The clause in the Zulu sentence

Abstract

In this investigation an attempt is made to reveal the internal relationship of units in the Zulu clause as well as the external relationship of clauses. Internal relationship deals with the organization of units within a clause and the implications thereof, Sometimes this is referred to as intra-clausal relationship, External relationship deals with co-ordination and subordination of clauses in a sentence (inter-clausal relationship) and this is the major concern of the investigation, In our selection of sentences we have been guided by the facts of language so that both system- and text-sentences are considered. Co-ordination, which is a process of linking clauses, is divided into: A. Conjoining co-ordination: 1. Ordinary conjoining co-ordination 2. Zeugmatic and sylleptic conjoining co-ordination. B, Juxtapositioning co-ordination: 1. Paratactic co-ordination 2. Consecutive co-ordination 3. Serial co-ordination C. Lexemic co-ordination: 1. Proper co-ordination 2. Pleonastic co-ordination 3. Quasi- co-ordination 4. Periphrastic co-ordination.

Subordination, also a linking process, has the following clauses:

A. Modifying subordinate clauses:

1. Relative clause 2. Descriptive clause (Expansion clause)

B. Complementing subordinate clause: 1. Directive clause 2. Complementary clause 3. Reported clause

Text-sentences, based on a folktale, are divided into: 1. Free sentences 2. Bound sentences: (a) Sequential sentences (b) Elliptical sentences

Pragmatic structures are divided into: 1. Topic construction 2. Existential construction 3. Prominence construction: (a) Focus construction (b) Emphatic construction

In the end it is noted that the division of co-ordination and subordination of clauses in Zulu is not always straightforward, At times an overlap is detected between co-ordination and subordination. This has necessitated the sub-classification of co-ordination into: 1. Full-fledged co-ordination 2. Marginal co-ordination

Meaning as attached to clauses may be divided into: 1. Descriptive meaning 2. Pragmatic meaning 3. Presuppositional meaning 4. Propositional meaning