Noun Phrases in Runyankore-Rukiga

Still under construction

Introduction

Studies on the structure of the noun phrase in several Bantu languages have been done. Some of these languages are: Kagulu (Petzell 2008), Matengo (Ndomba 2006), Ngoni (Ngonyani 2003), Nyambo (Rugemalira 2005), Swahili (Krifka 1985), Herero (Elderkin 2003). As far as I am aware of, no reference has been made to the noun phrase in any of the Bantu languages spoken in Uganda. And yet,there are indications that the structure of the noun phrase across Bantu languages varies from language to language, and that, in order to obtain a full picture of the Bantu noun phrase, more Bantu languages should be included into the sample of studied languages.

Here the focus is on Runyankore-Rukiga, a Bantu language spoken in the South-western part of Uganda with approximately four million speakers. Once in a while, reference will be made to some other selected Ugandan Bantu languages, as a way of comparing the structure of the noun phrase with those selected languages.

The question that I will address is this squib is whether a shift in the positions of elements within the noun phrase will change the meaning of the noun phrase as a whole.

Elements in the Runyankore-Rukiga noun phrase

A Runyankore-Rukiga noun dependents include numerals, adjectives, quantifiers, relative pronouns, demonstratives and possessives.

Enkyende emwe empango eriya

“That one monkey which is big”

Enkyende
e	n	kyende
IV	9	monkey
N

emwe
e	mwe
9	one
QUANT

empango
e	n	pango
9	9	big
ADJ

eriya
e	ri	ya
9	DIST	PART
DEM

References

Petzell 2008
Ndomba 2006
Ngonyani 2003
Krifka 1985
Elderkin 2003