Verbal Extensions in Kipsigis
Bii, John Kibet; Lonyangapuo, Mary; Chelimo, Andrew Kiprop

Abstract
In this paper we present a description of verbal extensions in Kipsigis. In addition, we briefly show how the principles of theta theory can account for the arguments presented. Kipsigis belongs to the group of languages that allows co-occurrence of extensions in addition to appearing individually in a structure. The language contains both valence-increasing morphemes; applicatives and causative, and valence-reducing morphemes such as; reciprocal, stative and impersonal. We noted that applicatives in Kipsigis include: benefactives, -w- and -chi-, locative –y- and instrumental –en- while the causative is represented by the morphemes –e- and –si- and a lexeme –yai. On the other hand, reciprocal is represented by –kee-, stative by –akse- and impersonal by -ki-, all of which are affixed to the verb root either as prefixes or suffixes. The effect of such operations is the change of the morphological structure of the host verb as well as the addition or reduction of arguments.

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