A corpus-based description of locative and non-locative reference in Kirundi locative enclitics

This article presents a corpus-based description of locative as well as non-locative functions of Kirundi locative enclitics. Whereas locative verbal prefixes in Kirundi are restricted to class 16, one of four locative enclitics (classes 16, 17, 18 & 19) can attach to verbs. Three main uses are distinguished: formal locative reference, semantic locative reference and non-locative reference. Formal locative reference concerns the most basic-albeit not the most frequent-use of locative enclitics, i.e. endophoric reference to a locative form. Semantic locative reference refers to the capacity of locative enclitics to evoke a locative meaning not formally present in the discourse. The non-locative uses of locative enclitics include grammaticalized and lexicalized uses as well as a rare partitive/separative use. For each use a detailed description and quantification is provided and where relevant overlaps and differences between the use of locative enclitics, on the one hand, and the use of the locative verb prefixes, on the other hand, are discussed.