Compound in Chasu

This study examines compounds in Chasu, a Bantu Language spoken in Same and Mwanga districts of Kilimanjaro region. Specifically, the study determined the structure of Chasu compounds and position of a head, it found out types of compounds attested in Chasu and it examined criteria for determining compoundhood in Chasu. The study used two methods for collecting data; questionnaire and interview. The results revealed that the typical internal structure of Chasu compound consists of two roots and the left most root occurs with a noun class prefix which is the head of the entire compound. With regard to the criteria for determining compoundhood, the study found that lexical integrity criterion is the most appropriate criterion for determining compoundhood in Chasu. Also in relation to the types of compounds based on constituents, the study revealed that in Chasu, compounds can be formed through the following combinations; deverbal + noun (most productive in Chasu) also Noun + Adjective and Noun +Noun. Based on structure, Chasu also has synthetic and root compound. Based on meaning, Chasu compounds can either be transparent or opaque . The study also indicates that Chasu has phrasal compounds. The problem with Chasu phrasal compounds is that they do not agree with the lexical integrity criterion. However they still denote a single new entity intead of a combination of different entities presented by the words that build them.