A Morpho-semantic Analysis of Aspectuality in siSwati: A cognitive approach to the analysis of the Alterative, Persistive and Inceptive aspects in siSwati

by Peter Nichols

This study develops an analysis of three aspects in siSwati, a southern African Bantu language spoken in Swaziland and South PERSISTIVE aspect, encoded by the aspect marker -sa-, ALTERATIVE aspect, encoded by -se- and INCEPTIVE aspect encoded by be-. A distinctive characteristic of two of the aspects is that they link two separate time periods and so they have been described as dual-time period aspects. One is the PERSISTIVE which is an aspect already well-documented and studied cross-linguistically in the Bantu languages and other groups and the other is analysed as the ALTERATIVE which is a new term the author has applied to an aspect not formerly recognised in linguistic studies. This thesis has wider significance for cross-linguistic recognition of dual-time period aspects, which have so far been largely associated with the PERFECT but is a more wide spread quality of natural language aspect systems.

412 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2012

About the author

NOT alias for John Christopher

Peter Nichols was an English playwright, screenwriter, and journalist known for his sharp wit and incisive social commentary. His most celebrated works, including A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The National Health, and Privates on Parade, blend comedy with profound explorations of human struggles, often drawing from his own life experiences.
Born in Bristol, Nichols served in the British Army’s Combined Services Entertainment Unit before studying acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He initially gained recognition writing for television before transitioning to the stage, where his plays tackled themes such as illness, war, and personal betrayal, frequently using humor as a counterpoint to tragedy. His distinctive voice made him one of Britain’s most autobiographical playwrights, chronicling his experiences in his memoir Feeling You're Behind and his published diaries.
Over his career, Nichols received critical acclaim and numerous awards, culminating in his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2018 for services to drama. His legacy endures through his sharp, compassionate, and deeply human storytelling.