Open AccessMorphologically based agreement in Swahili
Author(s) -
Karl R. Reynolds,
Carol M. Eastman
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
studies in african linguistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.178
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2154-428X
pISSN - 0039-3533
DOI - 10.32473/sal.v20i1.107456
Subject(s) - swahili , linguistics , syntax , agreement , noun , class (philosophy) , nominalization , feature (linguistics) , morphology (biology) , computer science , history , artificial intelligence , philosophy , biology , genetics
In this paper we argue that to a great extent noun class agreement in Swahili is based on inflectional features. Yet where inflectional features are not present, a derivational feature of inherent noun class controls agreement. Swahili, then, is seen as having a dual noun class system in which agreement is controlled by a hierarchical set of features ranging from inflectional to derivational. The evidence from Swahili indicates that Anderson's [1982] claim that inflectional morphology alone is relevant to syntax may be too strong and supports a weaker version admitting some interaction of derivational morphology with syntax.