Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part B (2024)

The study explores the morphosyntactic behaviour of ideophone and ideophonic constructions in Shona. Data for this study were obtained through desk research and intuition. The study was qualitatively analysed. On the surface peculiarities of the ideophone, it has been demonstrated that monadic ideophones take only the subject at the surface syntax whilst ideophones that portray certain actions are associated with both grammatical relations of functions at the surface syntax. In other words, the ideophone is the one that carries the semantic component as well as predetermines the syntactic component. Thus, it was observed that morphology and syntax are two inseparable components. The conclusion drawn from the discussion was that the syntax of ideophone constructions is influenced by derivational morphological processes. It is recommended that detailed research on the relationship between the ideophone and either the verb or adjective be undertaken. There is a need also to investigate whether there are factors that determine the difference in the final vowel –e, -ei and –u of the ideophone. Therefore, future research can also be pursued in the reference to this particular structure illustrating how it affects syntax or syntactic categories. This will expand the study of ideophones in Shona.