Construing Transitivity through Material and Verbal Processes in the Bukusu Bible: In Light of Systemic Functional Linguistics Theory

Abstract

The paper investigates transitivity marking in the Bukusu Bible in the Gospel of Matthew 21:1-46. Given the relevance of systemic functional linguistics theory in revealing meanings in texts, this study reveals the meanings generated in the Gospel through the material and verbal processes. The main objective of this study is to identify the clause types in Matthew 21:1-46, to evaluate the participant types in clauses and to explain the meanings construed through material and verbal process types in Matthew 21:1-46. The study employed a descriptive research design whose major goal is to identify data, analyse and interpret the findings. The data were purposively sourced from the Gospel of Matthew 21:1-46 to meet the objectives of the study. Data analysis was constrained in the System network approach of transitivity, an aspect of SFL theory which facilitates the identification of process types. The findings revealed the construction of Jesus' teaching through parables and performing healing miracles using material and verbal processes. The results further revealed that material processes were used to reveal the actions carried out by Jesus, disciples and tenants. Jesus employed material processes such as atimania (chased), and afumalixaka (overturned) to demonstrate his anger. It was also clear that verbal processes in the analysis were used by participants to ask or answer questions, for instance, ?amuree?a (asked) and ?ako?osya (answered). Both material and verbal processes were context-specific, meaning that the events and activities carried out by participants in the given environment dictated the choice of the process type. This study recommends a rigorous analysis of spoken and written texts in African languages for typology and language documentation.