A study of the predicate in its relationship to the subject, object and adjunct in Zulu

Abstract

Thj.s work is a synchronic study of syntax in Zulu and has its as central theme, verb-noun relations. In these relations.~hree phenomena were found to be important, (A) The liaison semantic features (LSFs) (B) word-order as shown by nouns in relation to the verb (C) Transitivity (A ) 'l'he LS Fs The noun may be the subject, object or adjunct depending on the function it has taken up. These functional terms subject, object and adjunct are more concerned with structural segments of a sentence rather than.semantic relationship of segments. Con,aequently a sem1.mtic model of ,,SFs showing the semat1tic-relaticmal features of nouns, is evolved. Such features are determined by the kind of verb used. The major LSFs are: (a) Agentive / r.nstrumental (bl Patient/ Factive It is realised that if the semantic content of the relationship is left out, the study of a sentence is bound to suffer from explanatory in adequacy. (B) The Ordering of nouns in relation to the verb The ordering of nouns is only achieved by front shifting and back-shifting <:J e.g. a noun occurring post-verbally is shifted to the front so that it occured before the verb: \lshaya .tnkom6 (he hits a cow) V:LJ.l - 1nkom6, uyayishaya (*the cow, he hits it) 'l'he noun occurring bcfon::, the vci-b n1<,y bo shifted to the back as in \~mf6na uy,1h1c1.mba ( the boy is walking) vs. uyahamba umt'ciw, (*he is walking, a boy) Such shifting goes along with focus which expresses prominence. The ordering of nouns may therefore result in: (a) a change in the form 01: a noun or verb · (b) a change in the meaning of a sentence These two changes are usually concomitant i.e. a change in the form of a sentence is accompanied by a change in its meaning. For the purposes of convenience, the orderings have been divided into two i.e. primary worid-order (where the agentive normally occupies the first slot and the factive occupies the second) and secondary word-order (front-shifting of the factive and back-shifting of the agentive). Nouns may take adjunct function in these orderings as when their forms are inflected, cf. t\rn:Cclna 1.'ivela esikoleni (the boy comes from school) inko:n6 i.:,,,h;,5ywa ngud1fana ( the cow is hit by a boy) Whereas some adjuncts have a fixed position, others have a flexible position. (C) Transitivity Another verb-noun relation is observed in transitivity which characterises predicate-object relation" transitivity helps identify different kinds of objects: (i) Optional object (this is lT mainly a primary object) (i.i) Compulsory object (this is mainly a fixed object) (iii) Prohibited object (Use object is shifted .out because of intransitive use of the verb) ix - After the identification of these objects, a number of transitivity structures are established. Th\:.~se transitive structures are established on the types of objects found. The predicates cannot categorically b<~ divided into transitive and intn1nsitive in Zulu. One can accept· that some predicates have a wider choice of objects than others. Those predicates which have limited choice of objects have the patient preferring the First slot while the second is left vacant. When the predicate has such a limited choice of objects we have semi-transitive structure. Transitivity is therefore conveniently divided into: (a) Non-transitive: the predicate is used in such a way that the object is prohibited e.g. U:-:-1·Cana \1:x:.:ilusa (the boy herds) ' Urn.f6:11a. U .i i:ih~ },e (the boy is injured) In the latter example, however, the object. may be added, in which case it becomes semi-transitive. (See below). (b) Semi-transitive: the predicate has a limited choice of objects e.g. Jmfana Jlim6le !dol6 (the boy is injured in the knee) um'.'ana uhambc\ i:,;r',iela (the boy goes a journey) (c) Complete transitive: the, predicate has a wide choiice of object.,: t.here an, two sub-divisions here: ( i) mc,nc)--tr;.,.\::,; __ s :.i.. ·L :Live:: the pi·.-::~,;< tea. Lf~ takes on.Ly tl:e µcLnan, object(s) e.g. a cow) X - (ii) dj,tranc; i ti.ve: the predicate takes the primary and the secondary objects e.g. 0babd 0n!ka 0mfdna incwadi (father gives the boy a book) Complete transitivity is mainly measured by its capacity of being used in passive construction i.e. it has the active and passive diatheses. Transitivity indicates versatility of the predicate in choosing its objects: one and the same predicate may be used in structures which are non-transitive, semi-transitive and complete transitive. In Zulu, extensions play a. big role in transitivity.African LanguagesM.A. (Bantu Languages