Semantics of -i-, -ith- Causative Morphemes in Gichuka

Knowledge of a language entails an understanding of the components and levels of its grammar, and how these levels interact to bring about holistic grammars. It is, therefore, prudent that linguists describe each level in order to shed light into the inter-componential relationships in languages. This in turn reveals how each level and component contributes to creation of a language’s lexicon. This paper investigated the morpho-semantic component of Gichuka Language, specifically, the meanings deciphered with the use of morphemes -i- and -ith- regarded causatives. The aim was to unravel the semantics conveyed when licensed by -i-ith-. This work sought to address questions surrounding the semantics -i- and -ith- causatives licence, the productivity of the readings and how components of grammar interact to bring forth -i-ith. Here, we note that the suffixes are constituted in the morphological domain whereas the readings are in semantics. Findings point out at an existence of an inter-componential relationship, specifically, adjectives are labialized with /b/ triggered by -i- (about 95%) (morpho-phonology), the two morphemes are suffixes creating complexes (morphology) and that they convey different readings besides causation (semantics). Further, varying semantics were noted in the order of productivity as; coercion, trickery, adversative, assistance, accidental and idiomatization. Coercion is licenced by inappropriately used instruments, instruments with defects and forced causes, assistance is associated with help while trickery is conveyed when -ith- licences an action through cunningness. In adversity, it is the causer and not the causee that is affected negatively. The idiomatic reading is conveyed when the meaning is deciphered and unrelated to the morpho-phonological -i-,-ith- all together.