Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The break and bend verbs in Sesotho are investigated with a view to account for the unique properties of these verbs. The study gives a full account of the predicate argument structure of break and bend verbs. In Sesotho we have three types of predicates, namely, one-place, two-place and three-place predicates. The study also focuses on the number of arguments these verbs may assign. Some of these verbs are intransitive and therefore they assign one argument, which is an external argument. Other verbs are transitive and as such they assign more than one argument (i.e. external and internal arguments). These verbs are investigated as to whether they would select certain arguments to appear with them and it was found that when they do, they also select semantic features which these arguments must have in order to appear with such verbs. These verbs are also examined with the view to account for their difference. It was found that certain bend verbs show the same syntactic properties as the break verbs, except those bend verbs name reverse actions. Another observation was that not all break and bend verbs have zero-related nominaIs. When they do, the nominals describe the result of the action named by the verb. The study investigate these verbs as to whether they would allow cognate objects, verbal alternations and derived verbs (in the case of bend verbs), and it was found that some of them would allow such lexical items. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die breek en buig werkwoorde in Sesotho is ondersoek met die doel om die unieke kenmerke van hierdie werkwoorde te bepaal. Die studie verskaf 'n beskrywing van die predikaat argumentstruktuur van breek en buig werkwoorde in Sesotho. Ons het drie tipes predikate, te wete eenplek, tweeplek en drieplek predikate. Die studie fokus ook op die aantal argumente wat hierdie werkwoorde kan toeken. Sommige van hierdie werkwoorde is onoorganklik, derhalwe ken hulle een argument toe wat ekstern is. Ander werkwoorde is oorganklik, sodat meer as een argument, te wete ekstern en intern, toegeken word. Daar is ook ondersoek of hierdie werkwoorde argumente kan selekteer om met hulle te verskyn, en dit is bevind dat as hulle dit doen, hulle ook die semantiese kenmerk selekteer wat hierdie argumente moet he as hulle saam met daardie werkwoorde verskyn. Hierdie werkwoorde is ondersoek met die doel om hul verskil te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat sommige buig werkwoorde dieselfde sintaktiese eienskappe het as die breek werkwoorde, behalwe dat buig werkwoorde ook reversiet is. 'n Verdere kenmerk is dat nie alle breek en buig werkwoorde voorkom met nul-verwante nominaIe. As hulle dit doen, beskryf die nominale die uitslag van die handeling in die werkwoord. Daar is ondersoek of kognitiewe voorwerpe, werkwoord alternasies en afgeleide werkwoorde toegelaat kan word, en daar is bevind dat sommiges dit toelaat.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores selected motion verbs in Xitsonga within the framework of lexical sementics postulated by Pustejovsky (1995). This study examines the polysemy of the respective selected motion verbs in sentences with various noun subject types in Xitsonga. The motion verbs examined are: -~ (go), -@_ (come), -famba (go away), -baleka (run away), -kasa (crawl), -khandziya (climb up) and -gonya (ascend). Syntactically, these verbs occur in example sentences as evidenced below: The subject NP is [human] Sipho u ya ekaya hi milenge. Sipho is going home on foot. The subject NP is [inanimate] Tafuia ri tile exikolweni hi movha. The table is delivered at school by car. The subject NP is [weather noun] : Mpfula yi fambile etikweni. The rain has stopped in the country. Nkwangulatilo wu khandziya entshaveni. Rainbow climbs up to the mountain. Moya wo kasa. The wind is blowing slowly. The subject NP is [concrete noun]: Vuswa byi fambile emasin'wini. Food is carried to the field. Mugayo wu gonyile emakete. Maize meal is expensive in the market. The subject NP is [abstract noun] : Rivengo ri fambile eka vanhu. Hatred has ended from people. The subject NP is [natural phenomenon] Dyambu ri balekile emapapeni. The sun is very hot in the sky. The study explores the selected motion verbs and establishes the specific properties of selection restrictions, assignment of arguments as well as the event structure or sentences with the motion verbs. Lastly, the lexical conceptual paradigm is examined in order to determine the different senses or meanings of the motion verbs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek geselekteerde bewegingswerkwoorde in Xitstonga binne die raamwerk van die leksikale semantiek ontwikkel deur Pustejovsky (1995). Die studie ondersoek die polisemie van die onderskeie bewegingswerkwoorde in sinne met verskillende onderwerp tipes in Xitsonga. Die bewegingswerkswoorde wat ondersoek word is: -Y.ê_ (gaan), -ta (kom), -famba (weggaan), -baleka (hardloop), -kasa (kruip), -khandziya (klim) and -gonya (daai) .. Hierdie werkwoorde verskyn sintakties in voorbeelde soos hier onder geillustreer: Die subjek NP is [mens] Sipho u ya ekaya hi milenge. Sipho gaan huis toe per voet. Die subjek NP is [nie-lewend] Tafuia ri tile exikolweni hi movha. Die tafel gaan na die skool per motor, d.i. die tafel word per motor afgelewer by die skool. Die subjek NP is [weer naamwoord]: Mpfula yi fambile etikweni. Die reën het weggegaan (gestop) in die land Nkwangulatilo wu khandziya entshaveni. Die reënboog klim teen die berg op. Moya wo kasa. Die wind kruip, d.i. waai stadig Die subjek NP is [konkrete naamwoord]: Vuswa byi fambile emasin'wini. Kos het gegaan (is geneem) na die land Mugayo wu gonyile emakete. Mieliemeel het gestyg in die mark Die subjek NP is [abstrakte naamwoord]:Rivengo ri fambile eka vanhu. Haat het geëindig by mense Die subjek NP is [natural phenomenon] Dyambu ri balekile emapapeni. Die son het weggehardloop uit die lug, d.i. dit is baie warm. Die studie ondersoek die geselekteerde bewegingswerkwoorde en stel vas wat die spesifieke eienskappe is van seleksiebeperkings, toekenning van argumente en die gebeurtenis struktuur van sinne met die bewegingswerkwoorde. Laastens word die leksikale konseptueie paradigma ondersoek ten einde die verskillende betekenisonderskeidings van die bewegingswerkwoorde vas te stel.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / 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.

Thesis (DLitt)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the morpho-syntactic and semantic properties, specifically tense and aspectual properties, of deficient verbs in Xitsonga. Various properties of deficient verbs have given rise to a distinction in verbal categories. Among these a range of features are explored in the study with the aim of establishing whether they playa significant role in relevant linguistic questions: The research on the deficient verb involves questions from three theoretical areas, namely Syntax, Morphology and Semantics. Deficient verbs in Xitsonga and related African languages are generally subcategorized for a clausal complement as illustrated in the following example: [a-hi-hamba [hi-rima laha]] [We-did-usually [plough here]] In the above sentence the deficient verb is hamba and it is followed by a compulsory clause as complement. The main properties of deficient verbs explored in this study relate to the following phenomena: • The deficient verb determines the selection of the mood in Inflection of the clausal complement. • The clausal complement of a deficient verb must have compulsory agreement of its subject with the subject of the matrix clause. • The deficient verbs lack the property which is characteristic of the autonomous verbs i.e. that they may be extended by derivative affixes such as the applicative or causative. • Deficient verbs have distinctive semantic features which are related to two inflectional categories, i.e. aspect and tense. This study concludes that the deficient verbs may express several meanings, including meanings related to duration, habitual, frequentative, progressive, obligative, manner, continuative, concessive and completive. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die sintaktiese en semantiese, in die besonder die tydvorm- en aspek-eienskappe van hulpwerkwoorde in Xitsonga. 'n Verskeidenheid kenmerke van hulpwerkwoorde het daartoe aanleiding gegee dat 'n onderskeid getref word ten opsigte van werkwoordkategorieë. Hieronder word 'n verskeidenheid kenmerke ondersoek ten einde vas te stelof dit 'n beduidende rol speel in relevante linguistiese vrae. Die navorsing van hierdie studie behels vrae vanuit drie teoretiese velde, naamlik die morfologie, sintaksis, en semantiek. Hulpwerkwoorde in Xitsonga en verwante Afrikatale word gesubkategoriseer vir 'n sinskomplement, soos geïllustreer in die volgende voorbeeld: [A-hi-hamba [hi-rima laha]] [Ons het gewoonlik [ons ploeg hier]], d.i. ons het gewoonlik hier geploeg In die bogenoemde sin is hamba die hulpwerkwoord en dit word gevolg deur 'n verpligte sinskomplement. Die sentrale kenmerke van hulpwerkwoorde wat in hierdie studie ondersoek word hou verband met die volgende verskynsels: • Die hulpwerkwoord bepaal die seleksie van modus in die Infleksie van die sinskomplement. • Die sinskomplement van 'n hulpwerkwoord moet verpligte kongruensie toon van die subjek daarvan met die subjek van die matriksin. • Die hulpwerkwoord kort die eienskap wat kenmerkend is van outonome werkwoorde, naamlik, dat hulle afleidingsuffikse kan neem, soos die applikatief -el- en die kousatief -is. • Hulpwerkwoorde het onderskeidende semantiese kenmerke wat verband hou met twee infleksie kategorieë, nl. aspek en tydvorm. Die studie kon tot die gevolgtrekking dat hulpwerkwoorde 'n verskeidenheid betekennis kan uitdruk, insluitende betekenisse wat verband hou met tydsduur, habitueel, frekwentatief, progressief, verpligting, wyse, voortdurendheid, toegewing en kompletief.

published_or_final_version / English Studies / Master / Master of Arts

The phrasal verb is defined as a two-word idiom consisting of a verb and an adverbial or prepositional particle (such as put off for delay or come across for find or meet by chance). The increased use of such constructions in written and spoken modes of English has been noted by Kennedy 1920, Traugott 1972, Meyer 1975, and others. The categories of verb combinations that fall under the heading of phrasal verb are various. An analysis of the construction within grammars of English, from the seventeenth century Latinate grammars to the twentieth century linguistic treatments, reveals some inconsistencies in terminology and definition, posing a problem for ESL teachers and text writers. Most treatments of the structure concern surface form (such as Fraser 1976), but some recent analyses, particularly Woody 1974 and Lindner 1981, attempt to account for the semantics of the combination; however, these studies limit the category of phrasal verbs analyzed to verb + adverbial particle. Although the phrasal verb is an example of what Rutherford 1977 terms 'lexical grammar', a grammatical structure that must be taught together with a specific lexicon, an examination of the description of phrasal verbs within ESL grammars reveals a concentration on the syntactical patterning of the structure. Extensive listings of phrasal verbs (along with their meanings and appropriate use) are found mainly in dictionaries of idioms and two-word verbs (such as Meyer 1975, Cowie and Mackin 1976, Hall 1982, and Courtney 1983). This study suggests that ESL specialists consider both syntax and semantics when presenting and describing phrasal verbs and include what Rivers 1978 terms 'three levels of meaning': lexical, structural or grammatical, and socio-cultural. Because of the large number of phrasal verbs, a problem arises concerning which phrasal verbs should be presented formally in the ESL class. The study cites Larsen 1974, Dulay and Burt 1977, and Turano-Perkins 1979, who suggest that frequency of use should be a criterion in determining the order of grammatical structures to be taught. The study suggests that more research is needed in the area of frequency studies.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether nonnative speakers of English have access to specifically-linguistic constraints governing past tense morphology. Forty non-native speakers of English rated the naturalness of 29 exocentric, or headless, verbs in a partial replication of Kim, Pinker, Prince, and Prasada (1991) which looked at the same phenomenon in native speakers. Nonnative speaker performance was similar to the 40 subject native speaker control group. A correlation also existed between length of residence and subject ratings. The results imply that non-native speakers have access to the rules governing past tense morphology although not as completely as native speakers.

Thesis (M. A. (African Languages)) --University of Limpopo, 2001 / This study explores the lexical semantic representation of break verbs in Xitsonga. Chapter One is the introduction of this study. It describes the statement of the problem. The main aim of this study is described which m bnef is to investigate the form, struc e and interpretation of break verbs in Xitsonga. The significance of this study, which is to highlight the semantic value of break verbs in Xitsonga is discussed. The methodology, lite rature review as well as the theta - theory and its properties have been examined. Chapter Two explores the predicate argument structure. The difference between two lexical representations, which are lexical-syntactic and lexical­ semantic representations was investigated. A brief definition of break verbs as well as the six categories of the verbs of change of state have also been discussed. This chapter also analyses the lexical features of break verbs. Various sub - classes of external arguments and of internal argument are observed. Chapter Three presents the lexical - semantic representation of break verbs where focus is on argument structure, event structure, qualia structure and lexical inheritance structure. Chapter Four deals with the syntactic alternation and selection restriction of break verbs. The difference between transitive and intransitive alterna tions was also highlighted. This chapter also explores some of the different types of verbal alternations, such as ' instrument subject alternation', ' locative alternation' and the ' with/ against alternation' . Chapter Five gives the main conclusion of this study.

Thesis (M.A. (African Languages)) --University of the North, 1978 / Refer to the document

M.A. (African Languages) / Please refer to full text to view abstract