STRATEGIES FOR RESOLVING THE CRISIS OF AGREEMENT OF THE COMPLEX SUBJECT WHOSE NUCLEI [+ HUM] ARE COMBINED WITH THE [- HUM] IN XIZRONGA

Abstract

In this article, we examine, based on the foundations of Descriptive Linguistics, the verbal agreement of the complex subject, in contexts where the combined nucleus are [+ HUM] and [- HUM], in Xizronga, a Bantu language of the Tswa-Ronga group (S50), spoken in southern Mozambique, in Maputo Province and the cities of Matola and Maputo. The discussion of this topic aims, on the one hand, to identify the contexts in which this combination does not result in a crisis of agreement and, on the other hand, to ascertain whether in this language, speakers perform total agreement for this type of subject and to map the linguistic agreement strategies adopted by speakers to resolve the crisis of agreement. In summary, data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 15 native speakers of the Xinondrwana, Xikalanga, and Xihlanganu variants led to the conclusion that, except in contexts where the nuclei are from classes 1 and 2 and 7 and 8, this combination of nuclei results in a crisis of agreement. To resolve this crisis, speakers resort to three strategies: commutative strategy, verb repetition strategy, and impersonal construction strategy.

KEYWORDS: Xizronga. Verbal agreement. Complex subject. Nucleus.