SIL International Publications

Comparative Study of Eastern Bantu Narrative Texts

Relation Text: 
SIL Electronic Working Papers 2015-003
Statement of Responsibility: 
Nicolle, Steve
Authors: 
Issue Date: 
2015
Abstract: 
This study of narrative texts from twelve Bantu languages spoken in eastern Africa reveals a number of discourse-level similarities together with previously undescribed differences. Discourse features investigated include the characteristics of different episodes, inter-clausal and inter-sentential connectives, participant reference (including the use of independent pronouns and demonstratives), tense and aspect, movement expressions (such as itive and ventive markers), information structure, adverbial and relative clauses, and reported speech. Of particular note are variations between the languages concerning the discourse functions of demonstratives and the expression of topic and focus, and evidence of a linguistic cycle affecting quotative markers in reported speech.
Extent: 
87 pages
Table of Contents: 
1 Introduction
2 Structure of eastern Bantu narrative texts
3 Connectives
4 Participant reference
5 Tense, aspect and movement
6 Information structure
7 Adverbial clauses and relative clauses
8 Reported speech
9 Conclusion
Appendix
References
Subject: 
Comparative Description
Tense
Quotatives
Narrative
Information Structure
Discourse
Demonstratives
Bantu Languages
Aspect
Country: 
Congo (Kinshasa)
Kenya
Mozambique
Tanzania
Field: 
Content Language: 
Nature of Work: 
Domain SubType: