A Morpho-Semantic Analysis of Locatives in Town Bemba

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Date
2016
Authors
Kateule, Merrindah
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Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
This study, entitled ‘A Morpho-semantic Analysis of Locatives in Town Bemba’, was conducted in order to explore the different morphosemantic forms that Bemba locatives, including their variants convey when deployed in different social contexts. The study was carried out in Kabwe Urban district of Central province using a sample size of 20 participants. It covered Lukanga Township, Mahatima Gandhi Health Centre, Town Centre Bus Stops as well as Green Market. In order to achieve the aim of the study, primary data were collected from different sources using focus group discussions, document analysis, simple observation and introspection. Five (5) randomly selected participants comprising three (3) males and two (2) females drawn from each of the indicated sampled areas were engaged in focus group discussions on different topics while the researcher recorded the conversations using a recorder which were later analysed in accordance with the objectives. Further, using document analysis, the researcher read and analysed different texts and identified parts that were relevant for analysis insofar as the use of locatives was concerned. Through simple observation, the researcher visited the sampled areas and captured the use of locatives in naturally occurring discourses and made notes, which were also analysed for detail. Some data were also provided through introspection since the researcher was part of the researched community. The collected data were later analysed in line with the study objectives and the relevant aspects of the Truth-Conditional Theory as well as Lexical Phonology/Morphology and a number of findings came up from the study. Regarding the major findings, the study established that there are three basic types of locatives that are not only morphologically but also semantically different and go beyond just locating places. Additionally, the study revealed the different forms that locatives take and the various meanings that result from these forms. The study also showed that, though they might be similar to the basic forms, the locative variants may have different meanings from the basic forms. The study equally demonstrated that these locatives have different functions and that the forms and semantics of locatives that function as deictic expressions and those that do not are different. In conclusion, the study has demonstrated that Bemba locatives have different forms as well as functions which result in different meanings in different social contexts in which they are deployed.
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M.A LING
Keywords
Bemba language--Dialects--Locative constructions. , Bemba language--Morphology.
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