11 research outputs found
Descriptions of Kinyarwanda Paradigmatic Relations within the Prototype Theory
No full textThis article describes paradigmatic relations in Kinyarwanda language. Most of the available literature on paradigmatic relations has not addressed this topic in Bantu languages. That is what motivated the author to do this analysis. The study is qualitative in nature, and it employed a case study design, with Kinyarwanda as the case. Convenience sampling procedures were used to obtain the sample for the study. Three native speakers of Kinyarwanda were selected purposively by virtue of their availability and competence in the Kinyarwanda language. Two of them were trilingual. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data from the respondents. After analyzing the data, eight (8) paradigmatic relations were revealed. These are polysemy, hyperonym, homonyms, synonyms, homographs, metonyms, patronyms, and Meronyms. The paper does not claim to have exhausted all angles of the topic under discussion. Other areas, like syntagmatic relations, need investigation to shape and develop linguistic theories on African languages
Examining the forms and meaning of the Arusa dialect of the Maa verb expansions
No full textThe paper examines the form and meaning of the Arusa dialect of the Maa verb extensions. Verb expansion aspects in the Maa language are not interesting for scholars to study at all. It is this study that was interested in examining the Maa verb expansion. Case study design and qualitative approach were used in studying the Maa language. The unstructured interview was applied in data collection; thus, six informants of Arusa native speakers were used for data collection due to their competence in writing and speaking the Maa. The data were presented by using Leipzig Glossing Rules which constitute three levels namely: word order or parsing level, the literal translation, and the free translation level. The Cognitive Grammar and Morpheme-based morphology theories were tools used for data analysis. The study found that -in-, -i-, -e- are causative; -ta-, -to- reciprocal, -ki- applicative; -i- stative and -ki- passive allomorphs in Arusa. In view of these allomorphs -ki- and -i- are semantically cyclic in the sense that -ki- has dual meaning as in passive and applicative and -i- can be semantically stative or causative. Syntactically, both -ki- and -i- function as valency decreasing or increasing. For this fact Cognitive Grammar Theory exhausts these forms of complexity and those without cyclic as in -to-, -ta- and -e-, -in- are handled by morpheme-based theory as it accounts for the semantics of different verb exponents. In general, peculiarities in shapes, types, meanings, and categories of Arusa verbal morphs need a comparative study of Maa and other language families for theoretical harmonization
Examining Symbolic Language-Based Approaches Used During Examinations Cheating among Tanzanian University Students
No full textThis paper dwells on the symbolic language-based approach pertinent to examination cheating in Tanzania's Tertiary education. The previous studies have focused in-depth on the factors for cheating, but the communication system for cheating needs investigation. The study used a case study design whereby three Tanzanian Universities were used under investigation. The study used 10 students, who had completed their third year one week ago, and they were selected purposively through a snowball sampling technique. The reason was that one week ago was the time when students did not fear as they were free from studies. Three methods of data collection were used: focus group discussion with ten (10) students who were selected purposively, observation during examinations, and document analysis. Two theories were used, namely the Curriculum Implementation theory and the Constructivism theory, for assessing the symbolic language technique for examination dishonesty. The former infers that implementation of any programme should be based on teacher ability, management of the support facilities, as well as the clarity of the implementer, and the latter refers to the learning and teaching theories for quenching competence-based approach via ‘Social Interaction’ which plays a fundamental role in the process of cognitive development. The study revealed seven techniques, such as lip and tooth shaping, tooth rolling, cuffing, tonicity, Fingerism, and abbreviations used by cheaters. Based on these findings, students can be helped to develop study habits that raise competencies in their academic endeavours; also, technologies can be designed to detect cheating, such as a camera in the examination rooms, which may make cheaters fear rather than depending on physical invigilation by invigilators
Phonological Processes Triggered by Means of Verbs Conjugation in Bantu Languages
No full textThis study explores the complex relationship between phonological processes and verb extensions, focusing on the concept of word elasticity, which describes the transformations words undergo based on linguistic contexts. Anchored in the Generative Phonology Theory, which postulates a transition from underlying representation to surface structure, the research aims to understand the phonological outcomes stemming from verb extension morphology, particularly in Bantu languages. Employing a qualitative approach through a documentary systematic review of peer-reviewed literature and academic articles across diverse languages, findings reveal multiple phonological processes, such as elision, assimilation, and palatalization, demonstrating the dynamic shifts induced by verb conjugations. The study concludes that understanding the interplay between morphology and phonology is fundamental, emphasizing the transformative nature of verb extensions in shaping phonological processes across languages
Evaluation on Sukuma ethnoichthyology within cognitive semantic theory
No full textThis paper evaluates Sukuma ethnoichthyology within the cognitive semantics theory’s envisioning of Sukuma fish names. The motivation behind the investigation was geared by the lack of study on the topic and the peculiarities found in it. The Universal Grammar and cognitive semantics theories were used in data evaluation and explanations. This study employed a qualitative case study design, focusing on Lake Victoria and Juma Island. Data was collected through observation and unstructured interviews involving ten Sukuma native fisheries selected purposively. The study revealed that most of the Sukuma fish semantics structures are not encyclopaedic, embodied experiences as claimed in cognitive semantics, thus, they are bondless between signifier and signified. This study recommends further research aimed at coining theories that offer explanations for arbitrary names. The study also underscores the need for the younger generation to prioritise learning their local language names, including those of fish, as a means of preserving their linguistic heritage
A Sociolinguistics analysis on Sukuma Hen names
No full textThe paper analyses Hen naming system among the Sukuma speech community of Tanzania. Most literature has concentrated on personal, cow, dog, and tree names but not Hen names despite their socio-cultural significance. Thus, this paper accounts for Sukuma Hen names and their associated meaning under the Cognitive Grammar Theory. The researcher used snowball sampling to get six participants. The participants selected purposively included three Hen keepers and three traditional healers from Njingani village of Geita rural district in Tanzania. Unstructured interviews and focus group discussions were the instruments for data collection. The study found eight Hen names in Sukuma speech community and the associated reasons for their names. These are Jomo, Sagala, and Holasi ''for appearance''; Shingamagaji, 'for beliefs'; Nzoma ‘for color’, kaMende, Mbuni, and Mhando ‘for body size’. From this base, the color, beliefs, and physical appearance determine Hen names in Sukuma speech community. The study concludes that Hen names in the Sukuma speech community are meaningful and they connotate function in accordance with conceptualizations ground. Further, there is need to conduct a study on the names and the associated factors for Hens that are bred using the new breeding technology
Phonological processes triggered by means of verbs conjugation
No full textThis study explores the complex relationship between phonological processes and verb extensions, focusing on the concept of word elasticity which describes the transformations words undergo based on linguistic contexts. Anchored in the Generative Phonology Theory, which postulates a transition from underlying representation to surface structure, the research aims to understand the phonological outcomes stemming from verb extension morphology, particularly in Bantu languages. Employing a qualitative approach through a documentary systematic review of peer-reviewed literature and academic articles across diverse languages, findings reveal multiple phonological processes, such as elision, assimilation, and palatalization, demonstrating the dynamic shifts induced by verb conjugations. The study concludes that understanding the interplay between morphology and phonology is fundamental, emphasizing the transformative nature of verb extensions in shaping phonological processes across languages
Envisioning the Semantics of Kinyarwanda causative and applicative morphemes in the Cognitive Grammar Theory
No full textThis paper uses the Cognitive Grammar Theory to examine the semantics of Kinyarwanda causative and applicative. The study was motivated by the fact that Kinyarwanda verb extensions, particularly the causative and applicative, have multiple sociocultural interpretations of meanings, which is a typical characteristic of Cognitive semantics. The study was couched in the interpretivism paradigm, which looks for culturally derived interpretations historically situated in the surroundings of humans. A qualitative approach was used to analyse the meanings of Kinyarwanda words used by Nyarwanda native speakers. Data was collected from focus group discussions involving six Kinyarwanda speakers. Four were monolinguals; the rest were multilingual, speaking Kiswahili, English and Kinyarwanda. The data were presented using Leipzig glossing rules, and illustrations were used to show more than one meaning in the derived verbal lexemes. Thus, data analysis was used using cognitive grammar theoretical apparatuses, which account for multiple meanings of the derived lexemes. The study found that the causative and applicative verb extensions attached to the verb root have multiple senses that line with Cognitive Grammar Theory, whose major assumption is that words have multiple conceptualisations. For instance, the derived verb vugisha had four meanings: speak to, make or cause to talk, disgusting and switching on something (such as in radio receiver or electricity). As the presence of different meanings in the same word causes ambiguity, further research can be carried out on Kinyarwanda ambiguity under the contemporary theory of Metaphor
Logic and Truth: Gendered Words Perspectives in Sukuma Speech Community, Tanzania
No full textThe paper informs what exists pertinent to gender norms in the Sukuma speech community within the scope of philosophy of language and logic and truth in particular. The paper was motivated by the exiting of social and gender norms in Sukuma through language and logic in Sukuma land and thus was selected purposively. The study used an interpretivism paradigm under a case study design in which the Njingani village of the Geita region of Tanzania was surveyed. The study used 21 informants in data collection via focus group discussion. An embedded (mixed) research approach was applied in data analysis which was seconded by cognitive-developmental, grammar and Social theories. The study revealed that Sukuma lexemes i: e kaya, Nshimbe, mbehi, kulilwa and tola develop gender stigma on the expense of women in forms of gender disparity. Logically, it is a social pragmatics construction whose insights have no truth on gender stigma, thus needs new revelation for harmony. It was recommended some communities including Sukuma need education on gender stereotypes and stigma; educators should avoid generalizations in their discussions of gender issues as people know their rights in their homestead. This would reduce gender stereotypes and biases which have been developed using different linguistics lexemes
Phonological Processes Triggered by Means of Verbs Conjugation
No full textThis study explores the complex relationship between phonological processes and verb extensions, focusing on the concept of word elasticity which describes the transformations words undergo based on linguistic contexts. Anchored in the Generative Phonology Theory, which postulates a transition from underlying representation to surface structure, the research aims to understand the phonological outcomes stemming from verb extension morphology, particularly in Bantu languages. Employing a qualitative approach through a documentary systematic review of peer-reviewed literature and academic articles across diverse languages, findings reveal multiple phonological processes, such as elision, assimilation, and palatalization, demonstrating the dynamic shifts induced by verb conjugations. The study concludes that understanding the interplay between morphology and phonology is fundamental, emphasizing the transformative nature of verb extensions in shaping phonological processes across languages
