EXISTENTIAL PROCESSES IN EKEGUSII: A STUDY OF THEIR REALISATION IN DECLARATIVE CLAUSES

This study explores the realization of existential processes within declarative clauses in Ekegusii, a Bantu language spoken by the Abagusii people of Western Kenya. Using the theoretical framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), particularly Halliday and Matthiessen’s (2014) Functional Grammar, the research seeks to analyze how Ekegusii encodes existential meanings and the role transitivity structures play in this expression. The analysis centers on how existential processes (ExiPs), which express the existence or occurrence of entities, are realized through different clause types, particularly with respect to polarity and voice. Drawing data from Ekegusii Bible translations, storybooks, and the researcher’s native speaker intuition, the study identifies the grammatical patterns associated with ExiPs and maps out the components of transitivity structures: the Process itself, the Existent participant, and any Circumstantial elements.

The study highlights the grammatical strategies used by Ekegusii speakers to assert presence, existence, and occurrence of entities, revealing how existential thought is embedded in language use. Findings suggest that Ekegusii exhibits both explicit and nuanced realizations of existential meaning through verb morphology and clause organization. This linguistic behavior not only enhances our understanding of Ekegusii syntax and semantics, but also contributes to broader theoretical insights into how indigenous languages structure thought and experience. The implications of this research extend to the domains of language documentation, educational material development, translation practices, and the preservation of linguistic diversity.