Browsing by Author "Mnqumeni-Songxaba, Cecilia Nomncekelelo"
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- ItemMotion verbs in Xhosa(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1996) Mnqumeni-Songxaba, Cecilia Nomncekelelo; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of African Languages.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the motion verb in Xhosa. In Section 1 the aim of the study is stated. Findings about motion verbs by Levin and Rappaport Hovav in Roca (1992) are discussed. The nature of unaccusative verbs and the problems which are encountered when the differences between the unaccusatives and inergatives are identified, are presented from the finding ,s of Nels (1987). Theta theory and Case theory are also discussed in this section. Section 2 deals with the classification of motion verbs. The external argument of these verbs is dealt with. Three classes of motion verbs, as stated by Levin and Rappaport Hovav, are examined. Types of inherent directional verbs are dealt with. These types are the following: (a) Achievement of motion, e.g. -f'tka (arrive). (b) Inherent specified path, e.g. (i)hla (descend). The manner of motion verbs which are [+DEC] and [-DEC] as well as the types and their features are discussed. A group of manner of motion verbs which do not fit in with the [+DEC] class but were classified as members of this group by Levin and Rappaport, is also identified. In Section 3 features of motion verbs are looked into. Locative argument and locative inversion are discussed. Time clauses of duration which involve for and in in English and referred to in Xhosa as ngemizuzu, emizuzwini and imizuzu, are also looked into. Time clauses, commands and requests are dealt with in this section. Section 4 focusses on the derivational affixes and the effect of these affixes to the semantic interpretation of the arguments of the derived motion verbs. Section 5 deals with adjuncts. Subject inversion and NPs which can appear as objects of the motion verbs, are discussed. Nga- phrases and their semantic features when they appear with motion verbs are also dealt with. The infinitive and ulruba-clauses that can appear with motion verbs are looked into in this section. Section 6 is the conclusion, summarising the findings of all the previous sections in this study on motion verbs.