The Argument Structure Of Anaphoric Nps In Kiswahili: A Government And Binding Perspective

This paper examines the argument structure of anaphoric noun phrases (NPs) in Kiswahili, a Bantu language spoken in Tanzania. The study focuses on how anaphoric expressions are realised morphologically and lexically, how thematic roles are assigned, and how these expressions relate to the argument structure of predicates. The study draws on Government and Binding Theory, particularly Theta Theory and Case Theory, to account for the relationship between predicate valency, thematic-role assignment, and the realisation of arguments. It employs a qualitative research approach, using grammaticality judgment questionnaires and participant observation to collect data from six native Kiswahili speakers in the Urban West Region of Zanzibar. The data are analysed descriptively through morphological decomposition, syntactic representations, and thematic-role analysis. The findings identify reflexive, reciprocal, pronominal, and lexical NP constructions, alongside subject and object markers that contribute to the grammatical expression of participant reference. Reflexive constructions marked by -ji- associate two thematic roles with one referent, while reciprocal constructions marked by -an- express a reciprocal relationship between plural participants. Pronominal constructions maintain distinct participant reference, while subject and object markers indicate agreement or object-related reference within verbal constructions. The analysis demonstrates that the morphological and lexical realisation of participants is closely related to predicate valency and thematic-role assignment in Kiswahili. The paper contributes to the understanding of how anaphoric relations interact with argument structure in Kiswahili from a Government and Binding perspective.