Imbrication triggered by the suffix -ile in isiZulu

Abstract

This article is a descriptive account of imbrication, with a specific focus on the imbrication triggered by the suffix -ile in isiZulu. Although the isiZulu suffix -ile is extensively described by grammarians, there has been limited explanation of the process of imbrication which obtains in several examples during the formation of the present perfect forms. The process of imbrication is not widespread among the African languages but has been reported in Setswana, CiLuba, Ciyao and Bemba (cf. Bastin, 1983; Chebanne, 1993, 1996; Lukusa, 1993; Ngunga, 1998; Kula, 2001, 2002).