The syntactical nature of the deficient verb and its complement in Zulu

SYNOPSIS

If Doke's definitions of the deficient verb are analysed it becomes clear that he is of opinion that: (a) the deficient verb is the main predicative, and (b) the complement is a subordinate predicative. These two points cannot be accepted if the actual use of the deficient verbs in all the different conjugational forms is closely scrutinised.

In the case of (a) it is found that deficient verbs may be wed in subordinate moods like the subjunctive and participial, and in non‐finite forms like the infinitive and the imperative. It is purely incidental, therefore, if a deficient verb should appear in the indicative, and in such a manner be the main predicate.

Since verbs like ‐fane, ‐mane, ‐phane and ‐simze may be followed by the indicative in Zulu, it is impossible to contend that the predicative complement is always in a subordinate mood.

The auxiliaries ‐za, ‐ya, ‐?a and ‐se, which may have their own subjectival concords and have a predicative complement, must be classified separately from the deficient verbs proper, since these auxiliaries are conjugational elements and the verbs not. The auxiliaries are however, derived from verb stems and may, therefore, be grouped with the deficient verbs under the heading: Verbs of Compound Predication.