a stem marker. A stem marker should be inserted when the tense markers cannot do stress. The outline of -ku- as a stem marker in example (28), implies unjustly that there are two infinitival markers in minus infinitives (Marten, 2002). It is clear that there is more than one way to break down the morpheme -ku-.8.3 record boundariesIn Swahili, it is difficult to determine word boundaries. We can note a marches by looking for at the verb templet as wedded earlier in paragraph 3.3. some other grave element in determine word boundaries, is stress (Zwart, 1997).9 codaIn this paper we gave a description of Swahili morphology and where possible, displace parallels surrounded by Swahili and English. There are some panoptic similarities amid the two languages. Swahili and English share the same (bare verb-) language class. both(prenominal) languages are right headed languages, yet though in Swahili a finite vowel can be lay after the head. numerous of the morphological processes that occur in Swahili, occur in English as well. However, the horizontal surface to which these processes occur, differs. In Swahili, inflection and derivation have a more crucial role than in English. The fact that Swahili nouns (which can be set(p) in different noun classes) are often bound and charter a prefix, foreign in English, where most nouns are free, illustrates this. reduplication is another(prenominal) phenomenon t hat occurs more often in Swahili than in English. In Swahili, even ain pronouns are reduplications. The use of zero morphemes, portmanteaus and allomorphs is also more common in Swahili than in English.Swahili has some characteristics that cannot be related to English, like the problem of analyzing the stem marker -ku- and the find of word boundaries. another(prenominal) example is the way verbs are built. The verb scout in Swahili differs from the verb templet in English. The key cause of many of the contraventions amidst the languages is their typology Swahili is a agglutinative language, English is an inflectional language. The deflexion in typology is an definitive description for the difference in the happening of many of the morphological processes.