A Phonological Reconstruction of Ekegusii and Egekuria Nouns: a Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis was to reconstruct the earlier phonological forms of corresponding select basic vocabulary nouns in Ekegusii and Egekuria (Bantu JE42 and JE43 respectively) by investigating the phonological processes that may explain what may have triggered the split of the current corresponding forms in Ekegusii and Egekuria from what may have been the parent forms of those nouns. Specifically, the study was guided by the comparative method approach to reconstruct the earlier forms of the nouns under study. The first objective was to identify the phonemic inventory of both Ekegusii and Egekuria nouns. The second objective was to reconstruct earlier phonological forms based on the conceptual framework advocated for by the comparative method in Historical and Comparative linguistics. The third and final objective was to identify and analyze the phonological changes that occurred that led to the current nouns under study splitting from their earlier (parent) forms. The research concluded that there was a close correspondence between Ekegusii and Egekuria by establishing a 61% correspondence rate which supported the idea that Ekegusii and Egekuria must have originated from a common ancestor and that it was indeed possible to reconstruct that common ancestor. By following the comparative method‘s conceptual framework, the study through the approach of the principle of natural development and majority principle, reconstructed earlier forms of the select corresponding nouns under study. The study also referred to already reconstructed proto Bantu noun forms and the study easily reconstructed nouns by referring to these forms. It is through evidence from these data, that the study concluded that Egekuria may have retained forms closest to the ‗proto Ekegusii- Egekuria