The syntax of Kikamba noun modification

Abstract

This study sought to critically analyse the apparent distinction between determiners and adjectives word categories in the morpho-syntax of Kikamba, In so doing we were in agreement with Watters (2004) who advocates for the need to define word classes in each specific language rather than assume universal similarities in all languages. Kikamba is a language with rich morphology hence we adopted a Minimalist Theory which recognizes the need for morpho-syntactic tests to be carried out on words to determine their categorial status. This was made possible with the provision of the Structure Dependence Principle within Minimalism which stipulates that all grammatical categories in natural languages are category based. There are several works on the noun modifiers whose contribution to the study has been of great importance. They aU analysed the noun modifiers under different research problems and hence left a knowledge gap that justified our investigation. Our main objective was establishing any difference between the two word categories, evidenced in the grammar of'Kikamba. Our findings were that determiners and adjectives are semantically, morphologically and syntactically different. One major difference between the two was the recursive nature of adjectives. However, similarities between the two categories were evident and especially in the fact that Kikamba allows both categories to inflect for plurality, to be negated and to be substituted in a case where there is no multiple modification. Consequently we concluded that determiners and adjectives belong to two different word categories but in some morpho-syntactic environments the opposition is neutmlized. In chapter one our work entailed an analysis of the language background, the statement of the problem, the objectives, the hypotheses, the scope and limitations, the rationale, the literature reviewed, and lastly the methodology. In chapter two we focused mainly on the noun modifiers and carried out a structural description. Our main concern in chapter three was to define the Kikamba determiner. We examined the noun modifying elements with an aim of finding out which ones could possibly have been referred to as determiners. We also carried out morpho-syntactic tests to distinguish the adjective from the determiner. Chapter four concentrated on the Kikamba determiner phrase. We analysed the implications of the DP Hypothesis on Kikamba syntax. Lastly in chapter five we gave a summary, conclusion of our research findings and a few recommendations for future research.