Lesson 11 : Noun Classes of Lulogooli

 

Discussion

In the previous lesson we outlined prefixes and gave examples. We found out that subject and object pronouns are key to writing a word. 

The source of pronouns in Lulogooli is the “Noun Classes”. Each noun class has a specific pronoun that is represented as a subject for the word in construction. 

It is important therefore to understand noun classes and the reference pronoun when not directly used. The understanding helps to write a grammatically correct sentence. 

Having also learnt that a verb word is prefixed with a pronoun (noun reference), the table Ileseni 11b provides the references. They are also prefixed to adjectives. 

Notice that noun class 1{mu} and 2{va} are most elaborate to differentiate the first, second or third persons and their plurals. Notice also the use of references as a subject or an object. 

All the nouns classes directly use the first collective noun reference (pronominals) except noun classes 1{mu}&2{va}~(a, ko, ku, mo, mu, n, u, va), 3{mu}~(gu), 4{mi}~(ji) and 6{ma}~(ga). 

How important the noun classes are can be compared to the common Kiswahili saying, “Asiyejua ngeli hajui Kiswahili”. Translated as, “Who doesn’t know the noun classes doesn’t know Kiswahili”. 

It is by referring back to the noun/subject in sentence writing that creates harmony between one word and the other. In other words it creates the poetic alliterative style as in the sentence:

“Imbula iali iliindwaa ikube iiluhi iiviti izye ikube ivundi” – “The rain that was being waited to fall has failed and went to rain elsewhere. 

As evident from the sentence, letter “i” starts each word relating to “Imbula”, rain. And rain for Lulogooli belongs to noun class 9{i}. This characteristic of a word repeating the noun reference is common in all Bantu languages. 

The Bantu language is characterized by a division of nouns into classes distinguished by their prefixes, absence of grammatical gender, and the existence of alliterative concord. 

To achieve the alliterative concord the prefix of a noun class gets repeated in some form or another in all words agreeing with a noun of that class in the sentence. 

A noun class is a collection of nouns with similar characteristics. Though there are a few noun classes where various nouns can fit, of same subject reference. There are 19 noun classes of Lulogooli.

A Noun class in Lulogooli is called “Ikivoho kia vilaange”. A noun is defined as “Ikilaange”, from the verb, “laanga”. ‘Laanga’ is call. To call is to refer by name of. “kivoho” is a bundle, a putting together of. 

All human nouns start with “Mu-“ syllable (morpheme). And it is categorized as noun class 1{mu} under Bantu grouping of nouns. Here there are nouns as “mundu” person, “muyaayi” boy, “muigizi” teacher, “mukuzu” (diseased) and others. 

For nouns in class 1{mu}, they can be pluralized. Their plural is in class 2{va} where we get “vandu” people, “vayaayi” boys, “vaigizi” teachers and “vakuzu” (dead people). Examples for other noun classes can be read at table Ileseni 11c.

The noun classes without plurals are 14{vu}, 15{ku}, 16{ha}, 17{ku} and 18{mu}. This is because of what they describe. Though it is not new in Lulogooli to find an uncountable noun as “vusela” porridge, given the diminutive “lusela”, class 11a{lu} characteristic. 

And to add, noun class 11{lu} alongside class 6{ma} are listed with “a” and “b” provisions to differentiate the roles Ululogooli puts to prefixes “lu” and “ma” respectively as in table Ileseni 11a.

It is also common to find a noun first pre-prefixed by a vowel. The vowel is a noun class agreement sound, common in language use. It also represents the articles “a”, “the” and “an”. This is identified in table Ileseni 11d. 

The pre-prefixes are in Lulogooli “Viivugizu via visiingilili via vilaange”, directly translated as “introducers of noun class reference”. They are vowels a, i and u due to syllable ending of the references. 

For noun class 9{i} which is not a syllable but a vowel, the noun class agreement is not put. 

Exercise

1. In your notebook, list down the 19 noun classes of Lulogooli
2. For every noun class, please add two more nouns of your own
3. In your answers for question 2, rewrite them while adding noun class agreements