Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics

doi: 10.7392/openaccess.23050474

A Description of the Morphosynthatic Structure of the Suba Language

Lilian A. Ochieng [1], Vicky Khasandi [2], James Mutit [3]

[1] PhD student, Moi University, Kenya; [2]  senior lecturer, Laikipia University, Kenya; [3] associate professor, Egerton University, Kenya  

Abstract

A systematic description of a language empowers a language for public use, gives it a utilitarian value and also preserves it for future generations. This paper presents a description of the morphosyntactic structure of the Suba language of Kenya. The study is guided by the theory of Distributed Morphology: An approach which highlights the fact that the machinery of what traditionally has been called morphology is not a single component of grammar but rather is distributed among several different components. Data was collected in Mfangano Island because the Island is a homogeneous set up of Suba indigenous people. Focus group discussion was used to collect a corpus of the Suba language. Elicitation was employed as backup methods of data collection. This study contributes immensely to linguistic scholarship; it is an addition to the repertoire of knowledge on linguistic description. To the Suba, the study is expected to confer a certain status on their language that was previously considered to be of little importance; it will give them a sense of equality and worth.

Keywords: morphosyntax, Suba, agglutinating, noun-centric.

Full text

Other download options: cloud 2; cloud 3.

Cite this paper

APA

Ochieng, L. A., Khasandi, V., & Mutit, J. (2013). A Description of the Morphosynthatic Structure of the Suba Language. Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics, Online(open-access), e23050474. doi:10.7392/openaccess.23050474

MLA

Ochieng, Lilian A., Vicky Khasandi, and James Mutit. “A Description of the Morphosynthatic Structure of the Suba Language.” Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics Online.open-access (2013): e23050474.

Chicago

Ochieng, Lilian A., Vicky Khasandi, and James Mutit. “A Description of the Morphosynthatic Structure of the Suba Language.” Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics Online, no. open-access (December 19, 2013): e23050474. doi:10.7392/openaccess.23050474.

Harvard

Ochieng, L.A., Khasandi, V. & Mutit, J., 2013. A Description of the Morphosynthatic Structure of the Suba Language. Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics, Online(open-access), p.e23050474.

Science

1. L. A. Ochieng, V. Khasandi, J. Mutit, A Description of the Morphosynthatic Structure of the Suba Language, Open Sci. Repos. Lang. Linguist. Online, e23050474 (2013).

Nature

1. Ochieng, L. A., Khasandi, V. & Mutit, J. A Description of the Morphosynthatic Structure of the Suba Language. Open Sci. Repos. Lang. Linguist. Online, e23050474 (2013).

doi

Research registered in the DOI resolution system as: 10.7392/openaccess.23050474.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Export to Mendeley