Break and bend verbs in Xitsonga

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The break and bend verbs in Xitsonga forms part of the larger verb class of verbs of changeof state. Such verbs show two events, i.e. a process and a transition. These verbs havebeen investigated in Xitsonga with regard to the following properties: the syntactic categorieswithin which they may appear, the levels of representation within lexical semantics and theirsemantic features.The break verbs in Xitsonga appear in three syntactic categories, i.e. transitive verbs, verbalroots with transitive and intransitive suffixes and ideophones, which may appear as derivedverbs with transitive and intransitive suffixes. The bend verbs appear only as transitive orintransitive verbs, but they may have a shadow argument with the phrase [hi NP] which givesrise to instrument-subject alternation. Most of the bend verbs may also appear in structureswith inalienable possession.The break verbs have five semantic features: break, split and crack, smash and crush,demolish, tear. The bend verbs have six semantic features: bend, bend or fold, bend or twist,be crooked, lean over, kneel.The break verbs, which may also appear, as ideophones are clear examples of ergative verbsin Xitsonga. Such verbs denote a change of state and they occur as both transitive andintransitive verbs.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University