Object marketing in Kihehe

Abstract

This study was a descriptive analysis of object marking (OM) in Kihehe. The study specifically focused on morphological morphemes that could occupy the object position, explaining the behaviour of the post-verbal noun phrases (NPs) in relation to OM and the role of discourse in Kihehe object marking. Generally, the study aims at analysing the syntax and discourse of object marking in Kihehe. Specifically, the study focused on the following specific objectives: • To identify the morphological morphemes that could occupy object position; • To explain the behaviours of post-verbal NPs in relation to object hood features; and • To explain the role of discourse in Kihehe object marking. In order to provide a descriptive analysis of object marking in Kihehe, which was the main aim of this study, the study employed a qualitative research design. It was qualitative due to the nature of data that needed to be collected. The data that were collected included oral data, which were later transcribed into words in a written form. Other data were obtained from various Kihehe texts. Data were collected in the natural setting. The aim was to obtain data that explain how the language is used in natural setting. Data was collected from primary sources and secondary sources. Primary sources included interviews (structured interviews) with focused group discussions and questionnaires with a list of sentences to be elicited. Secondary data was obtained from Kihehe text and narrative books. The study could not cover all geographical areas in Iringa Region. It based on research conducted in Ipilimo Village, which is found in lhowanza Division, Mufindi District. The village 'was preferred because it had a large number of Kihehe native speakers and it had less influence from other languages. Kihehe was used as the medium of communication in homes, local churches, and in local community gatherings. The informants for this study were obtained using snowball or chain sampling. Snowball sampling starts with principled list of key respondents who are then tasked to recruit further participants who are similar to them in some respect central to the investigation.