Chapter 36 - Verbal Derivation

 1. USE OF VERBAL DERIVATION : 

It is common in Swahili to modify a verb by adding various suffixes at the end of its radical. This phenomenon is called VERBAL DERIVATION.

By way of comparison, we can in English modify the meaning of a verb by adding some prefixes or associating some prepositions to it. For example : to take, to take back, to take away, to undertake, to overtake...

This process, however common, usually modifies the lexical aspect of the verb, without modifying its function.

In Swahili, verbal derivation has for consequence to modify both the meaning and the grammatical employment of the verb in the sentence.

This will translate in English through different processes : addition of another verb (to let, to make, to be), of a reflexive pronoun, of a preposition, change of verb, etc.

We give the name of "FORM" to the various verbal derivations.

 2. PRINCIPAL VERBAL DERIVATIONS : 

1. The PASSIVE FORM : suffix : -WA, -IWA, -EWA

   
   

   Example :

   KUTUMA = to employ

   -> KUTUMWA = to be employed

   
   

2. The PREPOSITIONAL FORM : suffix : -IA, -EA, -ILIA, -ELEA

   
   

   Example :

   KUACHA = to leave

   -> KUACHIA = to leave for / to / with

   
   

3. The CAUSATIVE FORM : suffix : -SA, -SHA, -ISHA, -ESHA, -ZA, -IZA, -EZA, -YA

   
   

   Example :

   KULA = to eat

   -> KULISHA = to feed

   
   

4. The RECIPROCAL FORM : suffix : -ANA

   
   

   Example :

   KUSAIDIA = to help

   -> KUSAIDIANA = to help each other

   
   

5. The STATIVE FORM : suffix : -KA, -IKA, -EKA

   
   

   Example :

   KUPASUA = to split, to cut

   -> KUPASUKA = to split up, able to split

   
   

6. The REVERSIVE FORM : suffix : -UA, -OA, -UKA, -OKA

   
   

   Example :

   KUFUNGA = to close, to fasten

   -> KUFUNGUA = to unfasten, to open

 3. DOUBLE AND TRIPLE DERIVATION : 

some verbs admit a double, and sometimes a triple derivation, i.e. the simultaneous addition of 2 or 3 derivational suffixes at the end of the verb radical.

These double or triple derivations are always carried out in a determined order :

 4. SOME EXAMPLES : 

This is but a short outline on verbal derivation. The 6 next chapters will be devoted to a detailed study of these verbal forms.

VOCABULARY