The polysemy of selected motion verbs in Sesotho

Date
2003-12
Authors
Ngozo, Khulu Nicodemus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The subject of this study is the polysemy of the motion verbs in Sesotho. Motion verbs can be classified as verbs of process or transition. This study examines the semantic and the syntactic properties of motion verbs in Sesotho. These motion verbs include verbs denoting process e.g. -ya, -tla, -tsamaya, -baleha, -nyoloha and -theoha as shown in the sentences below: a. Monna 0 ya toropong. 'The man goes to town' b. Bashanyana ba tsamaya thoteng. 'The boys walk in the veld' c. Bana ba tla hae. 'The children come home' d. Bashemane ba balehile mophatong. 'The initiates run away from the initiation school' e. Tshwene e theoha sefateng. 'The baboon descends from the tree' f. Banna ba nyoloha thaba. 'Men ascend the mountain' The study demonstrates that motion verbs in Sesotho are semantically divided into verbs denoting 'to go' e.g. -ya, verbs denoting 'to walk', e.g. -tsamaya, verbs denoting 'to run away', e.g. -baleha, verbs denoting to ascend, e.g. -nyoloha, verbs denoting to descend, e.g. -theoha. The study further demonstrates that these verbs are canonically intransitive. The study provides evidence that motion verbs are characterized by specific selection restrictions and event structures. The study further demonstrates that motion verbs are used with different subjects denoting (groups of) people, animals, abstract nouns, mass nouns, nouns denoting food, intoxicating and nonintoxicating liquids, natural phenomena, artifacts, natural object, possession/property, humans and animals. Lastly the lexical conceptual paradigm, providing the different word senses of each verb, is examined.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onderwerp van hierdie studie is die polisemie van bewegingswerkwoorde m Sesotho. Bewegingswerkwoorde kan gekarakteriseer word as werkwoorde van proses (aktiwiteit) of transisie. Hierdie studie ondersoek die semantiese en sintaktiese eienskappe van bewegingswerkwoorde in Sesotho. Hierdie werkwoorde sluit in werkwoorde wat 'n proses (aktiwiteit) aandui, byvoorbeeld -~, -tla, -tsamaya, -baleha, -nyoloha en -theoha, soos geïllustreer in die volgende sinne: a. Monna 0 ya toropong. 'Die man gaan dorp toe' b. Bashanyana ba tsamaya thoteng. 'Die seuns loop in die veld' c. Bana ba tla hae. 'Die kinders gaan huis toe' d. Bashemane ba balehile mophatong. 'Die inisiante hardloop weg van die inisiasieskool' e. Tshwene e theoha sefateng. 'Die bobbejaan daal afuit die boom' f. Banna ba nyoloha thaba. 'Die mans bestyg die berg' Die studie demonstreer dat bewegingswerkwoorde in Sesotho semanties geklassifiseer kan word in werkwoorde wat beteken 'om te gaan', bv. -~, werkwoorde wat beteken 'om te loop', bv. -tsamaya, werkwoorde wat beteken 'om (weg) te hardloop', bv. -baleha, werkwoorde wat beteken 'om te bestyg', bv. -nyoloha, en werkwoorde wat beteken 'om afte daal', bv. -theoha. Die studie demonstreer verder dat bewegingswerkwoorde in Sesotho tiperend onoorganklik is. Daar word aangetoon dat hierdie werkwoorde gekenmerk word deur spesifieke seleksiebeperkings en gebeure-strukture ('event structures'). Die studie toon op uitgebreide wyse aan dat bewegingswerkwoorde in Sesotho met onderwerpe gebruik kan word wat verskillende semantiese tipes verteenwoordig, en wat verskillende kenmerke het, insluitende onderwerpe wat menslike individue, groepe mense of diere aandui, abstrakte naamwoorde, massanaamwoorde, voedsel, vloeistowwe, natuurlike verskynsels, artifakte, natuurlike voorwerpe, of be sittings.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
Keywords
Sotho language -- Verb, Grammar, Comparative and general -- Verb, Dissertations -- Southern Sotho language
Citation