Research Article
Analysis of Negation Categories in Kirombo and Kiswahili in Tanzania
Mariaignatia Jacobo Massawe
,
Nestory Nyamwala Ligembe*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2026
Pages:
225-242
Received:
20 September 2026
Accepted:
8 October 2026
Published:
3 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijll.20261406.11
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Abstract: This study examined and compared negation categories in Kiswahili and Kirombo using Miestamo’s Typology of Standard Negation. It aimed to identify the types of negation, analyze their morphosyntactic realization, and establish similarities and differences between the two languages. The study employed a qualitative descriptive and comparative research design. Primary data were collected from eight Kirombo native speakers aged 60 years and above in Mrere Village, Katangara Mrere Ward, Rombo District, Tanzania, through interviews, elicitation, and natural conversations, while Kiswahili data were obtained from grammatical descriptions and previous studies. The data were analyzed morphologically, syntactically, and functionally. The findings show that both languages express negation through verbal morphology but differ in the form and position of negative markers. Kiswahili mainly employs preverbal negative markers such as ha-, hu-, si-, and -to-, while Kirombo predominantly uses the post-verbal negative suffix -fo. These differences are observed in standard, tense-based, infinitival, copular, existential, and prohibitive negation. The study concludes that although Kiswahili and Kirombo share Bantu grammatical features, they employ distinct morphosyntactic strategies for expressing negation. The findings contribute to the documentation of Kirombo and comparative studies of Bantu languages, while emphasizing the need for further research on under-described Tanzanian languages.
Abstract: This study examined and compared negation categories in Kiswahili and Kirombo using Miestamo’s Typology of Standard Negation. It aimed to identify the types of negation, analyze their morphosyntactic realization, and establish similarities and differences between the two languages. The study employed a qualitative descriptive and comparative resear...
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