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A. The Noun

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2026

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Abstract

§8. Noun Structure. With the exception of those of Class 10, nouns in Chichewa are composed of two formatives: stem and prefix, generally speaking, but in numerous cases only the stem is represented. However, in a number of instances the nouns which are used without prefixes in the singular require prefixation in the plural. For some, nouns of Class 5, e. g., it can be said definitely that the prefixes have disappeared or are ‘worn down’, since they can be easily recognized in cognate words of other Bantu languages.1 It requires more historical perspective to make a similar statement for many other nouns.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Language , Volume 13 , Issue 2-Part3 , June 1937 , pp. 21 - 44
Copyright
© 1937 Linguistic Society of America

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References

1 Cf. §17.

2 Cf. §25.

3 Cf. Edward Sapir, Language 106–7; New York 1921.

4 Not in the grammatical sense; this ‘subject’ may also be an ‘object.‘

5 Cf. §32.

6 For example, in Algonquian or Siouan, North American Indian languages.

7 For example, in Athabaskan, North American Indian language.

8 Cf. §11.

9 Cf. §§19–24.

10 Cf. §3.

11 Cf. §2 and §3.

12 Cf. Clement M. Doke, Text Book of Zulu Grammar 60–2; Johannesburg 1927.

13 Implosive b.

14 These words are taken from Clement M. Doke, Text Book of Zulu Grammar 49–50; Johannesburg 1927. Transcription slightly modified.

15 Cf. §11.

16 Not literally, of course. No exact translation is possible.

17 Cf. §32.