The morpheme -KU- in Runyankore-Rukiga.

Author: Misah Natumanya

This page examines the grammatical function of the morpheme "KU-/-KU-" in Runyankore-Rukiga. The data is the result of typecraft's phrase search done on April 09, 2011.

The morpheme -ku- is an interesting affix and occupies different morphological positions with different meanings in Runyankore-Rukiga.

"KU" An infinitive Marker: Here it occupies either the medial position(-KU-) or the initial position(KU-). It is usually proceeded by a verb stem.

KU as an infinitive marker

Buri kureeterwa kuriya nirwo rurikukutangirira, obumuri buriho ku orikureetwa kuri nibwo burikukutangiira na n’ebyombeko nabyo tibirikureebeka kubi.

“Every time you come from that direction, its the compound that attracts you. the flowers are available when you are coming from there its the flowers that attracts you and even buildings are not bad.”

Buri

buri

every

DET

kureeterwa
ku	reetererw	a
INF	arise	FV
V

kuriya
ku	riya
INF	thereDIST
DEM

nirwo
ni	rw	o
isEMPH	11
PNana

rurikukutangirira
ru	ri	ku	ku	tangirir	a
11	isPRES	INF	2SG	welcome	FV
V

obumuri
o	bu	muri
IV	14	flower
N

buriho
bu	ri	ho
14	PRES	thereLOC
V

ku

ku

when

CONJ

orikureetwa
o	ri	ku	reet	w	a
2SG	PRES	INF	bring	PASS	FV
V

kuri
ku	ri
15	there
DEM

nibwo
ni	bw	o
isEMPH	14
PNana

burikukutangiira
bu	ri	ku	ku	tangiir	a
14	PRES	INF	2SG	welcome	FV
V

na

na

with

PREP

n’ebyombeko
n’	e	by	ombeko
and	IV	8	building
N

nabyo
na	by	o
and	8
PNana

tibirikureebeka
ti	bi	ri	ku	reebek	a
NEG	8	PRES	INF	be-seen	FV
V

kubi
ku	bi
INF	bad
ADVm

KU as a Spatial proximal suffix or locative marker

Enjangu neirukanga omu nju, eza oku n’oku nk’eine eki ehiigire.

“The cat is running the whole house as if it is hunting something”

Enjangu
e	n	jangu
IV	9	cat
N

neirukanga
ni	e	iruka	nga
PROG	9	run	INTS
V

omu
o	mu
IV	inSPTL
PREP

nju
n	ju
9	house
N

eza
e	za	a
9	go	FV
V

oku
o	ku
IV	hereSPTL
DEM

n’oku
n’	o	ku
andCONJ	IV	hereSPTL
DEM

nk’eine
nk’	e	ine
REL	9	have

eki

eki

what

REL

ehiigire
e	hiig	ire
9	hunt	PROG
V

KU as a Spatial proximal prefix as well as a noun class (CL 17) marker

KU as a Class prefix marker for noun class (CL15) o-ku-guru(leg)

Nitureeba embwa neeyongyeza sipiidi, obwo erikubanza yaasindikisa akagaari okuguru kumwe.

“We see the dog increasing speed by pushing the bicycle-like instrument with one leg first.”

Nitureeba
ni	tu	reeb	a
PROG	1PL	see	FV
V

embwa
e	n	bwa
IV	9	dog
N

neeyongyeza
nee	y	ongyez	a
PROG	9	increase	FV
V

sipiidi

sipiidi

speed

N

obwo

obwo

when

CONJ

erikubanza
e	ri	ku	banz	a
9	COND	INF	be-first	FV
AUX

yaasindikisa
y	aa	sindik	is	a
9	PASTim	push	INSTR	FV
V

akagaari
a	ka	gaari
IV	12	bicycle
N

okuguru
o	ku	guru
IV	15	leg
N

kumwe
ku	mwe
15	one
QUANT

KU as an object pronoun marker

omushaija ogwo akaija kukufubira

“That man came to punish you.”

omushaija
o	mu	shaij	a
IV	1	man	FV
N

ogwo
o	gw	o
IV	AGR	MEDIAL
DEM

akaija
a	ka	ij	a
3SG	PASTrm	come	FV
V

kukufubira
ku	ku	fubir	a
OBJ	INF	punish	IND
V