Morphology and Syntax

The Morphology and Syntax of the Kikongo Verbal affixes is a preliminary exploration of the relation between verbal affixes and their effects on the predicate argument structure of the verb that host them in this language. The study examines the form and function of six verbal affixes under the Lexical Mapping Theory including the order in which they occur in the verb stem. The study suggests that applicative and causative are valency - increasing verbal affixes and, as such, give rise to double object constructions. The passive, reciprocal, reflexive and stative are valency - decreasing and, as such, they reduce the valency of the verb that host them. Lexicalized applicative, causative, passive and reflexive verbs can occur while reciprocal and stative verbs do not seem to occur. The study also suggests that Kikongo is a symmetrical object language in which both object appear to have equal status.