Semantic Transparency and Opacity in Xitsonga Compound Words

Abstract

Compounding is a fundamental linguistic process in Xitsonga, playing a key role in word formation by combining various word categories. Despite its productivity, scholarly works on semantic transparency and opacity in Xitsonga compounds remain limited. This study investigates these aspects by examining how semantic and morphological structures impact the interpretability of compound words. Undergirded by the descriptive qualitative approach and Generative Lexicon Theory, it draws on data from secondary sources such as dictionaries, books and academic publications. A non-probability purposive sampling method was adopted to explore patterns of semantic transparency and opacity in Xitsonga compounds, with a specific emphasis on lexicalisation and idiomatic usage. The study found that Xitsonga compound words exhibit varying degrees of transparency and opacity, forming three main patterns: fully transparent, partially (transparent + opaque), and fully opaque compounds. Due to Xitsonga’s left-headed structure, opaque + transparent combinations are not observed. Additionally, some compounds include nominal prefixes that contribute to transparency or opacity depending on the compound's overall meaning. These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between morphology and semantics in Xitsonga compound word formation, contributing to broader discussions on linguistic structure and cognitive processing in African languages.