Expanding the Lutsotso Clause: A logico- semantic Perspective

The focus of this paper is the Lutsotso clause complex; in particular, the types of logico-semantic relations of expansions it undertakes in discourse. This is an area that has received less attention from linguistic researchers; especially in Lutsotso. The main objective of this paper therefore, is to discuss the strategies used to expand the message in the Lutsotso clause complex based on the Systemic Functional Theory. The language of study is Lutsotso: a Luhyia dialect majorly spoken in Kakamega central location of Kakamega county, Kenya. The study applies the descriptive research approach. Purposeful sampling was used to collect both spoken and written data which was analyzed using textual and conversational analytical techniques. It was revealed that the Lutsotso clause complex is expanded by elaboration, extension and enhancement. Enhancement was the most common form of expansion used in both oral and written sources sampled. The study also revealed that there are various strategies through which the Lutsotso clause complex can be expanded. It is therefore, upon the language user to choose the form of expansion that enables them convey the intended message. The findings from the study are expected to be useful in contributing to knowledge of clause expansion in the Bantu languages within the Systemic Functional Theory. This study will also benefit linguistic scholars in Lutsotso as it adds to existing data as a point of reference for further research.