Author: Njana Tegisi Masanja (Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, Tanzania)
Abstract: This study dealt with the morphosemantic and morphosyntactic analysis of place names in Tanzania, particularly in Zanzibar Island. The study used the morphosemantic and morphosyntactic of place names demand to underpin the contexts of their establishments through the qualitative research approach. The study used 10 individuals as respondents and of 28 place names in Unguja Region as sample. The study used focus group discussions and intuition knowledge as sources of data. The informants were gathered in three non-consecutive days of February, 2025 to share their in-depth information while the researcher was taking notes. Based on the findings, the study concludes that the twenty-eight (28) place names were arranged from roots or stems and the meaning became the constituent parts of the lexeme. Different place names were formed in various ways, such as the derivation process (noun +adverbial of place) such as Muembe ‘mango’ and ni ‘at,’ which makes Muembeni (at the mango). The other was compounding process (root noun + root noun) such as Mto + Pepo to mean ‘Demon + River’ which makes Mto Pepo. Another type was prepositional phrase process (preposition + proper noun) such as ‘kwa’ + ‘Sefu’ to mean ‘To + Sefu,’ which makes ‘Kwa Sefu.’ Most of the meanings of these place names reflect activities, items, objects, citizenship or nationality. The study calls for further studies on the incorporation analysis of other functors, such as phonological and morphophonological aspects on place names, which with no doubt would contribute to the grammar of the language to both this generation and generations yet to come.