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.”
| 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 |
| orikureetwa |
| o | ri | ku | reet | w | a |
| 2SG | PRES | INF | bring | PASS | FV |
| V |
| nibwo |
| ni | bw | o |
| isEMPH | 14 | |
| PNana |
| burikukutangiira |
| bu | ri | ku | ku | tangiir | a |
| 14 | PRES | INF | 2SG | welcome | FV |
| V |
| n’ebyombeko |
| n’ | e | by | ombeko |
| and | IV | 8 | building |
| N |
| tibirikureebeka |
| ti | bi | ri | ku | reebek | a |
| NEG | 8 | PRES | INF | be-seen | FV |
| V |
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”
| neirukanga |
| ni | e | iruka | nga |
| PROG | 9 | run | INTS |
| V |
| n’oku |
| n’ | o | ku |
| andCONJ | IV | hereSPTL |
| DEM |
| ehiigire |
| e | hiig | ire |
| 9 | hunt | PROG |
| V |
KU as a Spatial proximal prefix as well as a noun class (CL 18) 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 |
| neeyongyeza |
| nee | y | ongyez | a |
| PROG | 9 | increase | FV |
| V |
| 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 |
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 |
| akaija |
| a | ka | ij | a |
| 3SG | PASTrm | come | FV |
| V |
| kukufubira |
| ku | ku | fubir | a |
| OBJ | INF | punish | IND |
| V |