Noun Classes and Plurality in Bantu Languages

Noun classes are a prominent grammatical feature of Bantu languages where typically each noun (or noun stem) is assigned to one of between fifteen and eighteen noun classes. Noun classes are often analysed as a form of nominal classification system and seen as belonging to the same domain as grammatical gender systems. Number in Bantu languages is mediated by the noun class system and the intricate interaction between noun class and number in Bantu has given rise to different theoretical analyses. The chapter focuses on three approaches to analysing grammatical number in Bantu languages—approaches based on an inflectional notion of number, those which analyse number as a derivational relation, and approaches adopting notions of polysemy and paradigms for analysing Bantu noun class systems.

Noun class system of Kusaal

It is common knowledge that noun classes in Mabia (Gur) languages are primarily characterized by stems and affixes. Common to all studies on nominal classification in Kusaal is the observation that nouns that exhibit common morphological properties also share identical semantic features. Though this is true to some extent, the generalization breeds a lot of leakages because classifications based on semantic field alone is unable to explain the inclusion of nouns that share identical morphological and phonological features but different semantic features. Thus, this problem questions the assumption that noun classification in Kusaal is dependent on common semantic properties or coherence shared by all nouns in a group. The semantic classification of nouns, in this study, is composed based on the assumption that speakers of Kusaal put together nouns that are connected by identical semantic features and others that are linked by pragmatic associations into networks that define concepts and aspects of their survival as human beings. It is further observed that nouns within such groups also go through identical phonological rules or constraints. Nouns in this paper are classified based on their morphological features which are closely knit to their semantic networks as well as phonological constraints. The framework of Lexical-Phonology is employed in analyzing the morphophonological components of the nominal classification system of the language

The role of gender in the acquisition of the Serbian case system

Serbo-Croatian is marked for seven cases and has a noun class vs. gender distinction. Given the complexity of the inflectional system, we look at Serbo-Croatian as a case study in case acquisition. We explore different correlations available in the input that children could leverage to acquire the case system in Serbo-Croatian. We ask three main questions: 1) does a noun’s gender predict the noun’s nominative singular suffix? 2) does a noun’s nominative singular suffix predict the noun’s gender? and 3) does a noun’s noun class predict the noun’s gender? Specifically, we ask whether the language input provides children with sufficient evidence to form these three productive generalizations. To test this, we apply the Tolerance Principle (Yang, 2016) to a corpus of 270 inflected Serbian nouns. Within this set of data, we find that: 1) all nominative singular suffixes productively predict a gender; 2) all genders productively predict a nominative singular suffix (with the exception of the neuter gender which predicts two suffixes); and 3) two of the three noun classes predict a single gender. We conclude that the input provides sufficient evidence for these productive correlations and we argue that children can leverage these generalizations to infer the declension patterns or gender of novel nouns. We discuss how, given these findings, children could acquire most of the inflectional system by focusing on gender as a categorization system for nouns, without needing to posit abstract categories of noun class.

The evolution of consonant mutation and noun class marking in Wolof

This paper analyzes the origins and evolution of the Wolof (Atlantic: Senegal) consonant mutation and noun class marking systems. I attribute Wolof mutation to the earlier presence of CV(C)- class prefixes on nouns, the (usually final) consonants of which fused with the following root-initial consonant to yield the modern mutation alternations. I reconstruct these original class prefixes using newly-proposed internal and comparative evidence, drawing on early documentary sources dating from the late 17th century. An understanding of the history of Wolof mutation allows for a better account of the synchronic system, in which mutation is triggered by specific noun classes rather than sporadically marking deverbal derivation. This study contributes to the broader understanding of how consonant mutation systems emerge and evolve, and of phonological considerations in noun class assignment.

Adpositional expression of spatiality in Adamawa languages with focus on the Samba-Duru group

A recurrent topic in language typology are adpositions within a cross-linguistic perspective. This paper questions whether there are similarities in form and function of spatial adpositions in Adamawa languages. Based on data of existing grammars and fieldwork results, form and function of the adpositions in question will be presented and discussed. The main result is that almost all languages show a generic adposition expressing spatial relations in general. First a theoretical overview about formal and functional features of adpositions is presented. This is completed with an excerpt of the relation between spatial marking and noun classes and a short introduction in spatial deixis. The theoretical explanations are followed by an empirical comparative study which attempts to empirically back up the theoretical conclusions and presents the results.

Simplification and complexification in Wolof noun morphology and morphosyntax

This chapter addresses simplification and complexification in the morphology and morphosyntax of Wolof noun classes. Simplification, compared with its closest Atlantic cognates, is well known to have occurred in Wolof as a whole, ever since its earliest attestations. In addition, urban Wolof further simplifies noun classes which is partly due to the particular dynamics of linguistic prestige in the Wolophone community. What went unnoticed until recently is that at the same time also complexification took place locally in some spots of the grammatical system, with the rise of morphological irregularity (overabundance) in some noun paradigms and of defectiveness and other irregularities, for some noun classes, in the paradigm of the indefinite article.

Numerals in Akebu

This article presents an overview of the numeral system in Akebu, a Kwa language of Togo. The Akebu numeral system is a decimal one and contains simple numerals from ‘1’ to ‘9’ and decimal bases for ‘10’, ‘100’, and ‘1,000’. The former have noun class agreement markers, while the latter do not. Only some noun classes are compatible with numerals, but among them there are both plural and singular classes.

Morphological variation *

The principles of twofold vowel harmony and fourfold vowel harmony form, together with a number of consonant assimilations, the core of what at first sight looks like an enormous variation in suffixes. Since this apparent proliferation is largely predictable, it can neatly be reduced by adopting archetypical notations: –(y)E can be rewritten as four variants of the dative suffix: –ye, –ya, –e, and –a, and similarly, using –TE for the locative is more economical than spelling out –te, –ta, –de, and –da all the time. Another important issue is the question of how to deal with variable word stems. Only five noun classes exhibit stem variation: a dictionary form and an alternative stem; the latter being employed when a vowel follows via suffixation. The underlying mechanism is the process of re-syllabification, as set forth in the final section.

Language and Ethnobotany

This chapter deals with ethnobotany, folk taxonomy, and African languages. In its first part people’s structuring of the plant kingdom with particular reference to life forms, and generic and specific taxa is discussed. Reference is made to relevant folk taxonomic terms and plant names in Bantu languages from East Africa, especially Tanzania, Namibia, to some extent also from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. It is interesting to note that on top of widespread taxa like TREE or PLANT habitat-related life forms were traced in various languages such as CLIMBER, VINE in Vidunda or BUSH, SHRUB in Kwangali, and THORN TREE in Ndonga, as well as other specific taxa. In this respect sub-life forms were also recorded and examples given. The second part of the chapter focuses on folk conceptualization and the system of Bantu noun classes.