The Structure of the Nyiha Noun Phrase
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The University of Dodoma University of Dodoma Institutional Repository http://repository.udom.ac.tz Humanities Master Dissertations 2012 The structure of the Nyiha noun phrase Bukuku, Josphat D The University of Dodoma Bukuku, J.D. (2012). The structure of the Nyiha noun phrase. Dodoma: The University of Dodoma. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/1295 Downloaded from UDOM Institutional Repository at The University of Dodoma, an open access institutional repository. THE STRUCTURE OF THE NYIHA NOUN PHRASE By Josphat Dougras Bukuku A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for Award of the Degree of Masters of Arts (Linguistics) of the University of Dodoma The University of Dodoma September 2012 CERTIFICATION The undersigned certify that she has read and hereby recommend for the acceptance by the University of Dodoma the dissertation entitled: The Structure of the Nyiha Noun Phrase, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts (Linguistics) of the University of Dodoma. …………………………………………. Dr. Rose Upor (Supervisor) Date ……………………………. i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT I, BUKUKU, Josphat Dougras, declare that this thesis is my own origin work and that it has not been presented and will not be presented to any other University for a similar or any other degree award. Signature…………………………………………… This Dirssertation is a copyright material protected under Berne Convention, the copyright Act of 1999 and other international and national enactments, in that behalf, on intellectual property; No part of this dissertation may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author or the University of Dodoma. ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my Uncle, Collins Kajisi Mposi, who took care of my Secondary schooling and henceforth making the basis for my higher learnings. iii ABSTRACT This study seeks to provide an analytical description of noun phrase structure in Nyiha. In its endeavour, this study documents the morphological forms and the lexical items related to the noun phrase constructions in Nyiha. The primary data for this study was collected from Ruanda village in Iyula ward in Mbozi district, Mbeya region.The target population was all the native adult speakers of Nyiha aged between 35 to 70 years. Sources of data included oral literature, documentary and Noun Phrase (NP) questionnaires. The study based on investigating the several different elements which are part of the noun phrase, the way they agree with the head noun, and how they co-occur in the noun phrase. In this juncture, the study intended to move a step forward from which the view on concords across Bantu languages to the analysis of the noun phrase elements within an NP can be refered to. As scholars have paid less attention to the syntax of the noun and its dependents (Rugemalira 2007), then the analysis of the order of the elements in Nyiha NP was so crucial. What was found in this study is that the dominant order of the elements in a Nyiha noun phrase is Noun+Demonstrative/Possessive+Numeral/Quantifier+Relative (N + Dem/ Poss+ Num/Quant + Rel). This implies that possessive and demonstrative can precede one another and likewise Num and Quant. Also in this language other elements in the noun phrase can hardly precede the headword (noun). iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It would be inhuman if I will not express my appreciation to some of the important individuals whose personal efforts and concern had a very great contribution to the successful and accomplishment of this research work. They are many, but here a representative of them is worth mentioned. First and the most, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my Supervisor, Dr. Rose Upor, for her tireless and constant guidance and advice which provided the perspective forward that led to the final success of the compilation of this work. My second appreciation is due to several people who, in one way or the other, have their contribution to making this study successful. First of all, thanks to Mr. Amani Lusekelo for his accommodation, advice and material support he has been offering to me since I began to work with a proposal. Also my gratitude is due to Dr. Songoye for his advice, My Headmaster, John P. Haule (Malenga Secondary School) for his considerable strong support to my research work. In a very special way I would like to appreciate the love and care I received from my lovely wife, Esther J. Maganga as with her support I could be fit psychologically for carrying out this research. I thank my informants who gave their time freely in the support of my work. I would like to mention few here: Maston Shitindi, Taifa Shalungana, Wilfred Mwashilindi, Mage Mwamwezi, Alesi Mlawaya, Suzana Kaole, and Maria Mgara. Lastly, my special thanks go to my Mother, Elicka Kajis and my sister Neema D. Bukuku for their great compassionate, care and support throughout my studies. „Nkubasalifya mweenti’. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATION ........................................................................................................ i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT ........................................................................ ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................ iii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... v TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1 1.0 Background information ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Language Background ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Problem of the study ....................................................................................... 5 1.3 Statement of the research problem ......................................................................... 7 1.4 Objectives of the study ......................................................................................... 10 1.5 Research questions ............................................................................................... 10 1.6 Significance of the study ...................................................................................... 10 1.7 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................ 11 1.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 15 vi CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................... 17 2.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 17 2. 1 Determiners as evident in other Bantu Languages.......................................... 22 2.2 Modifiers as stipulated in different Bantu language studies. ............................... 30 2.2.1 Numerals and quantifiers .................................................................................. 30 2.3 Noun Phrase Structure in Bantu Languages. ....................................................... 36 2.4 Synthesis .............................................................................................................. 43 2.5 Relevance of the theoretical approach to the present Study ................................ 44 2.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER THREE :RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES . 47 3.0 lntroduction .......................................................................................................... 47 3.1 Sources of data ..................................................................................................... 47 3.2 Research design.................................................................................................... 48 3.3 Study area and target population .......................................................................... 49 3.4 Sampling technique and Sample size. .................................................................. 49 3.5 Data collection techniques and research instruments. ......................................... 50 3.5.1 Elicitation .......................................................................................................... 50 3.5.2 Texts collection ................................................................................................. 51 3.5.3 Questionnaire .................................................................................................... 51 3.6 Data analysis ........................................................................................................ 52 3.7 Anticipated outcome ............................................................................................ 53 3.8 Conclusion. .........................................................................................................