The non-productive verbal extensions in Zulu : a study in derivational morphology.
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Date
2001
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Abstract
Verbal extensions are well-known to play a most substantial role in the derivation
and/or inflection of verbs in contemporary Zulu. Less well-known and less well
investigated are a group of verbal derivatives which in former times played a
significant role in derivation but which can no longer be freely attached to verbal
stems: the non-productive verbal extensions (NPEs.) This thesis seeks to present and
discuss all aspects of these NPEs from the perspective of their persisting roles in
contemporary Zulu. This is undertaken on the basis of an extensive collection of
currently-used verbs derived by means of NPEs, which is presented in the Appendix.
Chapter 1 locates the study within the context of verbal extensions as a whole, and
reviews the literature, which has focussed primarily on those verbal extensions which
are still used productively today. Chapter 2 presents the theoretical framework for the
investigation, considering issues such as productivity, derivation and inflection, and
some relevant aspects of the theory of derivational morphology, currently under
development. The following chapters focus in turn on the morphology of the NPEs,
their current use in combination with productive extensions, the most salient aspect of
their syntax, transitivity, and their meaning.
NPEs have become fully integrated into Zulu vocabulary, and are used on a daily
basis with no awareness of their earlier roles. Nevertheless, as this thesis
demonstrates, a study of NPEs can explain both certain regularities and certain
anomalies in word formation , in transitivity, and in the meaning of extended verbs in
contemporary Zulu.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.
Keywords
Zulu language--Morphology., Zulu language--Verb., Theses--IsiZulu.