Topics in Xhosa verbal extension

Abstract

This study opens with an outline of the approach adopted, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of working within either a formal theory or adopting a multi-faceted approach. Other highlights of this Chapter include the definition of the scope of this thesis as well as its aims and objectives. Chapter 2 describes phonetic and phonological phenomena appertaining to verbal extension in Xhosa. Chapter 3 is concerned with a morphological investigation. In this Chapter Margaret Allen's ( 1978) method of morphological analysis is applied. This approach appears to handle the morphology of extended radicals adequately. Chapters 4 and 5 are closely linked. They describe syntactic phenomena. Chapter 4 gives background information about general syntactic phenomena which recur in the study of the syntax of extended verbs as such. In Chapter 5 special issues in the syntactic behaviour of productive extensions are analysed. Chapter 6 deals with the semantic issues involved in the extension of verbal radicals as well as in their use in sentences. Particular attention is paid to the role of NPs that co-occur with extended radicals in senter:)Ces. This aspect has been relatively ignored in previous studies. Chapter 7 should be seen as the microcosm of the macrocosm, in the sense that it handles the combinations of extensions phonologically, morphologically, syntactically and semantically. Once more particular attention is paid to NPs that co-occur with multiply extended radicals in sentences. Chapter 8 deals with the unproductive extensions in Xhosa. The syntactic behaviour of verb stems which are extended with these suffixes is not different from that of ordinary or simplex verb stems. The conclusion sums up points made in previous chapters, stressing once more the advantages of adopting a multi-faceted approach for this intriguing phenomenon of Bantu languages, namely, verbal extension.