| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to critically analyse the apparent distinction between
determiners and adjectives word categories in the morpho-syntax of Kikamba, In so
doing we were in agreement with Watters (2004) who advocates for the need to define
word classes in each specific language rather than assume universal similarities in all
languages. Kikamba is a language with rich morphology hence we adopted a Minimalist
Theory which recognizes the need for morpho-syntactic tests to be carried out on words
to determine their categorial status. This was made possible with the provision of the
Structure Dependence Principle within Minimalism which stipulates that all grammatical
categories in natural languages are category based.
There are several works on the noun modifiers whose contribution to the study has been
of great importance. They aU analysed the noun modifiers under different research
problems and hence left a knowledge gap that justified our investigation.
Our main objective was establishing any difference between the two word categories,
evidenced in the grammar of'Kikamba. Our findings were that determiners and adjectives
are semantically, morphologically and syntactically different. One major difference
between the two was the recursive nature of adjectives. However, similarities between the
two categories were evident and especially in the fact that Kikamba allows both
categories to inflect for plurality, to be negated and to be substituted in a case where there
is no multiple modification. Consequently we concluded that determiners and adjectives
belong to two different word categories but in some morpho-syntactic environments the
opposition is neutmlized.
In chapter one our work entailed an analysis of the language background, the statement of
the problem, the objectives, the hypotheses, the scope and limitations, the rationale, the
literature reviewed, and lastly the methodology. In chapter two we focused mainly on the
noun modifiers and carried out a structural description. Our main concern in chapter three
was to define the Kikamba determiner. We examined the noun modifying elements with
an aim of finding out which ones could possibly have been referred to as determiners. We
also carried out morpho-syntactic tests to distinguish the adjective from the determiner.
Chapter four concentrated on the Kikamba determiner phrase. We analysed the
implications of the DP Hypothesis on Kikamba syntax. Lastly in chapter five we gave a
summary, conclusion of our research findings and a few recommendations for future
research. | en |
