Kabwa Walker 2011:39–40 Various speech verbs occur in speech orienters in Kabwa. A speech verb is obligatory and an invariable
quotative marker the complementizer ega occurs in about half of all speech orienters.
8.3 A proposed linguistic cycle for speech orienters
The speech orienters described in §8.2 reflect what I believe to be different stages in a ‘linguistic cycle’ Hodge 1970 in which quotative markers develop from speech verbs and are then lost and replaced by
new quotative markers derived from different speech verbs, and so on. The stages of this proposed linguistic cycle are described below, with representative languages listed in parenthesis.
•
Stage A: Various lexical verbs are used to introduce speech with one verb with a general meaning of ‘say, tell’ predominating; a verb is the sole speech orienter, since there is no quotative. Rangi
• Stage B: One lexical verb with a general meaning of ‘say’ occurs in almost all speech orienters,
either as the only verb of speech or in combination with other speech verbs, and does not require the support of a quotative marker or complementizer. Digo
• Stage C1: As in Stage B, but the infinitive form of the verb ‘say’ functions as a complementizer not
just with speech verbs but also with verbs of perception, cognition andor intention. Bena •
Stage C2: As in Stage C1, but the verb becomes phonologically reduced and ‘defective’. Malila •
Stage D: The original verb ‘say’ or a specific form of it develops into a quotative marker or complementizer which is almost obligatory in every speech orienter; other speech verbs possibly
including a new lexical verb ‘say’ may precede the new quotative marker, but cannot occur without it. Jita
• Stage E1: The quotative marker or complementizer becomes optional and may be preceded by a
variety of speech verbs possibly including a new lexical verb ‘say’ which may occur with or without the quotative marker. Suba-Simbiti, Kwaya
• Stage E2: Various optional quotative markers occur, optionally preceded by a variety of speech
verbs. Fuliiru and Makonde •
Stage F: The quotative marker or complementizer can no longer function alone as a speech orienter; a lexical speech verb is obligatory except in closed conversations and the quotative marker or
complementizer becomes less frequent. Kabwa, some Kwaya texts •
Stage Aʹ: A quotative marker or complementizer no longer occurs before direct speech, leaving various lexical verbs as the sole speech orienters, with one verb with a general meaning of ‘say,
tell’ predominating. Rangi
9 Conclusion
Narrative texts from twelve eastern Bantu languages were studied. The main findings of this study are summarized below.
9.1 Structure of eastern Bantu narrative texts
