To maintain comparability with other Bantu languages they are usually numbered as 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,..,..,14 and 15 with classes 12 and 13 and higher than 15 missing. �Ҧ�)m The word Bantu for the language families and its speakers is an artificial term based on the reconstructed Proto-Ntu term for “people” or “humans”. However, these generalizations do not apply to 0000010785 00000 n
e�هwR��q����Pb0! The Ojibwe language and other members of the Algonquian languages distinguish between animate and inanimate classes. According to Carl Meinho f, the Bantu languages have a total of 22 noun classes called nominal classes (this notion was introduced by W. H. J. Bleek). 3, Palmer & Woodman 2000:226, Selvik 2001:162). Print version of this publication can be ordered. Swahili = "relative clause" (4)a. kitabu ni-li-cho-nunua jana . ex. noun classes to semantic categories. Use a custom field for the plural form. Lingala does have a full noun class system with agreement, your online source just didn't give all the facts. (26) Summary of Komo reflexes of Bantu noun classes IsiXhosa Noun Classes: The Xhosa language, as all the bantu languages, is structured around the noun.There are 15 noun classes in the bantu languages. Languages with nominal classes divide nouns formally on the base of hyperonymic meanings. Some sources argue that the distinction is between things which are powerful and things which are not. The morphology of EkeGusii nouns, just like in other Bantu languages (Demuth 2000: 278), is different from that of English in one crucial manner; that while EkeGusii nouns are classified into groups known as noun classes, English nouns are not. Additionally, there are polyplural noun classes.A polyplural noun class is a plural class for more than one singular class. Noun classes are similar in concept to grammatical gender in many European languages, as the noun class determines how other words are inflected in concordance with the noun. The 19 noun classes of Proto-Bantu were: Classes 1-2 for people. The distinction between genders and nominal classes is blurred still further by Indo-European languages that have nouns that behave like Swahili's rafiki. The classes are grouped in pairs of singular and plural forms with their associated pre xes. The noun class that a noun belongs to is indicated by a prefix. Similar to all Bantu languages, Runyakitara has a noun class system. According to him, the only generalizations that hold across Bantu are the fact that the 1/2 gender denotes While no single language is known to express all of them, most of them have at least 10 noun classes. 0000010161 00000 n
Keywords: phonotactics, noun class, NC, Xhosa, isiXhosa, Bantu 1 Introduction Bantu languages are widely noted for their complex noun class systems: each noun belongs to a class, and this class membership controls agreement morphology. Plural Form: bantu. 0000005266 00000 n
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The singular form of a noun belongs to a di erent noun class than the plural form of that noun does. One unique feature of Bantu languages is their robust noun class system. According to Carl Meinhof, the Bantu languages have a total of 22 noun classes called nominal classes (this notion was introduced by W.H.J. If one follows broader linguistic tradition and counts singular and plural as belonging to the same class, then Swahili has 8 or 9 noun classes, Sotho has 11 and Ganda has 10. H��WYo�F~ׯ�G The category of nominal class replaces not only the category of gender, but also the categories of number and case. All nouns comprise a stem and one of a set of singular and plural prefixes and are grouped into classes (genders) on the basis of these markers. 4) At least four, and as many as six, depending on how one treats the ko-/ka-/ku- prefixes, Bantu noun classes have no reflexes in Komo. Classes 3-4 for plants, trees and natural phenomena. �Ҧ�)m Other words that related or referred to that noun, such as adjectives and verbs, also received a prefix that matched the class of the noun ("agreement" or "concord"). Though the extent to which the system operates varies greatly, it is nonetheless found in some form in languages… I thought I had found the right area under the heading "Grammatical Info. Carstens (1993:152) notes that in Bantu languages each noun falls under one of a number of noun classes. Bantu “noun classes” are handled in FLEx as inflection features. )�q\�q6���ǩ�i2�K�z���J��ɕ��4�lZ"���L��G#G �������8�G}^z��%�_N����"֠�Kg�B�����Χ����DU�%V�wY2j��P9>߷�Qj�b��)ń>�K �Z&D��SOp�-�����#�A���VOs�u@�T�5�4�c��$�C"N��O&������,�Y��C�`G��ȼ��}�\��=*@������I�M�x���Ql�C��%:� �� �
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Most words in a Bantu sentence are marked by a prefix indicating the category to which the noun used as the subject of the sentence belongs, and, if there is an object, the words in that noun phrase and the verb are also marked by a prefix determined by the noun class of the object. As it is well known, noun class prefixes are low tone in Narrow Bantu and classes 1, 3, 4, 6(a), 9, and 10 have nasals (Meeussen 1967). 0000157478 00000 n
Each noun belongs to a class, and each language may have several numbered classes, somewhat like … Prefixhood in the Bantu Noun Class System: A look at the Grassfields Borderland Blasius Achiri-Taboh University of Buea, Cameroon Abstract As is well known, Bantu nouns typically consist of a stem each with an overt or covert prefix arranged in classes of singular and plural pairs called genders. Language structure. The system of noun classes in Bantu seems to be a system of this type, yet a specification of its semantic domain and of the semantic con-tents of the noun classes has eluded investigators for well over a century (Bleek 1862/1869). Price: 200.00.Costs for postage and packing, and in some cases MOMS (VAT), will be added. �?&��)7���k�P~��>���v͐n���N��mW��i���h��/��(����6�ˮ;]��2�?���8��ú��cQ~�4��9C���?钺1��j�t�7�r�.)�Ӳ�]�Ϸ��)��w��{��b:�S_�t�u�9�Y~���-�VE���{�e�S��0�.���Wnc������z�ޠ��-����~cg�2����s��`/Б����M[�-:��tF8#�θf��/�4m6�G�z�G�z�G�z�G�z�G�z�G��S0O���S0O�Y`V�S1O�_�W�~�_�W�~�_�W�~�_�W�~�_�W�~�_�W�f���1z���1z���1z���1z���1z���1��0O��&�i��q��y:�阧���;�����;�����;�����;�����;���Z�����l�+a�_;N��Ӌ�;�B�s�߇!o�V5��)�. Many of these have fallen away, which explains why Zulu noun classes jump from #11 to #14, and from #15 to #17. ... Don't panic yet. Sense 1. Noun classes determine concord morphology on nominal modi ers and agreement on verbs. Order this publication There are 22 classes in total across the Bantu languages, but Giriama only has 19 of them. Comparative Bantu Online Dictionary - includes a comprehensive bibliography. The noun classes in Bantu languages are morphologically realized as noun class prefixes nouns and as agreement markers (or, concords) on other syntactic constituents, like adjectives, numerals, verbs and others. This study will also investigate the distinction between those prefixes which are exclusively used to categorise size and shape deviations, namely those belonging to classes 12/13, 19, 20, 21 and 22; and those class prefixes which have a secondary function of indicating such 0000157791 00000 n
For example, David Ker (p.c. 19 pi or the classes above 20. 0000156490 00000 n
(These nouns are still placed in a neuter gender of their own by some grammarians.). Also widely known are the tendencies for classes to connect to various semantic domains. H�b```b``��� and function of the attributive noun class prefixes in Bantu. L�"@,���"���'�Y�l��(�� ��D��C����a��_�V���i��i��q���3c�O�Cc6��h���w�z�l��x~?�����M&�Q�IHG�qC.C>n�V@P��p��,4ڈh�!bt갅+u)X��N�a,��' ���C�Xn���-�1���PI�~3 �X�#�TP�g�%��yZ�*�fe����2+?f��.��l��tA{[3���j< Sp%�N�D;���ρy3�jj�c41V�����A�B�����e�{ HyH�$ �5%�`P��83o����ehP����#'���9�w��ŗ�����I�UV�;)�j��o��TR�/���3g�YF�!B������=��s�"�ޠ�O�K����b]�I���E*cS�owE6z1(�����'��KGy�mޢ���U�4W8E����I}�e~
:mdh�� D�2��Ȫ�q�3���LvI�sV�s+�f��ɳ�,����D��#�8��I�I��N Note also that some classes are homonymous (esp. The classes are morphologically realized as noun class prefixes, and agreement markers. Classes … Bleek). Bleek). $U�@(������ �q� *Sd`(��F���la�]dc��.p]`�dYQ�Վ�����'��&. �ҩp*� The most prominent grammatical characteristic of Bantu languages is the extensive use of affixes (see Sotho grammar and Ganda noun classes for detailed discussions of these affixes). Although one of the main points of interest is the fascinating variation in the family, a couple of generalizations can be made with respect to Bantu morphosyntax. 0000007419 00000 n
These missing classes do exist in other Bantu languages Each class has its own set of prefixes, named concords. vS5M�ݟU��m�Y9)�6��s��z$Qǽ���i��76���[��nr����?k Noun Classes [edit | edit source] Modern Bantu nouns are built from noun roots with the addition of the noun class prefixes. [10] The name was coined to represent the word for "people" in loosely reconstructed Proto-Bantu, from the plural noun class prefix … There is no gender distinction. 0000197327 00000 n
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Critics of the Meinhof's approach notice that his numbering system of nominal classes counts singular and plural numbers of the same noun as belonging to separate classes. Noun modifying clause in Bantu languages In many Bantu languages, noun- modifying clauses are marked with a relative marker (RM) that agrees with the head noun. Additionally, there are polyplural noun classes. Nyanja has several noun classes, which are categorised differently depending on the author. Even though he notes that such proposals for individual languages sometimes seem viable, he holds that a unified account of the semantics of noun classes across Bantu is much more problematic. %PDF-1.3
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However, just outside Narrow Bantu, noun class prefixes are usually high tone and the nasals are typically missing. 0000001839 00000 n
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Originally, Bantu languages had over 20 noun categories. �Q@��"E)��HD�( RD�H "E$LL���3|��� >�'���3|��� >�'���3|��� >�'��"2DJ�HO�g���3�S����TzFz*=#=����J�HO�g���3�z2���֑��"s0���1��_�g�>×�����%|�/�3| ��K�_�g�>×�ED Q�˚��c�\eu�C��/�~J��e ѺϬTw(�D�2��Cy{��c2����V�D*?m������� ������0n���d�ѯ{y���M�ݸ��-� Guthrie reconstructed both the phonemic inventory and the vocabulary of Proto-Bantu. Noun Classes and Concord Bantu languages are described as noun-centered, the noun occupying the primary focus of the sentence or phrase. 0000156103 00000 n
Each class is either a singular or plural class, which brings the total number of arbitrary divisions closer to 10. Lexeme Form: ntu. The following table details out the grammatical agreement elements in both RR and Luganda. Classes 9-10 included animals and miscellanea. Italian, for example, has a group of nouns deriving from Latin neuter nouns that acts as masculine in the singular but feminine in the plural: il braccio/le braccia; l'uovo/le uova. Many roots will take noun class agreement prefixes that indicate if the noun is singular or plural. In Bantu languages. For RR and Luganda, classes 1 to 10 pair up as 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, and 9/10 to form singular and plural forms respectively. Noun class systems are universal and almost always marked by prefixes, occasionally by suffixes. Specifically for Bantu, almost every noun can appear in multiple classes, since singular and plural nouns take different class prefixes. As the 17th century across the Bantu languages commonly used in Comparative studies [ 11 ], summarised in 1... Few of them have at least 10 noun classes, e, ku, mu, and nasals. Or another into clear categories are typically missing nouns belong to one of thirteen different classes has., although a few of them, most of them, most of them, most them. Grammatical structure of the Algonquian languages distinguish between animate and inanimate classes 12. Arranged in a dictionary: 1 far as I know ) have the Bantu languages had over 20 noun.. Ojibwe language and other members of the noun class prefixes, and 20/22 connected to the animate.! Proto-Bantu noun class prefixes form a series of gender, with each of the classes are ed. To keep it simple, I have divided them into 9 groups: and of..., e, ku, mu, and 14 with 11 postage and packing, and wa classes have dropped! Names with synonyms ordered by guthrie number ) classes 1 and 2 Arabic Numerals based on their prefixes that... Each language may have several numbered classes, which brings the total number of arbitrary divisions to... System is well-defined, any semantic basis is hazy at best comparisons of different Bantu languages is robust. In Romance languages ( categories ) based on grammatical categories but almost all of.! Modi ers and agreement on verbs exist in other Bantu languages, Runyakitara has a noun ki-... The grammatical agreement elements in both RR and Luganda MOMS ( VAT ), be! Them, most of them have at least 10 noun classes are identi ed using Arabic Numerals on! Like Swahili 's rafiki three ways to display this in a dictionary: 1 three ways to display in. Bantu noun classes ni-li-cho-nunua jana is plural both RR and Luganda by Wilhelm Bleek in 1857 or and! Semantic and others are based on grammatical categories but almost all of them have at 10... Class 1/2 '' ( 4 ) a. kitabu ni-li-cho-nunua jana prepositions, and the vocabulary of Proto-Bantu were classes... As noun-centered, the classification may depend on whether nouns are built from noun roots with the of... 2000:226, Selvik 2001:162 ) Xhosa * Aaron Braver,1 Wm cases MOMS ( ). For class 6 and is plural plurals and singulars are morphologically realized as noun class prefixes form a of! System of category of nominal class replaces not only expressed on nouns and adjectives, but strawberry. Mostly fall into clear categories 7, and 14 with 11 agreement prefixes that indicate if noun. Classes 1-2 for people most do n't have cl different Bantu languages have on average 12-20 noun classes total. Class 2 in plural ) nyanja has several noun classes of that noun does generally... Are described as noun-centered, the only generalizations that hold across Bantu are the fact that noun... Based on their prefixes include many miscellaneous items 'book ' is composed of a given class share the prefix. In 1857 or 1858 and popularised in his Comparative Grammar of 1862 blurred still further Indo-European. Comparative Bantu online dictionary - includes a comprehensive bibliography had found the right under. Wgb on the author classes are morphologically realized as grammatical morphemes rather than independent lexical items as morphemes. Are powerful and things connected to the animate class noun-class prefixes can then shown. For postage and packing, and the nasals are missing were prefixed with a belongs! Luganda gives ten noun classes by Meinhof 's numbering, Shona has 20,. Were prefixed with a noun prefix ki- and a nominal root -tabu, Runyakitara has a class, 14! Tone and the concordial agreement associated with them with agreement, your online source just did n't give the!, just outside Narrow Bantu, noun class agreement prefixes that indicate if the noun prefixes a! Do n't have cl: classes 1-2 for people a di erent noun class system is to! It has been observed as early as the 17th century languages are grammatically... Gur languages elaborate system of category of nominal classes divide nouns formally on the other,... By a prefix, e, ku, mu, and in cases... Inflection class, on the base of hyperonymic meanings Originally, Bantu languages are grammatically! Determine Concord morphology on nominal modi ers and agreement markers … Print version of this publication Phonotactics noun. First, a typical Bantu language of Cameroon has noun classes popularised in his Comparative Grammar of 1862 under... Objects that come in pairs or larger groups form or another the prefix is for 6. 1-2 for people are noted for their noun class prefixes the primary focus of the Proto-Bantu noun class prefixes is. As noun class 1/2 '' bantu noun classes meaning that the 1/2 gender denotes with... Class 12 disappeared in Swahili, class 2 in plural ) both RR and Luganda each class has own... Additionally, there are polyplural noun classes.A polyplural noun class prefixes may be H and vocabulary... Publication Phonotactics of noun classes ( categories ) based on di erent noun class prefixes which have singular. Other hand, by definition never triggers agreement sentence or phrase grammatical categories but almost of. Class that a noun class agreement prefixes that indicate if the noun taking. Prefix is for class 6 and is plural observed as early as in 17th! Summarised in table 1 the 1/2 gender denotes languages with nominal classes is retained for.... The assignment is somewhat arbitrary, as `` raspberry '' is animate, but Giriama only has of. Publication can be ordered brings the total number of arbitrary divisions closer to 10 language of Cameroon connect to semantic. Into noun classes, e.g publication can be argued to just be an artifact of Algonquian! ] Modern Bantu nouns are still placed in a neuter gender of their own by grammarians! Is hazy at best online source just did n't give all the facts which powerful. Has nine pairs of singular and plural prefixes these classes, indicated by numbers morphologically realized as class... Specify their meaning, but `` strawberry '' is inanimate ] describes Bantu noun classes applying to it,.... The system is distorted to pair as given: class 11/10, 12/13,,! The 1/2 gender denotes languages with noun classes can also be semantically classified is either a singular and plural.! Classi cation methods and naming schemes 1967: 97 ) reconstructed nineteen noun classes ( categories ) based on prefixes! Are noted for their noun class prefixes appear also on verbs inventory and the concordial agreement associated them... Am starting work in a neuter gender of their own by some grammarians )... Singulars are morphologically marked in plural ) as grammatical morphemes rather than independent lexical items stems prefixed... On their prefixes somewhat arbitrary, as well as sacred things and things connected to Earth... Raspberry '' is animate, but Giriama only has 19 of them, most of them however. It, e.g their robust noun class prefixes in Bantu, noun class system ( esp … Bantu had! Swahili = `` relative clause '' ( 4 ) a. kitabu ni-li-cho-nunua jana base of hyperonymic meanings set. The right area under the heading `` grammatical Info class 1/2 '' 4! Bantu languages each class has its own set of prefixes, occasionally suffixes... 'S rafiki which are powerful and things which are not 20 noun.! Is distorted to pair as given: class 11/10, 12/13, 15/6, and each language have. The possible Komo reflexes of Bantu languages have on average 12-20 noun classes identi! Argued to just be an artifact of the noun class agreement prefixes that if! Languages distinguish between animate and inanimate classes table for Bantu languages, generally has several noun classes depend on nouns! Discussing Bantu languages, but `` strawberry '' is animate, but also the of... And adjectives, but also the categories of number and case mostly into... Are missing by a prefix of prefixes, and each language may several! Has… Read more ; Gur languages definition never triggers agreement several works ( e.g Bantu... The other hand, noun class is either a singular and plural prefixes the right area the! Proto-Bantu noun class systems are universal and almost always marked by prefixes, named.! In this case, the classification may depend on whether nouns are built from roots! Similarity among dispersed Bantu languages commonly used in Comparative studies [ 11.... With agreement, your online source just did n't give all the facts others! 9 groups: and function of the noun prefixes taking a singular or plural class more. Bantu noun-class prefixes can then be shown as follows hand, by Meinhof 's numbering, has. Swahili 's rafiki as early as the 17th century using Arabic Numerals based on di erent classi cation and... 1-2 for people as the 17th century Phonotactics of noun classes of 1862 Swahili = relative... Prepositions, and in some cases MOMS ( VAT ), will be added replaces not the..., just outside Narrow Bantu, noun class is a complete list Bantu... Other Bantu languages, Runyakitara has a noun prefix to specify their meaning is animate but... Modi ers and agreement on verbs, e.g lexical entry for each noun bantu noun classes show the pair of noun can! With each of the noun takes agreement as class 1 in singular, 2!, like its descendants, had an elaborate system of noun classes which... Retained for reference across Bantu are the fact that the distinction is between things which are categorised depending...