ABSTRACT
This study is an analysis of the nominal group in the Gĩkũyũ language using a
Systemic Functional Grammar approach. The language is spoken by the
Agikuyu who live in the Central and Rift Valley regions of Kenya. The study is
motivated by the need to account for the nominal group from a functional rather
than a formal approach. The study looked at the different realizations of
nominals in Gĩkũyũ clauses, how nominals are used to achieve reference in
clauses and how the nominal group can be accounted for in Systemic Functional
Grammar by applying a transactional metafunction. The data in this study was
collected from written Gĩkũyũ publications, a novel and a periodical. From these
were extracted clauses containing nominals of various realizations. A
qualitative approach was used to analyze the data which is presented
thematically. After analyzing the data, the findings prove that indeed the
nominal group has various realizations: noun phrases, pronominals, nominal
clauses and infinitives. It was also established that nominals can be used to mark
reference in Gĩkũyũ texts, thereby achieving textual cohesion. Both endophoric
and exophoric reference was attested. Following the analysis, it was established
that only noun phrases could effectively be analyzed using this approach. The
study, therefore, recommends that the theory, particularly the transactional
metafunction, be extended to cover all the nominal realizations. The findings
can be useful to curriculum and material developers as they develop teaching
and learning materials in Gĩkũyũ and also Gĩkũyũ authors as they write their texts.
MAINA, M (2021). The Nominal Group In GῘkũyũ: A Systemic Functional Grammar Approach. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/the-nominal-group-in-g-kuyu-a-systemic-functional-grammar-approach
MAINA, MARTIN "The Nominal Group In GῘkũyũ: A Systemic Functional Grammar Approach" Afribary. Afribary, 27 May. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/the-nominal-group-in-g-kuyu-a-systemic-functional-grammar-approach. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
MAINA, MARTIN . "The Nominal Group In GῘkũyũ: A Systemic Functional Grammar Approach". Afribary, Afribary, 27 May. 2021. Web. 22 Nov. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/the-nominal-group-in-g-kuyu-a-systemic-functional-grammar-approach >.
MAINA, MARTIN . "The Nominal Group In GῘkũyũ: A Systemic Functional Grammar Approach" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 22, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/the-nominal-group-in-g-kuyu-a-systemic-functional-grammar-approach