The syntax of empty category in Kiswahili simple sentences: The government binding approach

Abstract

This study is an 'attempt to analyze the syntax of EC in derived simple sentences in Kiswahili with the purpose of showing how it can be used to explain issues of well-formedness and ill-formednes: of the derived simple sentences. The study is done within the framework of the GB theory as presented in Chomsky (1982). In chapt8r one, we have a background information of the language under study, the statement of the problem, objectives, hypotheses, rational, theoretical framework and methodology. In chapter A we give a general description of a noun phrase in Kiswahili in relation to; it's definition, it's position at the base structure, it's grammatical relation with the verb and it's position at the derived structure. Chapter Three, provides an analysis of the EC as it appears at the derived structures given in Chapter two. The analysis of the EC in this chapter is done in line with the principles of GB and the rules,of Move Q and pro-drop. Moreover, in this chapter there is a brief description of the clause structure in line with the X bar theory. Chapter four, provides the summary and conclusions of what we established from our data analysis in Chapter three.