Formation of Relative Clause in Swahili Language Using Estimation Method - Essay Example

Formation of Relative Clause in Kiswahili Language using Elicitation Method Word Count: 2008 Formation of Relative Clause in Kiswahili Language using Elicitation Method Among various Bantu languages that are spoken in Africa, Kiswahili remains as the most easily spoken language. Different languages have a set of noun classes as well as genders. In the similar manner, Kiswahili language also includes a number of noun classes and gender that form sentences or relative clauses. As a matter of fact, the relative clauses in the Kiswahili language are formed by using the noun classes that are further associated with plurals. The aim of this report is to thoroughly assess the formation pattern of the relative clauses in Kiswahili language. A number of statistical observations have also been undertaken in the paper wherever relevant examples have been given. Herein, one needs to understand that the formation pattern of Kiswahili language is not like the European language where formation is based on one approach. The dependency of the noun class is highly on the morpheme when it comes to clause formation in Kiswahili language. Following are the two examples of clause formation in English language and Kiswahili language. Kiswahili Version Mwalimu- anapenda- watoto amboan- nilionyesha ua The teacher -loves the - children whom I - showed to flower (to) English Version The teacher admires all pupils in her classroom including the ones who were showed the flowers. It should be noted that the Kiswahili person was a former graduate student who was also paid an amount for helping the elicitation. It was made evident that for the need of reporting, a thorough closure of the language was needed. Therefore, Swahili was instructed to speak with a normal pace or preferably slow. This report has been directed towards the readers who have little or no language of the Swahili language. It will allow the readers to form a basis of analysis for the later part of the report. Understanding Construction of Relative Clause Speaking of morphology of the language, Swahili has three types of verb constructions. In order to quickly understand the way in which relative clauses are constructed, it is significant to understand the elements (Schadeberg, Mucanheia, & Heine, 2000). The tenses are marked as Na, li, taka, and si respectively. Type 1 Subject Agreement–Verb stem – relative agreement Type 2 Subject- Auxiliary marker – relative agreement – verb stem Type 3 Amba – relative sentences As per the mentioned study of (Schadeberg, Mucanheia, & Heine, 2000), it can be asserted that the elicitation used all the structures of the relative clause as mentioned above. However, the first structure of sentence remains missing from the elicitation. Most of the sentences from the elicitations used tenses for which it falls in the category of second sentence formation while remaining aligned with the C structure of the relative clause formation. For instance, the following three-line notation would help understanding the construction of relative clauses in the Swahili language (Schadeberg, Mucanheia, & Heine, 2000). Mw-alimu – (alim) ending with a consonant + (u) vowel 1-teacher SA3s The- teacher Overall, while analyzing the sentences from the elicitation, it was noted that the first 85 sentences were formed by using the second type of clause formation. The relative clause in majority within the elicitation made use of subject relative manner. In addition, there were 62 sentences in the elicitations that made use of the c type of clause formation. These sentences were both direct and indirect when it came to object. On a closer analysis of the elicitation, it rather comes to understanding that it holds more than 75% of the formatted clauses that are not coincidental in any way. The formation of sentences was conducted in a random manner i.e. there was no avid need of structuring or formatting the clauses with one approach. In order to understand the formation of clause as per the elicitation, there are two aspects to be observed closely. The first aspect is that the clause formation has not been created productively which leaves a lot of room for speaker to introduce various elements in the sentence. As explained in the following examples: A. Tunda amba – o u- ta- anguk – a SG-Fruits REL-Agreement Subject Agreement – FUT-Gall-Final vowel The fruit that will fall down B. Tunda-i-lo-o-anguk-a PL-Fruits subject agreement – PST – rel –fall-final-vowel The Fruits that fell down The above two sentences have almost the same nature of discussion or they are conveying the same message. However, the tense being used in each of the sentence bring a lot of difference in both the sentences. At the same time, it can be asserted that the tense could be a non-dependent element when it comes to clause formation. The example inhibiting the future tense has 7:5 ratios while the present tense inhibits 18:23. It is descriptive of the fact that there is no correlation when it comes to using tense for relative clause formation or not. It shows that the dependency of relative clause of tense remains zero. The clauses in the above two given examples are not relative to each other. The construction of the above two examples ensure that the clause is bound primarily. This is a good example of the pronoun-implied sentences. The usage of tense during the construction of relative clause is, however, extremely significant. It is because the tense that the two sentences are different majorly. In the similar manner, readers would be able to understand that the type C of the construction of relative clause is also constructed by using Type a construction. The element that makes Type C different from Type B is the usage of Amba which is derived to fulfill the need of complementizer. Till now, the report has discussed the construction of the relative clause using the internal construction method. On the other hand, there are other various ways through which relative clauses can be constructed (Schadeberg, Mucanheia, & Heine, 2000). Mti - ambao utaanguka The tree- that will fall down Tree- Head (mti)-Tense (future) – Sub Relative Clause One of the ways is the comparative reconstruction of the relative clause in the Swahili language. In this manner of construction, type A is considerably a way to construct traditional Swahili sentences. Type B and type C are somewhat ways to introduce comparison in the sentence which type a fails to do so. Therefore, when it comes to a comparative construction, type C is selected as the modern way to create relative clauses. There is some of the comparison that one needs to note. It is considered that the Zanzibar and Swahili are two different contexts where comparative construction of relative clauses is undertaken. It is estimated that Zanzibar does not consider Type C to be effective structure to be used when it comes to construction of relative clause. The usage of Type A and Type B construction method of relative clause is quite common in different languages similar to that of Swahili. In the contribution done so far in the Swahili grammar books incorporate type A and B whereas type C is considered to be an extension of the type B for construction of relative clause (Schadeberg, Mucanheia, & Heine, 2000). Till now, the report has presented the manner in which relative clauses can easily be constructed with a minimal difference in terms of elements such as verb and prefixes or tenses. In addition, relative clauses are easily created with the help of arguments that are embedded using segments of subject agreement and object agreement. It is stated that at times, there can be very complex construction of sentences. It will justify the usage of verb that will allow condition and negation to be added in the clause (Schadeberg, Mucanheia, & Heine, 2000). In such a case, the type C of the RC construction takes place by large. An example can be taken from the following notation: Ni - li -pig - w - a (Na yeye) PASSIVE SA1s–past–hit–passive–IND (by him) I was hit (by him). It is easily justifiable that relative clauses that are constructed using the type C method would be non-restrictive nature. Relative clauses that are constructed using tenses can easily incorporate situative and perfect tenses. It is one of the reasons that the construction of relative clause using type C remains unreliable or casual in the grammatical techniques of the Swahili language. The versatility of the words that are used in order to create the sentences using the type C is different from type A and B by large. Therefore, it is easier to note that the construction of relative clauses is easily possible with a wide range of tenses being used to incorporate prefixes and suffixes. Conclusion In this report, it was clearly understood as to what makes up a relative clause in Swahili language. Typical differences were found on the nature of elements making up relative clauses. We have understood in the report that he subject agreement and object agreements are essential to make up sentences in the language under review. In addition, these are used as a basis of creating a sentence when it comes to different types of RC construction. For instance, in this paper, we have greatly evaluated the usage of Type A and Type B to be the grammatically proven ways to create RC. On the other hand, the Type C has been selected as a way to construct RC using tenses including time-situation extension of sentence. Some of the examples could be the effective usage of situative and perfect sentences. The usage of tense is also compulsory in Type B. Herein, many examples have also been provided in the report to show the tenses and their usage with stress. It has also been studied in the report that the usage of tense is to show stress which the speaker would lay when it comes to construction of RC in the language under review. It has been studied in the report that there are two different clauses such as SA and –SA where subjects can easily be omitted and then replaced with vowels to fit in the number or quantity of the object. It indicates the difference between Nairobi and standard Swahili. However, it further suggested that more and more research work could easily be conducted in order to find out the null elements and placement of constants in the sentences. Readers would also find out after reading the report that there are a minimal number of differences between other languages and Swahili. Almost of the languages of the world make use of major elements of sentence or clause formation including subject agreement, tense, roots, object agreement, vowels etc. In addition, suffixes and prefixes have also been studied in the report. Negation remains one of the distinctive characters of the Swahili language. Reflection: I was able to understand the syntax structuring of sentences in the Swahili language after completing this report. In addition, I would state that such exercises have a major impact in learning the content including conducting a statistical test of the relative clauses. . There are some of the details that I knew in addition. However, closer reading was not done before this exercise. I have been able to understand the difference between languages is conducting this elicitation. Talking about the construction of relative clauses, it has always been difficult for me even in the English language because of the underlying rules. The three differing methods to construct relative clauses in the language of Swahili have greatly helped me to get a background of how different languages make use of grammatical rules. However, I have noticed that people who have tried to contribute in the lexis of Swahili language are still in need of clarification regarding the construction of RC using type C. It seems that they are against the usage of Type C as an extension to the Type A. It is expected that more and more development will be undertaken in the grammar rules of the language under review which will not only broaden the horizons but also discuss the ways in which tenses would be used using Type C of RC construction. References Farmer, A., & Demers, R. (2010). A Linguistics workbook: Companion to linguistics (6th ed.). New York: MIT Press. Schadeberg, T., Mucanheia, F., & Heine, B. (2000). Ekoti: The Maka or Swahili language of Angoche (East African languages and dialects). New York: Rüdiger Köppe. Read More