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The Structure of a Bantu Language with special reference to Swahili, or Form and Function through Bantu Eyes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2009

Extract

The purpose of this article is to bring to notice an aspect of a Bantu language, which is not often touched upon in the conventional grammars, and the hope is expressed that its perusal may stimulate thought. Even if it but blazes a trail from which others may depart, the writing of it will not have been in vain. This article is both introductory and complementary to an article entitled “The ‘Idea’ Approach to Swahili”, which appeared in the Bulletin, Vol. VII, Part 4, 1935.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1937

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References

page 1112 note 1 Professor Doke in his Bantu Linguistic Terminology gives the following definitions:—

Root.—“The irreducible element of a word; the primitive radical form without prefix, suffix, or other inflexion, and not admitting of analysis.”

Stem.—“In Bantu that part of a word depleted of all prefixal inflexions.” He goes on to say: “Many grammarians make little distinction between root and stem.” No distinction is made in this article, and Roots and Stems are classed together, because the theme is primarily the function of Affixes in relation to both roots and stems.

page 1112 note 2 Examples, mimi, wewe, etc.

page 1112 note 3 See Bantu Linguistic Terminology (pp. 118–19) for some illuminating thoughts on primitive Bantu speech.

page 1113 note 1 This terminology does not follow in every respect that of Doke.

page 1115 note 1 The word “preprefix” is not used in the above sentence as synonymous with the “Preprefix or Initial Vowel” of LuGanda. It is used to describe the form of the prefix in so far as it sometimes precedes a root which already has its classificatory prefix, that is to say the prefix in so far as it occurs before a noun.

page 1117 note 1 Op. cit.

page 1118 note 1 It is probably correct to surmise that e in Swahili has disappeared, surviving in the singular of the Living Class only, and that o has taken its place.

page 1119 note 1 Formed probably from -i attached to the -ga verbal suffix of habitual or continuous action (now obsolete in Swahili).

page 1120 note 1 Fumba, to close; fumbata, to take or grasp in the hand.