This study examines the internal structure of Kihehe noun phrase using constituent tests within the context of Generative Grammar. The paper aims to explore how noun phrases in Kihehe are formed and to determine whether the words inside the noun phrase can function together as one grammatical unit. To achieve this objective, the paper applies constituent tests, including substitution, movement, coordination, question–answer tests, and ellipsis tests. The paper is qualitative with data collected from ten native speakers of Kihehe from Mufindi and Ifunda in Iringa region, and two from Mwanza. Data were collected through interviews, natural spoken conversations, selected written materials, and WhatsApp conversations. The data were analyzed using phrasal structure analysis. The findings show that in Kihehe, the noun is the main word in the noun phrase and acts as the head. The researchers found that other words, such as adjectives, demonstratives, possessives, numerals, and relative clauses, normally come after the noun. These elements agree with the noun in terms of noun class and number, which is an important feature of Bantu languages. The results also show that Kihehe noun phrases pass all the applied constituent tests, which confirms that they function as single units in sentence structure. The study is concluded by showing that Kihehe noun phrases are well organized and follow clear grammatical rules. The study is important because it helps in describing the grammar of Kihehe, supports the study of Bantu languages, and contributes to syntactic theory in linguistics.
Research Article | Open Access | Download Full Text
Volume 3 | Issue 2 | Year 2026 | Article Id: DSM-V3I2P102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59232/DSM-V3I2P102
Constituents Test and Noun Phrase in Kihehe
Lea Mpobela, Elizabeth Mbwelwa
| Received | Revised | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 2026 | 29 Jul 2026 | 20 Aug 2026 | 03 Sep 2026 |
Citation
Lea Mpobela, Elizabeth Mbwelwa. “Constituents Test and Noun Phrase in Kihehe.” DS Journal of Multidisciplinary, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 15-36, 2026.
Abstract
Keywords
Kihehe Language, Noun Phrase, Constituent Test, Generative Grammar, Phrasal Structure, Syntactic Analysis.
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