Abstract
This study investigated wh-question formation in Gichuka, an SVO Bantu language spoken in Kenya. The study established that Gichuka forms wh-question using the four strategies, namely: wh-in situ, full wh-movement, partial wh-movement, and intermediate strategy. In wh-in situ, the wh-phrase does not move. In full wh-movement, the wh-phrase moves to the beginning of the sentence. In partial wh-movement, the wh-phrase moves to an intermediate Spec, CP. In the intermediate strategy, the wh-phrase moves to an intermediate Spec, CP, or a Spec of the matrix CP, followed by movement of the subject to position above CP, a Topic position. These findings are similar to those of Muriungi (2003) who established that Kitharaka, a related Bantu language forms questions using the four strategies. As in Muriungi (2003), the study established that subjects cannot be questioned in situ.
Highlights
Background to the StudyAccording to Fromkin, Robert, Neil, & Harry (2001), one of the linguistic universals is that all languages have a way of asking questions
Nikũ Ngugi augire atiKamau nĩonire Kaanake? Where Ngugi said that Kamau saw Kaanake? “Where did Ngugi say that Kamau saw Kaanake?” Typically Kikuyu uses three strategies in forming wh-questions that is, full wh-movement, wh-in situ and partial wh-movement
While it is documented that English only allows full wh-movement; German allows partial wh-movement and full-wh movement; Kikuyu, Dholuo, Kitharaka, Zulu and Babine Witsuwiten allow full-wh movement, partial wh movement and wh in situ, the strategies of forming wh-questions in Gichuka are not known and have not been documented
Summary
According to Fromkin, Robert, Neil, & Harry (2001), one of the linguistic universals is that all languages have a way of asking questions. In English, the wh-word moves from the underlying object position to the beginning of the question as shown in (1) below: 1. “What did the child beat” When forming adjunct wh-questions in Kiswahili, the wh-word can remain in the canonical position of the adjunct as shown in (7): 7. “Where did Wangari go?” According to Bergvall (1987), Kikuyu allows partial wh-movement where the underlying wh-word moves from its canonical position to some intermediate position of the sentence as shown in (15). “What does Maria believe John bought?” According to Clements (1984), Kikuyu allows full wh-movement where the wh-word moves to the front of the sentence as shown in (16): 16. “Where did Ngugi say that Kamau saw Kaanake?” Typically Kikuyu uses three strategies in forming wh-questions that is, full wh-movement, wh-in situ and partial wh-movement.
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