Lesson 15 : Verb inflections (Kugaangila)

 

Discussion

From a simple word as “kuba”(beat), Ululogooli can beget others as “kubwa”(be beaten), “kubika”(have beaten), “kubana”(beat each other) and many others. 

This change of the suffixes after the root (kub.), does add more information to the word. This in English is known as inflection. That is to make change in word format that expresses different grammar category. 

In Kiswahili it is known as “Mnyambuliko wa Vitenzi”. This is when verb suffixes are changed or lengthened to add meaning to a word. 

The Lulogooli word for this grammar effect is “Kugaangila”, from the verb “gaanga”. Translated as ‘to change, adjust or add meaning’. It can also mean to “increase” tone or pitch of meaning. 

The added letters (sounds of meaning) as in “kub.w.a” and “kub.ik.a” above are [w] and [ik]. 

The primary verb, kuba (beat), adds meaning when [w] or [ik] above are added. The two are some of the commonly used from the list below. 

“a, g, gang, gil, gw, ik, kil, l, lan, lil, lw, n, ng, nil, ny, w(vw), x2(doubling root verb), z, zil, zw”

The above are only a few of the suffixes (ivigaangilu). Ululogooli can inflect a single verb to hundreds of unending (continuous) meaning. This is when already inflected verbs are inflected again.

At Table Ileseni 15b and highlighted with the verb, “kola”(do). To assist, their Kiswahili and English equivalents are provided. 

You will notice that in some instances several prefixes can mean about the same thing. Words “Kubwa”, “Kubizwa”, “Kubagwa” have [w], [zw], [gw] inflections. 

The three inflections, [w], [zw], [gw] all serve, “be done to you”. The activity happens not at your will, with someone or something else causing. 

For “you doing” or “it happening”, the words are as “kola/kolaga”(do), “koleka”(happen), “koliza”(make happen) and “kolela”(do for/at). Table Ileseni 15c has the inflections categorized per doer. 

Also consider that we marked tense first at the simple verb end as “kol.a”(now), “kol.e”(then) and “kol.i”(after). Consideration is also made to mark tense after the inflection “kigaangilu). 

For example, “kubaga” [kub.”a”.g.“a”] has two tenses, “a”, “a”. That can be replaced as in the case, “kubege”. The tenses replacing are; “e”, “e”. 

Only with kigaangilu(inflection) “w” and doubling the root does the first verb tense get dropped. Words as “lekwa(be left), sekwi(had laughed at), laamwe(be cursed after)” only have end tense. 

Doubling the root in words as “kolakola”(do-do), “sekaseka”(laugh-laugh) are example where first tense does not change.

Yet for inflections as “sekasekelela”, “sekasekilila”, there is a noticeable change of tense. 

Table Ileseni 15d introduces the tense aspect before and after inclection (limeenda lia vigaangilu).

Exercise

1. Read aloud words as in mosaic Table Ileseni 15a. 
2. Using verbs “deeka”(cook) and “hila”(drive), use table Ileseni 15b to write all their inflection forms.