The Semantics of tense in Kinyarwanda

Abstract

Tense is one of those verbal categories relatively unexplored in Bantu languages. In this study the author endeavors to differentiate and describe the temporal functions of those verbal prefixes directly or indirectly relevant to the expression of tense in Kinyarwanda. These morphemes are shown to constitute diverse semantic (temporal) systems-labeled vector and segmental-which, when juxtaposed, determine the particular tense of any verbal expression. Of particular significance, the analysis demonstrates that these morphemes do not, in all cases, have a unique, absolute meaning or function, but shift according to the semantic context in which they are used. 1.