APPLICATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN KIMWANI

a formal approach

Abstract

This article presents a formal analysis of the applicative constructions in Kimwani, which is morphologically realized by the morpheme {-ir-} and its allomorphs. This investigation is justified by the lack of detailed studies on the syntactic behaviour of the applied and direct object. In this sense, this research aims to examine if Kimwani is a symmetrical or asymmetrical object language. To implement our proposal, we assume generative hypotheses in its most recent version, the Minimalist Program, and in other works, regarding the syntax of the applicative constructions in bantu languages. We provide an analysis of the contexts in which an applied object is introduced by the Appl^o head in inaccusative, inergative and ditransitive verbs. Our hypothesis is that Kimwani exhibits grammatical properties that are typical of asymmetrical applicative language, insofar as only the applied object can be passivized and can trigger the object marker on the verb stem. We also assume that, owing to the fact that applicative head does not open an extra specifier position, the direct object is retained inside the VP, thereby being sent to Spell-Out very early during the syntactic derivation. In this regard, we conclude that only the applied object can participate in the syntactic operations such as passivization and object agreement.