Relativization strategies as evidenced in Chindali spoken in Ileje, Songwe region, Tanzania

Imani Alinanuswe Mwang’eka; Chrispina  Alphonce

doi:10.51867/ajernet.7.2.6

Authors

Imani Alinanuswe Mwang’eka Tanzania Institute of Accountancy, Tanzania https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9075-9706
Dr. Chrispina Alphonce The University of Dodoma, Tanzania https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0907-7314

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.2.6

Keywords:

Bantu, Chindali, Relative Clauses, Relativization Strategies, Resumptive Pronoun, Songwe Region, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper investigates the strategies employed in the formation of relative clauses (RCs) in Chindali as spoken in the Ileje district of the Songwe region in the southern highlands of Tanzania. The study employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design. Data were gathered through text collection and introspection. The population of this study consisted of Chindali native speakers found in Ileje District. The population also included texts written in Chindali. To inform the study, 10 informants were sampled using the purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The collection and analysis of the data were guided by promotion theory and the interpretivism philosophical paradigm. The collected data were analyzed by inductive and deductive thematic analysis. The study revealed that Chindali employs relative pronoun, gapping, and pronoun retention strategies to form its RCs. The article concludes that relativization strategies differ depending on the language. The study supplements the little existing literature in Chindali. The study has contributed to the development of the theory through empirical data from Chindali that show the importance of the agreement and dependency structure to accomplish the relativization process. It is suggested that policymakers place more attention on ethnic community languages in order to promote them. The study recommends further research on the structure of Chindali RCs to identify the position of RCs in relation to the head noun.

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Author Biography

Dr. Chrispina Alphonce, The University of Dodoma, Tanzania

Lecturer, Department of Foreign Languages and Literature

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