Syntactic Descriptions of Conjunctions in Kémunasukuma Dialect of Kisukuma

Abstract

The article is on syntactic descriptions of conjunctions in Kémunasukuma dialect of Kisukuma under Relevance Theory which is geared toward relevance communication as the interaction between cognition and context. The lack of any study on the topic under discussion motivated the current descriptions preferably with cognitive semantics theory. The study used an interpretivism paradigm veiled in a qualitative approach, based on the fact that the data comes from natural settings. The study used a descriptive study design to describe the syntactic and semantics of conjunctions from Sukuma population in Kisesa ward of Nyamagana district in Mwana region. Three methods of data collection were used, namely, focus group discussion, intuition knowledge, and critical documentary analysis. Ten Sukuma native speakers were selected purposively for the discussion, the selection based on the fact that were bilingual native speakers of the language. The study revealed two forms of conjunction: coordinating conjunctions as in na, ni, nu, nulu, ila, lelo or leluu, aliyo, lakini, and subordinating conjunctions as in, hanuma nu, hanumana, kunguno, kulwanguno, hamo and giki. Basing on the findings, it was concluded that such syntactic word category contributes to and strengthens the development of syntactic theories. The study urges other studies be carried out on other functors (determiners, pronouns) which with no doubt would contribute to the grammar of the language to both this generation and generations yet to come.