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Die werkwoordposisies in Afrikaans: voor in die predikaat; aan die einde van die sin; en iewers tussenin?


Alfred G Jenkinson
Annette S de Wet

Abstract

Hierdie artikel handel oor die posisie van die werkwoord aan die einde van sekere sinne in Afrikaans. 'n Oorsig word gegee oor die teoretiese uitgangspunte van die diachroniese en sinchroniese taalwetenskap. Die Klassieke Grieke se ontleding van 'n sin in subjek en predikaat word as vertrekpunt geneem en dié struktuur word tans nog in die Transformasionele Generatiewe Grammatika (TGG) geformaliseer as naamwoordstuk (NS) en werkwoordstuk (WS). Die verdere verdeling van die werkwoordstuk in Objek en/of Res bring die bespreking by die verskillende kombinatoriese opeenvolgings van SOV. Daar word stilgestaan by die verskillende tipologiese perspektiewe wat SVO- en SOV-volgordes in Afrikaans betref. Die verandering in Germaanse tale en die invloed daarvan op die taaltipologie word ook aangeraak. Voorts word die posisie van die werkwoord hanteer n.a.v. die aanwesigheid van medewerkwoorde in die sin, die situasie in bysinne, voorsetselstukke en saamgestelde sinne. Ten slotte word kortliks by semantiese en pragmatiese aspekte stilgestaan.

This article deals with the question of whether the verb is always situated towards the end of sentences in Afrikaans. An overview is given of the theoretical point of reference of both diachronic and sinchronic linguistics. The Classical Greek analysis of a sentence into subject and predicate, currently formalised in the Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) is used as point of departure. The discussion then continues with a focus on the role of the Object and/or remainder of the verb phrase (VP) in the predicate, which culminates in different combinatory sequences of SOV. The different perspectives of linguists who advocate the SVO and SOV orders in Afrikaans are explained. Furthermore, the influence of change in Germanic languages on the typology of Afrikaans is also taken into account. The position of the verb is discussed by looking at the role of auxiliaries in a sentence, at the role of prepositional phrases; at what takes place in independent clauses, subordinate clauses and in compound sentences. In conclusion, semantic and pragmatic aspects are taken into account.

Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies 2007, 25(3): 351–367

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eISSN: 1727-9461
print ISSN: 1607-3614