structure the text rather than as a thematic development marker. This seems to be the case for Makonde napanelo as well: its use in background information, for example, and mid-speech to mark the highlight
of the speech, would indicate that it helps to structure the text, rather than being used as a TDM thematic development marker.
3.2.1 Use of napanelo and napane to introduce new episodes
The use of Napanelo to open the inciting episode has already been discussed see section 1.2. In the examples below, napanelo is used to introduce the denouement in 09 Ákalimanya, and the shortened
version napane is used to introduce developmental episode no. 1 in 01 Horned Animals.
09 Ákalimanya napanelo introducing denouement
46a. Napanelo nangu O
shinu shosho sho
shiningunagwele namene
Now I
thing that.very that,
it.pleased.me very
46b. na
ndilipundisha poe
and I.learnt
much Now all this was very good for me and I learnt a great deal from it…
01 Horned Animals napane introducing developmental episode no. 1
7a. Napane
nae kukumbukila
Now he
thought 7b.
kudo: saying
7c. Boo
“Hey And so Rabbit thought, “Hey...
3.2.2 Use of napanelo to introduce background material
In the example from 09 Ákalimanya below, the protagonist has just explained to the village that he wants them all to help him dig an elephant trap. Here in sentence 15, the narrator gives an explanation of how
the pit trap will work.
09 Ákalimanya napanelo used to introduce background material
15a. Napane
mwina au, mwene S
shabaa yake ingumene
aimbe mwina wakulota
Now hole this
he.himself aim his great
he.should.dig hole of.going.to
15b.
[AFTER VERB]
vakaida vanembo S
if.they.come elephants
15c. vainjile
momo mo they.should.enter
in.same.place 15d.
vavabyae. they.should.kill.them.
Now the great point about digging a trap like this was that elephants would come and fall into it and be killed.
3.2.3 Use of napanelo to introduce thematically significant information
Napanelo is used to present thematically significant new pieces of information. In the example from 01 Horned Animals below, this is a new participant, Rabbit, the protagonist of the text. It may be that
Napanelo is used to draw special attention to this introduction, as it is made rather later in the narrative than usual.
01 Horned Animals napanelo introducing a significant new piece of information introducing the
protagonist 6a.
Napanelo
[AFTER VERB]
kupagwa nyama jumo S
Now existed
animal one 6b.
wavanshamanga shingula
whom.they.call rabbit
Now there was once an animal called Rabbit…. In the following sentence, which occurs in the middle of the inciting episode of 07 Mother and child,
napanelo draws the listener’s attention to the fact that a significant new piece of information is about to be given, namely that when the Portuguese soldiers occupy the village, the villagers flee in panic, and
some children are left behind. This is what prompts the protagonist’s return to the village, proving herself more courageous than her husband, the theme of the narrative.
07 Mother and child Napanelo introducing significant event
6a. Napanelo
vandiwika palikaja
lyavaikalénge vanu
Now they.arrived
at.village where.they.were.
staying people 6b.
vanu avalá S
pavaanjenge kutukutanga
bai kutwa
vana O kuvajanga
popo people those
when.they. began to.flee,
so then children abandoned.them
right.there, 6c.
--- kuvaleka
vene S left.them
they.themselves 6d.
--- kutukuta.
fled. Then they came to a village where there were still people; the villagers began to flee and abandoned their
children right there—the villagers left them behind and fled.
3.2.4 Use of napanelo to highlight significant information in a smaller unit
