Noun Predication in CiTonga

Abstract

This study is an account of noun predication in CiTonga. The morphemes responsible for noun predication are identified and discussed to bring forth their morphosyntactic role. Data for the study are collected mainly through intuition. The informing theoretical perspective in the study is Distributed Morphology. This theory addresses the interface between morphological and syntactic processes. The study advances that noun predicative morphemes in Tonga, in addition to converting nouns into predicates, implement two degrees of emphasis on the noun to which they are preprefixed. It is further noted that each predicative morpheme is restricted to specific noun classes. From the data used, the study also notes that predicative morphemes (morphemes used to convert noun into predicates) are governed by the noun that they predicate morphophonologically. In terms of meaning, it is noted that predicate nouns have two levels of meaning; the literal and the actual meaning. The study concludes that predicative morphemes in CiTonga are highly productive and can be analysed phonologically, morphologically, syntactically and semantically.