Orientation section Linguistic features in Jita narrative texts

1.3 Linguistic features in Jita narrative texts

1.3.1 Orientation section

Major participants are introduced using a presentational formula consisting of a copular verb with the locative suffix –wo, which is followed by a postposed subject. The locative verb is nearly always a past tense compound form, in which the first word can be translated ‘he was’ and the second is another copular form with a locative suffix, translated ‘he was there’. The postposed subject is often followed by the number ‘one’ –mwi, at least when a single human participant is introduced. There is often some additional introductory information as well. This is shown in example 1. 1 Presentational formula in “Mariro” Pre-NO Pre-NI S V OC Post-NI Post-NO 1 :Aariga ari-wo P3 omukaruka umwi He was there old person one 2 --- Naatogwa NAR Mariro He was called Mariro There was an old person. He was called Mariro. Following the initial presentational construction, additional information is often given. In example 1, the old man’s name is given. In 2, two participants are introduced at the same time, and an extended orientation section follows. In this case, after the introduction in the first sentence, their names are given, as well as further information concerning Hare’s feelings towards Chameleon. 2 Orientation in “Chameleon” Pre-NO Pre-NI S V OC Post-NI Post-NO 1 :Bhaariga bhari-wo P3 abheekasyanya bhabhiri They were there neighbors two 2 Owa okwamba aariga naatogwa P3.NAR Wasongo The first he was called Chameleon 3 Owa akabhiri naatogwaga NAR.IPFV Mutuuju The second he was called Hare 4 Mutuuju :aariga ari na P3 rigayo Hare he had disdain There were two neighbours. The first was called Chameleon. The second was called Hare. Hare had disdain. Note some other variations, shown in 3. The entire story is introduced with the temporal phrase Kara awo ‘There in the past’, followed by the normal locative verb, then by the postposed subject. In this case, however, the participants are simply introduced by their names without the following –mwi ‘one’. Using names only is more common when participants are well-known folktale characters, as in this example. 3 Orientation in “Watermelon” Pre-NO Pre-NI S V OC Post-NI Post-NO 1 Kara awo :aariga ari-wo P3 mutuuju na wamembe Past there he was there Hare and Hyena There in the past, he was there Hare and Hyena. Another variation in this example is that the verb form is inflected for a singular subject even though two participants are being introduced. This is different from 2, in which the verb is plural.

1.3.2 Inciting episode