An analysis of Swahili verbal inflection and derivational morphemes: An item and arrangement approach

Abstract

This research paper investigates the affixation and derivation processes in Swahili, a highly inflective and agglutinative language spoken in East Africa. Swahili defaults to SVO but allows for VSO or SOV word orders. The study's primary objective is to understand how Swahili words are inflected or derived, and the function of affixation. The research aims to enhance our understanding of the language's morphology and contribute to language learning and teaching methodologies. The study uses a descriptive-qualitative approach, collecting data from the Swahili dictionary, native Swahili speakers, and other relevant resources. Eight knowledgeable informants, native speakers of Swahili from Tanzania and Kenya, provide valuable insights. The researcher, who is also a native Swahili speaker, guides the data collection process. The research findings reveal that Swahili words exhibit affixation in the form of prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes. The study also discovered that the key to successful Swahili derivation lies in utilizing stem words to create new words with distinct meanings or contexts from the same word class. Additionally, derivative morphemes were discovered as a result of the affixation process. In conclusion, the research contributes to our understanding of Swahili's morphology, particularly its affixation and derivation processes. The use of inflectional and derivational morphemes allows Swahili speakers to express complex thoughts and convey subtle nuances, making the language a rich and versatile means of communication and cultural expression. This research has implications for language learning and teaching, particularly for those interested in exploring Swahili word morphology.