Reduplication in dholuo a study of morphological reduplication
Abstract
This work is a study of reduplication of Dholuo. Reduplication is a naturally integrated
facility in Dholuo grammar and therefore calls for a thorough theoretical and
descriptive analysis in order to provide a clear understanding of its place in the
grammar of Dholuo.
The data used are the common Dholuo words which have been reduplicated using
various modes of reduplication or which occur in a reduplicated form. These words are
recorded from the speech of the speakers of the KSN variety. The study is done in the
framework of Morphological Doubling Theory (MDT) which is quite new in the field
of morphology. The essential claim of MDT is that reduplication results when
morphology calls twice for a given constituent of a given semantic description with
possible phonological modification of either or both constituents. It is on this
assumption that reduplication in Dholuo is analyzed and described.
Chapter one introduces the topic of study, the statement of the problem, the objectives
of the study, the hypotheses, the rationale, the theoretical framework, the scope and
limitations, the literature review and methodology to be used in the study.
The second chapter gives basic information about Dholuo phonology and morphology.
This sets the stage for the ensuing discussions on reduplication and also enables us to
establish the linguistic elements affected by reduplication.
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Chapter three involves the description and analysis of data on reduplication. Modes of
reduplication are highlighted; the semantic functions are also established.
The study is concluded in chapter four. Reduplication in Dholuo is natural, productive
and spontaneous. The meanings of reduplication constructions are context bound and
therefore we should expect various semantic effects from the same reduplicative in
various contexts. Morphological Doubling Theory achieves a better descriptive adequacy
than other phonological copying theories that have been used. earlier in the study of
Citation
Okello, J. A. (2007). Reduplication in dholuo a study of morphological reduplicationPublisher
Department of Linguistic and Languages, University of Nairobi