Browsing by Author "Kgoe, Motho-Osele Simon"

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    Verbs of sending and carrying in Setswana
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000-03) Kgoe, Motho-Osele Simon; Du Plessis, J. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of African Languages.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Berth Levin (1993) classified verbs in English into a number of semantical classes. In this assignment the verbs of sending and carrying in Setswana are explored. Levin has divided these verbs of sending and carrying into subclasses, namely send verbs, slide verbs, bring and take verbs, carry verbs and drive verbs. The Predicate Argument Structure of each of the subclasses is encountered both with the underived and derived verbs with the exception of carry verbs, where only the underived verbs are used. The framework assumed for this assignment is the Government and Binding Theory with its subtheories. The theta theory is a subtheory that is explicitly and intensively implemented while the other theories are implicitly implemented. The theta theory is used to examine the semantic roles of each argument which is assigned to the verbs of sending and carrying. In this assignment these verbs are also investigated by forcing unusual arguments onto them. This is done by using animate and inanimate subjects, animate and inanimate objects, as well as animate and inanimate locatives. The thematic roles of each of these arguments are analysed after the discussion. The syntax of the causative and the applicative as well as their morphology is discussed, and also the investigation as to whether the insertion of the causative affix and the applicative affix increases the number of arguments the verb assigns or reduces. Their effect on the verbs of sending and carrying is also analysed. The effect of the animate and inanimate locatives on the verbs of sending and carrying is analysed too. The arguments with the verbs of sending and carrying are subjected to the alternations. The alternations, locative inversion, passive construction, neuter passive and coreferential interpretations are used. The morphology of the passive construction is also discussed. The emphasis in the use of the passive construction and neuter-passive construction is on the [NP] object movement and [NP Loc] movement. At the end of the investigation and discussion of each subclass of the verbs of sending and carrying, after each change of argument from animate to inanimate and vice versa, and each alternation, an observation of whether their implementation on those verbs are applicable in Setswana is made. In view of the investigations and discussions aimed in this assignment it will be realised that the verbs of sending and carrying are generally applicable in Setswana, also that the alternations are possible.