Luganda applicatives

TypeCraft's public Luganda corpus contains at the point of writing this page (23.04.2016) 94 sentence where at least one verb is glosses as having an applicative extension. In addition the corpus contains 31 nouns which have an applicative extension.

For a random selection of 29 of these 94 sentence we will now look at the following parameters

Which thematic role does the applicativized argument (AA) express?
To which grammatical category do expressed AAs belong (PN, N, PP)
If the AA is expressed as a free form, does the verb also carry an argument index?
If the the AA is topicalized, does the verb carry an argument index?

In addition we will mark the cases of applicativization where the AA only expressed as an argument index?

(1) VERB: tunuul 'look, see' AA: ye, Thematic Role: Stimuli, Category: PN, 3SG Argument index: "ki" seems to be an object marker Status: unclear

Kale n’okitunuulira, ye mukadde, ye mubi.

“So you look at him/her, s/he is old and at the same time ugly.”

Kale

kale

soPARTCONJ

PRT

n’okitunuulira
ne	o	ki	tunuul	ir	a
andCONJ	2SG	AUG7AGR	look/seeVstem	APPL	FV
V

ye

him/her

PN

mukadde
mu	kadde
1AGR	old-person
ADJ

ye

him/her

PN

mubi
mu	bi
1AGR	ugly/bad
ADJ

(2) VERB: "bring", AA': 3SG, Thematic Role: Beneficiary, CategoryAA not lexicalised independently, Argument index:+ , Topicalisation: -

Mumuleetedde ssente mmeka?

“How much money have you brought for him/her?”

Mumuleetedde
mu	mu	leet	er	dde
2PLSBJ	3PSGOBJ	bring	APPL	PFV
V

ssente

money

N

mmeka?
m	meka?
9	INTR

(3)VERB:"nyw", 'consume', AA' -, Thematic Role: Location, 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" 'do', AA': proper name, Thematic Role:Beneficiary, 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

name-of-a-person

Np

Cool

name-of-a-person

Np

obubaga
o	bu	baga
IV	DIM14AGR	wedding/party
CN

(5)VERB: tunuul 'look, see' AA: akazimbe kaganyegenya 'unfavourable hounse, Thematic Role: Stimuli, 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

ke

whichRELSBJ

PRT

bayita
ba	yit	a
3PL	callVstem	FV
V

poliisi

police

CN

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

ne

even

PRT

kitabani
ki	tabani
AUG7AGR	son
CN

kya
ky	a
7AGR	GEN
PREP

gundi

someone

PN

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

atudde
a	tu	dde
3SG	sit	PFV
V

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

ntebe
n	tebe
9AGR	chair
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

above/upLOC

ADVplc

(9)VERB: buuk 'jump' AA: ebintu, Themantic Role: Locative, Category: ____, Argument Index: - 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

bigwa
bi	gw	a
8SBJ	fall	FV
V

(10)VERB: kaab 'cry' AA: nju, Themantic Role: Locative, Category: PP, Argument Index: - Topicalisation: -

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

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

nju
n	ju
9AGR	house
CN

(11)

Ebuukabuuka naye nga buli kantu k'egezaako okubuukirako ekakoona ne kagwa wansi.

“It jumps and jumps but knocks down everthing it tries to jump on.”

Ebuukabuuka
e	buuk	a	buuk	a
SBJ9AGR	jump	FV	jumpREDP	FV
V

naye

but

CONJ

nga

whenCONJ

CONJS

buli

everyDEF

DET

kantu
ka	ntu
DIM12AGR	thing
CN

k'egezaako
k'	e	gezaako
REL12OBJ	SBJ9AGR	try
AUX

okubuukirako
o	ku	buuk	ir	a	ko
IV	INF	jump	APPL	FV	REL17LOC
V

ekakoona
e	ka	koon	a
SBJ9AGR	OMDIM12AGR	knock	FV
V

ne

andCONJ

CONJC

kagwa
ka	gwa
SBJDIM12AGR	fall
V

wansi

downLOC

ADVplc

(12)

Kkapa emutunuulira n'emutunuulira.

“The cat looks and looks at him/her.”

Kkapa

kkapa

cat

CN

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)

Ekatunuulira, n'ekatunuulira mu 'angles' zonna.

“It looks and looks at it in all angles.”

Ekatunuulira
e	ka	tunuul	ir	a
SBJ9AGR	OMDIM12SG	look	APPL	FV
V

n'ekatunuulira
n'	e	ka	tunuul	ir	a
andCONJ	SBJ9AGR	OM9AGR	look	APPL	FV
V

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

'angles'

zonna

allDEF

QUANT

(14)

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

(15)

Kkapa ewulira ekiwuka nga kizannyira mu nju.

“The cat hears the insect playing from the house.”

Kkapa

kkapa

cat

CN

ewulira
e	wulir	a
SBJ9AGR	hear	FV
V

ekiwuka
e	ki	wuka
IV	7AGR	insect
CN

nga

whenCONJ

CONJS

kizannyira
ki	zanny	ir	a
7AGR	play	APPL	FV
V

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

nju
n	ju
9AGR	house
CN

(16)

Wali owuliddeyo omusajja afiira mu leeba?

“Have you ever heard of a man who dies in labour?”

wali
w	a	li
2SG	PAST	be
COP

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

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

leeba?

leeba

labour

CN

(17)

Akawuka kongera okukaabira mu nju.

“The insect continues to cry from the house.”

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

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

nju
n	ju
9AGR	house
CN

(18)

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

naye

but

CONJ

nga

whenCONJ

CONJS

buli

everyDEF

DET

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

ne

andCONJ

CONJC

kagwa
ka	gwa
DIM12AGR	fall
V

wansi

down

ADVplc

(19)

Kkapa esooka n'ewulira ekiwuka nga kizannyira mu nju.

“The cat first hears the insect playing from the house”

Kkapa

cat

CN

esooka
e	sook	a
SBJ9AGR	do-something-before-the-other	FV
V

n'ewulira
n'	e	wulir	a
andCONJ	SBJ9AGR	hear	FV
V

ekiwuka
e	ki	wuka
IV	7AGR	an-insect
CN

nga

whenCONJ

CONJS

kizannyira
ki	zanny	ir	a
7AGR	play	APPL	FV
V

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

nju
n	ju
9AGR	house
CN

(20)

Kkapa emutunuulira n'emutunuulira nga bw'ekozesa obubonero okumubuuza.

“The cat looks and looks at him as it uses signs to ask him.”

Kkapa

kkapa

cat

CN

emutunuulira
e	mu	tunuul	ir	a
SBJ9AGR	REL3SG	look	APPL	FV
V

n'emutunuulira
n'	e	mu	tunuul	ir	a
and	SBJ9AGR	REL3SG	look	APPL	FV
V

nga

asCONJ

CONJS

bw'ekozesa
bw'	e	koz	es	a
CONJ	SBJ9AGR	do	CAUS	FV
V

obubonero
o	bu	bonero
IV	DIM14AGR	sign/symbol
CN

okumubuuza
o	ku	mu	buuz	a
IV	INF	REL3SG	ask	FV
V

(21)

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

atudde
a	tu	dde
3SG	sit	PFV
V

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

ntebe
n	tebe
9AGR	chair
CN

(22)

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

ne

andCONJ

CONJC

bigwa
bi	gw	a
8AGR	fall	FV
V

akawuka
a	ka	wuka
IV	DIM12AGR	insect
CN

ne

andCONJ

CONJC

kongera
k	onger	a
DIM12AGR	continue	FV
V

okukaabira
o	ku	kaab	ir	a
IV	INF	cry	APPL	FV
V

waggulu

above

ADVplc

(23)

Ekatunuulira, n'ekatunuulira mu 'angles' zonna, n'ebuuka okukakwata.

“ It looks and looks at it in all angles and it jumps to catch it.”

Ekatunuulira
e	ka	tunuul	ir	a
SBJ9AGR	DIM12AGR	look	APPL	FV
V

n'ekatunuulira
n'	e	ka	tunuul	ir	a
andCONJ	SBJ9AGR	SBJ9AGR	look	APPL	FV
V

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

'angles'

zonna
zo	nna
SBJ10AGR	all
QUANT

n'ebuuka
n'	e	buuk	a
andCONJ	SBJ9AGR	jump	FV
V

okukakwata
o	ku	ka	kwat	a
IV	INF	DIM12AGR	catch	FV
V

(24)

Oluvannyuma etunuulira omusajja nga yeebuuza lwaki tali mu kugifaako.

“Afterwards it looks at the man as it asks itself why he (the man) is not attending to it.”

oluvannyuma

afterwards

ADVm

etunuulira
e	tunuul	ir	a
SBJ9AGR	look	APPL	FV
V

omusajja
o	mu	sajja
IV	1AGR	man
CN

nga

whenCONJ

CONJS

yeebuuza
y	ee	buuz	a
REL3SG	REFL	ask	FV
V

lwaki

whyQ

tali
t	a	li
NEG	3SG	be
COP

mu

inLOC18AGR

PREP

kugifaako
ku	gi	faako
INF	SBJ9AGR	care-about
V

(25)

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.”

Buli

buli

every/each

DET

kasente
ka	sente
DIM12AGR	money
CN

ke

whichRELSBJ

PRT

baweereza
ba	weerez	a
3PL	sendVstem	FV
V

okubaako
o	ku	baa	ko
	INF	be	LOC
COP

kye

whichREL7

PRT

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

be

REL3PL

PRT

baaleka
ba	a	lek	a
3PL	PAST	leaveVstem	FV
V

emabega
e	mabega
IV	behind
ADVplc

(26)

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?”

Ani
a	ni
3SG	whoQ
PROint

abazaala
a	ba	zaal	a
3SG	3PL	give-birthVstem	FV
V

mmwe

you

PN

embwa
e	m	bwa
IV	9AGR	dogANIM
CN

ze

RELOBJ

PRT

beebakako
be	ebak	a	ko
3PL	sleepVstem	FV	LOC
V

ne

andCONJ

CONJC

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

na

evenCONJ

CONJS

ddoola

dollar

CN

emu?

one

NUM

(27) Phrase>33474</Phrase>

(28)

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?”

Gu

gu

AUG20AGR

PRT

Ggolola

ggolola

Np

gwagejjera
gw	a	gejj	er	a
20AGR	PAST	fattenVstem	APPL	FV
V

bwereere

nothing

N

tegulina
te	gu	lina
NEG	20AGR	haveVstem
V

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

(29)

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.”

Kyokka

kyokka

but

PRT

bwe

whenREL

PRT

byatandise
by	a	tandis	e
8AGR	PAST	startVstem	IND
V

akasajja
a	ka	sajja
IV	DIM12AGR	man
CN

ne

andCONJ

CONJC

kamufuukira
ka	mu	fuuk	ir	a
DIM12AGR	REL3SG	turnVstem	APPL	FV
V

ekyambika
e	kyambika
IV	problem/threat
CN

ne

andCONJ

CONJC

kamukuba
ka	mu	kub	a
DIM12AGR	REL3SG	beatVstem	FV
V

n’atya
n’	a	ty	a
andCONJ	3SG	fearVstem	FV
V

Olaba ne kitabani kya gundi kyansomera luli.

“You see even (also) the other guy’s son talked bad about me the other time.”

Olaba
o	lab	a
2SG	see	FV
V

ne

even/also

PRT

kitabani
ki	tabani
7AGR	sonANIMMASC
CN

kya

of/forGEN

PREP

gundi

someone

CN

kyansomera
ky	a	n	som	er	a
7AGR	PAST	1SG	read	APPL	FV
V

luli

the-other-time

ADVtemp