Emakhuwa (P31)

Abstract Emakhuwa is the largest Bantu language in Mozambique. However, it still remains fairly poorly studied. This short description of Emakhuwa grammar focuses on noun and verb phonology and morphology; describes sentence and information structure, and examines conjoint and disjoint verb constructions. Emakhuwa has distinctive short and long vowels, and its main vocalic processes include coalescence, deletion, gliding, and insertion. From Proto-Bantu, it has lost voiced stops; lost some noun classes; redistributed others into remaining classes, and lost or changed some class prefix consonants. The language´s basic syllabic structure is (C)V(V), whose main phonological processes are labialization and palatalization. Tone in Emakhuwa is grammatical. Locatives and diminutives can display double affixation. The canonic word order is SVO, but this is highly variable. Constituents following conjoint verbs can receive exclusive focus and are compatible with focus markers (Van der Wal 2009), though these can be employed with disjoint verb forms.