Semantics of Affixes in Kemunang’weli dialect of Kisukuma

Abstract

The article dwells on the semantics domains of affixes in Kemunang’weli dialect of Kisukuma under Lexical morphology and prototype theories. For example, tema ' cut' to n-teng’-w-a can fit in the lexical morphology as in ‘the one who has been cut’ or the one who is lead under the prototype model. The motivation behind the examination was that Many if not most of the Sukuma linguists have investigated tonal transfer, phonology, and verb extensions but less is done in noun affixes and their semantic functions, thus the need for investigation to fulfill this gap. The study used an interpretivism paradigm veiled in a qualitative approach, based on the fact that the data comes from natural settings. The study used a descriptive study design to describe the semantics of affixes in Kemunang’weli dialect of Kisukuma from Sukuma population in Njingani village, Geita rural district, in Mwanza region. Three methods of data collection were used namely, focus group discussion, intuition knowledge, and critical documentary analysis. Ten Sukuma native speakers were selected purposively for the discussion. Sukuma native speakers were selected for the study. The study revealed inflectional and derivational affixes, the former are prefixes as in diminutive {ka, tu}, hugeness {ma, li, mi}, locative {ku, mu, ha}, adjective and deverbal {i, ma, n} while the later are suffixes as in causative {j, ch, sh, y}, passive {w, ng’w, v}, adjective prefix {n, ß} and applied {ɪg, ɪj, eg, a or i}. The prefixes are ordered in three maximally in a single noun while this is true, the derivational suffixes trigger numerous senses. Based on the findings, it was concluded that such semantics of affixes in Kemunang’weli dialect of Kisukum contribute to and strengthen the development of Lexical morphology and prototype theories. The study urges other studies be carried out on other affixes which with no doubt would contribute to the grammar of the language to both this generation and generations yet to come.