Buell Leston Chandler. Issues in Zulu Verbal Morphosyntax

Publisher: UCLA
Publication date: 2005
ISBN: -
Number of pages: 219
Format / Quality: PDF
Size: 941 KbThis dissertation explores diverse issues in Zulu verbal morphosyntax assuming both a close correspondence between morphology and syntax and a restrictive theory of syntax allowing only left adjunction of heads and phrases. Among the issues explored are the composition of the verb stem, including verbal extensions such as reciprocal and causative; the nature of the verbal final suffix; stem selection and suffix selection; and difficulties in accounting for dependencies between various pieces of verbal morphology. A chapter is devoted to the short/long verb form alternation found in the present and recent past tenses, showing that the alternation cannot be described in terms of focus. An analysis based on constituency within the framework assumed is shown to require remnant movement to form the relevant constituents. Finally, an analysis is provided of a Zulu construction in which a locative applicative argument raises to subject position, leaving the agent with certain object-like properties. It is argued that differences between this and another locative applicative construction can be accounted for by assuming that in one construction the locative phrase is merged above the agent, while in the other construction the locative phrase is merged below the agent.