The study of Bantu applicatives has long tradition:
- Sesotho – Morolong & Hyman, 1977; Machobane, 1989; 'Demuth 2003;
- Haya – Duranti & Byarushengo, 1977; Hyman & Duranti, 1982;
- Chichewa – Marantz, 1984; Baker, 1988; Alsina & Mchombo; 1990;
- Kichaga – Bresnan & Moshi, 1990; Chishona – Harford, 1993
- Bemba Marten 2011
Of special interest have been the applicatives derived from transitive verbs, since Bantu languages differ in whether they allow symmetric applicatives where both objects behave like core objects, that is, they can for example become the subject of a passive construction. Luganda is a symmetric language which also means that both object of a ditransitive applicative can be pronominalized to become a preverbal pronominal affix to the applicatived verb. In the discussion of applicatives a set of properties has been of particular interested. In the following we will describe five of these properties using IGT excamples from the TypeCraft's public Luganda corpus.
Our Luganda corpus contains at the point of writing (April 2016) 94 sentence where at least one verb is glosses as having an applicative extension.
For a random selection of 30 of these 94 sentence we have looked at the following parameters
- The thematic role of the applicativized argument (AA)
- The syntactic category of the AA (e.g. PN, N, PP)
- Presence of argument indices
- Linearisation Is the objects in ditransitive applicatives
- Object topicalization
(1) VERB: tunuul Meaning: 'look', see' AA: ye, Thematic Role: Stimuli, AA-Category: PN, 3SG Argument index: "ki" seems to be an object marker, Topicalization: -
Kale n’okitunuulira, ye mukadde, ye mubi.
“So you look at him/her, s/he is old and at the same time ugly.”
n’okitunuulira |
ne | o | ki | tunuul | ir | a |
andCONJ | 2SG | AUG7AGR | look/seeVstem | APPL | FV |
V |
mukadde |
mu | kadde |
1AGR | old-person |
ADJ |
mubi |
mu | bi |
1AGR | ugly/bad |
ADJ |
(2) VERB: leetMeaning': 'bring', AA: 3SG, Thematic Role: Beneficiary, AA-Category: AA not lexicalised , Argument index: + , Topicalization: -
Mumuleetedde ssente mmeka?
“How much money have you brought for him/her?”
Mumuleetedde |
mu | mu | leet | er | dde |
2PLSBJ | 3PSGOBJ | bring | APPL | PFV |
V |
(3)VERB:"nyw", Meaning''consume', AA -, Thematic Role: Location, AA-Category: AA not lexicalised independently, Argument index: Locative endclitic on the verb, Topicalisation: -
Agavubuka gabadde ganywerawo enjaga.
“The youths have been smoking marijuana from there.”
Agavubuka |
a | ga | vubuka |
IV | AUG22AGR | youth |
CN |
gabadde |
ga | b | a | dde |
REL22 | be | FV | PFV |
COP |
ganywerawo |
ga | nyw | er | a | wo |
REL22 | drinkVstem | APPL | FV | LOCREL16 |
V |
enjaga |
e | n | jaga |
IV | 9AGR | marijuana |
CN |
(4) VERB: "kol" Meaning': 'do', AA:Bebe Cool Thematic Role:Beneficiary, AA-Category: Np , Argument index: -, Topicalisation: -
Azze akolera Bebe Cool obubaga.
“She has been organizing parties for Bebe Cool.”
Azze |
a | z | ze |
3SG | comeVstem | PFV |
V |
akolera |
a | kol | er | a |
3SG | doVstemREP | APPL | FV |
V |
Bebe |
Bebe |
name-of-a-person |
Np |
Cool |
Cool |
name-of-a-person |
Np |
obubaga |
o | bu | baga |
IV | DIM14AGR | wedding/party |
CN |
(5)VERB: tunuul Meaning: 'look, see' AA: akazimbe kaganyegenya 'unfavourable hounse", Thematic Role: Stimuli, AA_Category: CN Argument index: -, Topicalisation: -
Tunuulira akazimbe kaganyegenya ke bayita poliisi y’eggwanga eddamba!
“Look at the unfavourable house that they call the police for the whole country!”
Tunuulira |
tunuul | ir | a |
look/seeVstem | APPL | FV |
V |
akazimbe |
a | ka | zimb | e |
IV | DIM12AGR | build | NMLZ |
CN |
kaganyegenya |
ka | ganyegenya |
DIM12AGR | unfavourable |
ADJ |
bayita |
ba | yit | a |
3PL | callVstem | FV |
V |
y’eggwanga |
y’ | e | gg | wanga |
forGEN9AGR | IV | 5AGR | country |
CN |
eddamba |
e | d | damba |
IV | 5AGR | whole |
ADJ |
(6)VERB: som, 'talk,read', AA': 1SG, Thematic Role: Malficiary, Category:AA not lexicalised independently, Argument index: +, Topicalisation: -
Olaba ne kitabani kya gundi kyansomera luli.
“You see even the other guy’s son talked bad about me the other time.”
Olaba |
o | lab | a |
2SG | seeVstem | FV |
V |
kitabani |
ki | tabani |
AUG7AGR | son |
CN |
kyansomera |
ky | a | n | som | er | a |
7AGR | PAST | 1SG | readVstem | APPL | FV |
V |
luli |
lu | li |
11AGR | last-time |
ADVtemp |
(7)VERB:suul 'throw', AA: ________, Thematic Role: ________, Category_______, Argument index_________, Topicalisation: -
Ekasuulira omusajja atudde mu ntebe.
“It throws it to the man who is sitted in the chair.”
Ekasuulira |
e | ka | suul | ir | a |
SBJ9AGR | OMDIM12AGR | throw | APPL | FV |
V |
omusajja |
o | mu | sajja |
IV | 1AGR | man |
CN |
(8)VERB: kaab, 'cry' AA': waggulu, Thematic Role: Locative, Category: CN place, Argument index: -, Topicalisation: -
Akawuka kongera okukaabira waggulu.
“The insect continues crying from up.”
Akawuka |
a | ka | wuka |
IV | DIM12AGR | insectANIM |
CN |
kongera |
k | onger | a |
DIM12AGR | continue | FV |
AUX |
okukaabira |
o | ku | kaab | ir | a |
IV | INF | cry | APPL | FV |
V |
waggulu |
waggulu |
above/upLOC |
ADVplc |
(9)VERB: buuk 'jump' AA: ebintu, Themantic Role: Locative, Category: ____, Argument Index: Locative endclitic on the verb Topicalisation: +
Ebintu by'ebuukirako bigwa.
“The things it jumps on fall down.”
Ebintu |
e | bi | ntu |
IV | 8AGR | thing |
CN |
by'ebuukirako |
by' | e | buuk | ir | a | ko |
8OM | SBJ9AGR | jump | APPL | FV | REL17LOC |
V |
(10)VERB: kaab 'cry' AA: nju, Themantic Role: Locative, Category: PP, c
Akawuka kakaabira mu nju.
“The insect cries from the house.”
Akawuka |
a | ka | wuka |
IV | DIM12AGR | insect |
CN |
kakaabira |
ka | kaab | ir | a |
SBJDIM12AGR | cry | APPL | FV |
V |
(11)VERB:"jjuz" Meaning': 'fill', AA: 3SG, Themantic Role : Beneficiary, AA-Category: Argument is not lexicalised, Argument index: -, Topicalisation: - Applicativized verb is an infinitive.
Muyambe omujjulize ekidomola ekyo
“Help him to fill up that jerrycan”
Muyambe |
mu | yamb | e |
3SG | help | SBJV |
V |
omujjulize |
o | mu | jjuz | li | | e |
IV | 2SG | fill | INFAPPL | | SBJV |
V |
ekidomola |
e | ki | domola |
IV | 7 | jerrycan |
N |
(12)VERB:"tubuul" Meaning': 'look', Themantic Role : Stimuli, AA-Category: Argument is not lexicalised, Argument index: 3SG, Topicalisation: -
Kkapa emutunuulira n'emutunuulira.
“The cat looks and looks at him/her.”
emutunuulira |
e | mu | tunuul | ir | a |
SBJ9AGR | 1OM | look | APPL | FV |
V |
n'emutunuulira |
n' | e | mu | tunuul | ir | a |
and | SBJ9AGR | 1OM | look | APPL | FV |
V |
(13)VERB:"tubuul" Meaning': 'look', AA: 'omusajja',Themantic Role : Stimuli, AA-Category: NP Argument index: -, Topicalisation: -
Oluvannyuma etunuulira omusajja.
“Afterwards it looks at the man.”
Oluvannyuma |
oluvannyuma |
afterwards |
ADVm |
etunuulira |
e | tunuul | ir | a |
SBJ9AGR | look | APPL | FV |
V |
omusajja |
o | mu | sajja |
IV | 1AGR | man |
CN |
(14)VERB: 'fi' Meaning: 'die', AA: 'mu leeba' __________ AA-Category: NP cTopicalisation: -
Wali owuliddeyo omusajja afiira mu leeba?
“Have you ever heard of a man who dies in labour?”
owuliddeyo |
o | wuli | dde | yo |
2SG | hear | PFV | LOC |
V |
Omusajja |
o | mu | sajja |
IV | 1SG | man |
CN |
afiira |
a | f | iir | a |
3SG | die | APPL | FV |
V |
(15) VERB:"buuk" Meaning: 'jump', AA: 'kantu', Themantic Role : Location, AA-Category: NP Locative/Relative Marker: 'ko',
Topicalisation': - Relativisation:+
Ebuukabuuka naye nga buli kantu k'egezaako okubuukirako ekakoona ne kagwa wansi.
“It jumps repeatedly but whatever thing it tries to jump from, it knocks it (the thing) and it (the thing) falls down.”
Ebuukabuuka |
e | buuk | a | buuk | a |
SBJ9AGR | jump | FV | jumpREDP | FV |
V |
kantu |
ka | ntu |
DIM12AGR | thing |
CN |
k'egezaako |
k' | e | gezaako |
PARTREL | SBJ9AGR | try |
V |
okubuukirako |
o | ku | buuk | ir | a | ko |
IV | INF | jump | APPL | FV | RELLOC17 |
V |
ekakoona |
e | ka | koon | a |
SBJ9AGR | DIM12SG | knock | FV |
V |
kagwa |
ka | gwa |
DIM12AGR | fall |
V |
(16)VERB: suul Meaning': 'throw', Themantic Role: Theme, Argument Index: DIM.12., Topicalisation: -
Ekwata akawuka n'emimwa gyayo n'ekasuulira omusajja eyali atudde mu ntebe.
“It catches the cat with its mouth and it throws it to the man who was sitting in the chair, and it knocks him while asking him to tell it; "what is this?"”
Ekwata |
e | kwat | a |
SBJ9AGR | catch | FV |
V |
akawuka |
a | ka | wuka |
IV | DIM12AGR | insect |
CN |
n'emimwa |
n' | e | mi | mwa |
andCONJ | SBJ9AGR | 4AGR | mouth |
CN |
gyayo |
gya | yo |
forGEN4AGR | REL9SBJ |
TRUNC |
n'ekasuulira |
n' | e | ka | suul | ir | a |
andCONJ | SBJ9AGR | DIM12AGR | throw | APPL | FV |
V |
omusajja |
o | mu | sajja |
IV | 1AGR | man |
CN |
eyali |
e | y | a | li |
IVREL1OBJ | REL3SG | PAST | be |
COP |
(17)VERB:"buuk" Meaning: 'jump', AA: 'ebintu', Themantic Role : Location, AA-Category: NP Locative/Relative Marker: 'ko',
Topicalisation': - Relativisation:+
Ebintu by'ebuukirako ne bigwa akawuka ne kongera okukaabira waggulu.
“The things it jumps from fall down and the insect continues crying from above.”
Ebintu |
e | bi | ntu |
IV | 8AGR | thing |
CN |
by'ebuukirako |
by' | e | buuk | ir | a | ko |
REL8 | SBJ9AGR | jump | APPL | FV | RELLOC17 |
V |
akawuka |
a | ka | wuka |
IV | DIM12AGR | insect |
CN |
kongera |
k | onger | a |
DIM12AGR | continue | FV |
V |
okukaabira |
o | ku | kaab | ir | a |
IV | INF | cry | APPL | FV |
V |
waggulu |
waggulu |
above |
ADVplc |
(18) COPULA
Omulenzi n’omuwala basaana okubeera abayonjo ennyo ddala.
“It is proper for a boy and girl to be so very clean”
Omulenzi |
o | mu | lenzi |
IV | 1SG | boy |
N |
omuwala |
o | mu | wala |
IV | 1SG | girlFEM |
N |
basaana |
ba | saan | a |
3PL | fit/proper | FV |
V |
okubeera |
o | ku | b | e | er | a |
IV | 15INF | be | FV | APPL | FV |
V |
abayonjo |
a | ba | yonjo |
| 3PL | cleaniliness |
N |
(19) VERB 'kol' Meaning: 'do', Themantic Role: Beneficiary, AA-category: AA not lexicalised independently, Topicalization: -
Buli kasente ke baweereza okubaako kye mubakolera kafuuka k’abo be baaleka emabega.
“Every money that they send for you to do something for them is taken by those whom they left back.”
kasente |
ka | sente |
DIM12AGR | money |
CN |
baweereza |
ba | weerez | a |
3PL | sendVstem | FV |
V |
okubaako |
o | ku | baa | ko |
| INF | be | LOC |
COP |
mubakolera |
mu | ba | kol | er | a |
2PL | 3PL | doVstem | APPL | FV |
V |
kafuuka |
ka | fuuk | a |
DIM12AGR | turnVstem | FV |
V |
k’abo |
k’ | abo |
forREL12 | thoseDISTREL2 |
PRTposs |
baaleka |
ba | a | lek | a |
3PL | PAST | leaveVstem | FV |
V |
emabega |
e | mabega |
IV | behind |
ADVplc |
(20) VERB: 'kasuk' Meaning: 'throw', Thematic Role:Goal, AA-category: AA not lexicalised independently, Relativisation:+
Ani abazaala mmwe embwa ze beebakako ne babakasukira obusente obutawera na ddoola emu?
“Who gives birth to you dogs which they sleep on and they throw to you money which doesn’t even sum up to one dollar?”
abazaala |
a | ba | zaal | a |
3SG | 3PL | give-birthVstem | FV |
V |
embwa |
e | m | bwa |
IV | 9AGR | dogANIM |
CN |
beebakako |
be | ebak | a | ko |
3PL | sleepVstem | FV | LOC |
V |
babakasukira |
ba | ba | kasuk | ir | a |
3PL | 2PL | throwVstem | APPL | FV |
V |
obusente |
o | bu | sente |
IV | DIM14AGR | money |
CN |
obutawera |
o | bu | ta | wer | a |
IV | 14AGR | NEG | sum-up-to | FV |
ADJ |
(21) VERB: 'gejj', Meaning: 'throw', Thematic Role: Reason, AA-category: N, Topicalization: -
Phrase>33474</Phrase>
(22)
GuGgolola gwagejjera bwereere tegulina maanyi, akasajja akatono kakukuba katya?
“Ggolola fattened for nothing he doesn't have power, how can a tiny man beat you?”
gwagejjera |
gw | a | gejj | er | a |
20AGR | PAST | fattenVstem | APPL | FV |
V |
bwereere |
bwereere |
nothing |
N |
tegulina |
te | gu | lina |
NEG | 20AGR | haveVstem |
V |
maanyi |
maanyi |
power/energy |
CN |
akasajja |
a | ka | sajja |
IV | DIM12AGR | man |
CN |
akatono |
a | ka | tono |
IV | DIM12AGR | small |
ADJ |
kakukuba |
ka | ku | kub | a |
DIM12AGR | REL2SG | beatVstem | FV |
V |
katya? |
ka | tya? |
DIM12AGR | howQ |
ADV |
(23)
Ani yanjulizza olugoye lwange?
“Who tore my cloth?”
yanjulizza |
y | a | n | yuz | li | zz | a |
3SG | PAST | 1SG | tear | INFAPPL | PFV | FV |
V |
olugoye |
o | lu | goye |
IV | 11 | cloth |
N |
lwange |
lw | ange |
11 | minePOSS |
PN |
(24)
Mugende mwoleze ku lubalaza.
“go and wash at the verandar”
Mugende |
mu | gend | e |
2PL | go | SBJV |
V |
mwoleze |
mw | o | le | z | e |
| wash | APPL | | SBJV |
V |
lubalaza |
lu | balaza |
| verandar |
N |
(25)
Amazaalibwa ge bagenda kugajaguliza bweru.
“hi/her birthday will be celebrated from overseas.”
Amazaalibwa |
a | ma | zaal | ibw | a |
IV | 6 | birth | PASS | FV |
N |
bagenda |
ba | gend | a |
SBJ2PL | go | FV |
V |
kugajaguliza |
ku | ga | jagu | li | za |
INF | 6AGR | celebrate | APPL | |
V |
(26)
Kyokka bwe byatandise akasajja ne kamufuukira ekyambika ne kamukuba n’atya.
“But when they started the man became a problem to him/her and he beat him/her and feared.”
byatandise |
by | a | tandis | e |
8AGR | PAST | startVstem | IND |
V |
akasajja |
a | ka | sajja |
IV | DIM12AGR | man |
CN |
kamufuukira |
ka | mu | fuuk | ir | a |
DIM12AGR | REL3SG | turnVstem | APPL | FV |
V |
ekyambika |
e | kyambika |
IV | problem/threat |
CN |
kamukuba |
ka | mu | kub | a |
DIM12AGR | REL3SG | beatVstem | FV |
V |
n’atya |
n’ | a | ty | a |
andCONJ | 3SG | fearVstem | FV |
V |
(27)
Olaba ne kitabani kya gundi kyansomera luli.
“You see even (also) the other guy’s son talked bad about me the other time.”
kitabani |
ki | tabani |
7AGR | sonANIMMASC |
CN |
kyansomera |
ky | a | n | som | er | a |
7AGR | PAST | 1SG | read | APPL | FV |
V |
luli |
luli |
the-other-time |
ADVtemp |
(28)
Nze n’obulamu bwaŋŋondera, okuva lwe nakufuna mukwano dear.
“Me even (also) life became easier for me since I got you dear friend”
n’obulamu |
n’ | o | bulamu |
even/also | IV14 | life |
CN |
bwaŋŋondera |
bw | a | ŋ | ŋond | er | a |
14AGR | PASTrm | 1SG | ease/soften | APPL | FV |
V |
okuva |
o | ku | v | a |
IV | INF | since/from | FV |
V |
nakufuna |
n | a | ku | fun | a |
1SG | PASTrm | INF | get | FV |
V |
mukwano |
mu | kwano |
1SG | friendANIM |
CN |
(29)
mukimumpeelengako
“You will give it to him/her ”
mukimumpeelangako |
mu | ki | mu | n | w | e | el | a | nga | ko |
2PLSBJ | 7OBJ | 2pOBJ | 1POBJ2 | give | | APPL | FV | HAB | |
V |
(30)
mukimumpeelengako
“You will give it to him/her ”
mukimumpeelangako |
mu | ki | mu | n | w | e | el | a | nga | ko |
2PLSBJ | 7OBJ | 2pOBJ | 1POBJ2 | give | | APPL | FV | HAB | |
V |