Variation in Kimakunduchi and Standard Swahili:Insights from verbal morphosyntax

Abstract

This paper explores variation between Kimakunduchi and Standard Swahili with a focus on verbal morphosyntax. With several varieties of Swahili identified and described over the years, here we focus on the Kimakunduchi variety spoken in the south-east of Zanzibar. While Kimakunduchi exhibits a number of features which are similar to those of Standard Swahili, it also has features which are distinct from those of the standard variety. In this paper we explore the variation in these two varieties through an examination of features relating to the TAM domain, negation, verbal finiteness, verb type, auxiliary constructions and relative clauses. These are areas which have not previously received in-depth examination or for which we present new data. The paper furthers the descriptive status of Kimakunduchi, contributes to a better understanding of the difference between the two varieties and deepens our understanding of microvariation in Bantu languages. The present paper also provides new insights which enable the development of updated hypotheses relating to diachronic change through re-examining Kimakunduchi and Standard Swahili morphosyntactic features.