Lesson 16 : Reflex "i" (kiivoolo)

 

Discussion

Applying prefix “i” for verbs has the meaning that an activity is for self or happening to yourself. The cause of the activity is self. 

Words as “uilumi” and “vaituliza” means “you bit yourself” and “they are removing themselves”. 

To reflex is to refer(respond) to oneself. If one refers to themselves continuously, it is “Luivoolo” in Lulogooli.  Luivoolo would also mean bragging. 

The word is from verb, “voola”, to say. To say about self is “i + voola = ivoola”. The act of saying or referring to self in talk is “kuivoola”(ku+ivoola = kuivoola). 

Word “ku.ivoola” changes to “lu.ivoolo” when noun class changes, with prefix “lu” bringing an attitude or a show of “too much”. 

Terming prefix “i” as “kiivoolo” is neutral association of the grapheme [i] to its use. Though the noun “kiivoolo” in itself is bagging or too much reference to self. 

It can be even an object having effect on itself. “Umulimi guilimi” means “the farm dug itself”. “Imbuli iimigi” is “the goat suffocated itself”. Only that humans use more reference hence “kuivoola” – saying  about self.

In grammar it is important to note the various roles that grapheme [i] plays. That would prevent any unintended drop of an essential letter [i] for complete word meaning. 

[i] is a noun class identifier as in “i.mbuli”(goat), noun tense agreer as “ki.i.suulli”(it has refused) and first letter of some root verbs “iza”(come), “inama”(bend) and others. 

To bend to/for self is “i+inama”, iinama. To come to/for self is “i+iza”, iiza. If it is me(you) doing, the first person pronoun is “n”. Doing for self, “niinama”, “niiza” for I am bending for self and I am coming for self respectively. 

If it be the goat bending for itself or coming for itself, we will be joining the noun reference, “i”, to immediate tense that agrees with noun, “i”, to root verb that starts with “i” (inama/iza).

The goat bending to/for itself is “iiinama” and the goat coming to/for itself is “iiiza”. The words are grammatically represented so. 

Phonetically, word [iiinama] will be articulated as <yiinama> and [iiiza] as <yiiza> with the semi-vowel “y” palatalizing it. 

Exercise

1. Read aloud words in chart Ileseni 15
2. Identify three verbs whose roots start with letter “i”
3. Identify three nouns from noun class 9{i} singular
4. Using noun-tense agreement, write words where the subject is 3 above and verb 2 above