On the expression of mirativity in Rukiga

Abstract

Rukiga (Bantu, JE14) generally does not have a dedicated morphological system to express mirativity, that is, speaker’s surprise at an unexpected occurrence. Nevertheless, using elicited data, I show that there are various non-dedicated linguistic tools that the language employs to express the speaker’s surprise. This paper discusses object marker doubling, predicate doubling, and the particles -o and ku, which convey mirativity as a secondary function because they have other various roles they play in the language. Hence, mirative interpretation is context-dependent. The findings indicate that the four strategies discussed can be combined for a reinforced mirative interpretation.