The Syntactic Behaviour of Applicative Verbs in Ruruuli- Lunyala.

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the syntactic behaviour of applicative verbs in Ruruuli-Lunyala, which is among the least described Bantu languages. We describe different verb bases that can host an applicative verb: Specifically, we examine transitive, ditransitive, unaccusative and unergative verb bases.  We also analyse object marking and examine kakyarumwei ‘completely’/‘very’/‘a lot’ with bwereere ‘for nothing’ with special attention to their behaviour in applicative constructions. This is explained under [+quantity] arguments, applicatives in degree adverbials and sentence adverbials in the applicative construction. We then argue that ideophones occur in mutually exclusive environment with the applicative adverbial.