Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The break and bend verbs in Xitsonga forms part of the larger verb class of verbs of change
of state. Such verbs show two events, i.e. a process and a transition. These verbs have
been investigated in Xitsonga with regard to the following properties: the syntactic categories
within which they may appear, the levels of representation within lexical semantics and their
semantic features.
The break verbs in Xitsonga appear in three syntactic categories, i.e. transitive verbs, verbal
roots with transitive and intransitive suffixes and ideophones, which may appear as derived
verbs with transitive and intransitive suffixes. The bend verbs appear only as transitive or
intransitive verbs, but they may have a shadow argument with the phrase [hi NP] which gives
rise to instrument-subject alternation. Most of the bend verbs may also appear in structures
with inalienable possession.
The break verbs have five semantic features: break, split and crack, smash and crush,
demolish, tear. The bend verbs have six semantic features: bend, bend or fold, bend or twist,
be crooked, lean over, kneel.
The break verbs, which may also appear, as ideophones are clear examples of ergative verbs
in Xitsonga. Such verbs denote a change of state and they occur as both transitive and
intransitive verbs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die breek- en buigwerkwoorde in Xitsonga vorm deel van die groter klas van werkwoorde,
bekend as verandering-van-toestand ('change-of-state') werkwoorde. Hierdie soort
werkwoorde vertoon twee tipes gebeure ('events'), naamlik proses en oorgang ('transition').
Hierdie werkwoorde word vir Xitsonga ondersoek met betrekking tot die volgende
eienskappe: die sintaktiese kategorieë waarin hulle mag verskyn, die vlakke van
representasie in die leksikale semantiek, en die semantiese kenmerke van hierdie
werkwoorde.
Breekwerkwoorde in Xitsonga verskyn in drie sintaktiese kategorieë, naamlik transitiewe
werkwoorde, werkwoordstamme met transitiewe en intransitiewe suffikse, en ideofone, wat as
afgeleide werkwoorde met transitiewe en intransitiewe suffikse mag verskyn. Die buigwerkwoorde
mag slegs as transitiewe of intransitiewe werkwoorde verskyn, maar hulle mag 'n
skadu-argument neem met die frase [hi NP], wat die instrument-subjek alternasie kan
realiseer. Die meeste buigwerkwoorde kan ook in strukture verskyn wat onvervreembare
besit illustreer.
Die breekwerkwoorde het vyf semantiese kenmerke: breek, kloof, kraak, slaan en druk,
verwoes en skeur. Die buigwerkwoorde het ses semantiese kenmerke: buig, vou, draai,
gebuig wees, oorleen en kniel.
Die breekwerkwoorde, kan ook as ergatiewe werkwoorde verskyn in Xitsonga. Sulke
werkwoorde dui verandering-van-toestand aan, en hulle mag as beide transitiewe en
intransitiewe werkwoorde verskyn.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49872 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Malungani, Evelyn Tintswalo |
| Contributors | Visser, M. W., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of African Languages. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 138 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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