Lesson 1: Defining Lulogooli

Reading chart

Explanation

The word Ululogooli is read <u.ru.rogoor,i> to mean “The Language”. 

Ululogooli is the language of Avalogooli (informal as Maragoli language). 

Avalogooli is read as <a.va.rogoor.i> to mean “The People”. 

The People (Valogooli), are descendants of Mulogooli. 

Mulogooli, read as <Mu.rogoor.i> is the founder of Valogooli people and by extent, Lulogooli language. 

Mulogooli means “A Seer” in the word format, Mu(a-)+logool(-see-)+i(-r).

The three word parts Mu+logool+i are essential in making us understand the nature of Lulogooli. That the language combines different dependent parts to form a (an independent) word. It is important therefore to learn what those different word parts are and how they affect word meaning/ interpretation.

Further Reading

The main part (seer) of the word, ‘-logool-‘, is sandwiched between affixes. Affixes are word parts added before and after the main part of word to communicate a specific meaning.

The former affix, ‘Mu-‘ is a prefix while the latter affix, -i, is a suffix. There are other prefixes and suffixes that can replace “Mu-” and “-i” respectively but there will be a change of meaning. For example, “A-logool-a” would imply “S/he is seeing/speaking” or “The one seeing/speaking”.

In other words, Ululogooli can be said to be the seer’s voicing, a medium of telling – seeing. Seeing in language learning can be said to have a different world view alongside other languages you know of. Mr. Rees is said to have found Lulogooli more beautiful while working as a Friends Africa Mission (FAM) missionary in early 1990’s.

As at 1940 when FAM printed the first Luragoli-English dictionary, the language was Luragoli. The main part of the word being, “-ragol-“ which is close to the verb, “lagul.a”, (crowing),  of Lulogooli that means ‘to foretell”. 

It is not in Lulogooli where the verb, “logool.a” is found. Why it was established so may not be well known. But other sources refer to Gusii word, “Omoragori” that means seer while others to Gikuyu, “Morogi” that means a witch. in Luganda "Mulokole" is "the one who has received grace". Which is more or less the same supernatural attributes. 

A closer relook at the root, "logool > lo.goo.l" clearly gets the sound, <goo>. The sound "goo" is commonly used as a discourse marker in Lulogooli. Where people speaking often go, "goo... goo.." in between talking either to inquire more, to show understanding, or to keep the talk active.