Journal of African Languages and Literatures

Front matter

JALaLit 4/2023 — 2023-05-26

On the semantics of Tarifiyt verbs of seeing

Maarten Kossmann — 2023-05-18

The Amazigh (aka Berber) language Tarifiyt has two different roots for ‘to see’, ẓr, and wř, which are in partial complementary distribution depending on the aspect of the verb. In this article, the exact distribution of these verb roots is discussed for one paticular variety of Tarifiyt, that spoken in and around the city of Nador. It is shown that there are two, partially overlapping, verbs, one ‘to go/come and see’, which is always expressed by ẓr, and the other a general ‘see’ verb, which uses the root wř in the Imperfective stems, and ẓr in the Aorist and Perfective stems. However, the distribution is more complicated than that, and in the negation of irrealis events, Imperfective ẓr can also be used with the general ‘see’ verb. Moreover, it is shown that the choice of the aspect in the general ‘see’ verb is different in its details from that of other verbs, something that it may share with other verbs of experience perception.

Wh-question formation in Lokạạ

Mary Amaechi — 2023-05-18

This paper discusses wh-questions in the Benue-Congo language, Lokạạ. The different strategies of wh-question formation are examined. It is observed that in addition to the ex-situ and in-situ strategies, the language allows partial wh-movement under embedded clauses. It is shown, however, that embedded questions in the language are formed via relativization. I argue that these wh-questions strategies involve wh-movement. Wh-subject questions in Lokạạ are fascinating as the absence of an overt subject triggers the subject relative clause tone on the verb. I further show that wh-phrases and focused constituents in the language are not in complementary distribution and argue that wh phrases in the Lokạạ are not focused.

A cultural-conceptual analysis of plant-related proverbs in Nzema

Mohammed Yakub — 2023-05-18

Proverbs are wise sayings that are built from socio-cultural experiences, including natural phenomena and objects such as plants, animals, rivers, among others. This paper focuses on plant-proverbs in Nzema, and how the imagery of plants provides basis for conceptualising human behavioural principles in the Nzema society. In this paper, twenty plant-related proverbs are examined, highlighting their advisory contents in relation to crucial themes such as generosity, hard-work and perseverance, justice and fairness, carefulness, patience, cooperation, and avoidance of litigation among others. The paper shows that many didactics are concealed in Nzema proverbs that incorporate plants like pawpaw, orange, sugarcane, pepper, coconut, banana, palm fruits, and trees in general. Thus, the Nzema dwell on plant imagery in proverbs to convey various advisory messages to mitigate vices and to straighten the conduct of members within the culture. Data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The paper relies on Cultural Conceptualisations (SHARIFIAN 2011, 2017) as the theoretical underpinning.

Iraqw personal names and naming practices: Some linguistic observations

Chrispina Alphonce — 2023-05-26

This article discusses the use of names, their meaning and the naming system among speakers of Iraqw, a Southern Cushitic language spoken in Tanzania. This preliminary documentation of personal naming practices considers naming as an important socio-cultural aspect of Iraqw people: names are not arbitrary but rather have historical and cultural functions and meanings. Names offer significant insights into the socio-cultural, historical, political, and personal circumstances of pregnancy, the child’s birth and family as well as environmental elements. The meanings of names reflect various activities and cultural practices in Iraqw. Further, namesaking is a common practice, whereby Iraqw name their children after the paternal ancestral names with the belief that ancestors may be near the child and protect it from all evils as well as recalling ancestors. The majority of personal names bear a high tone on the final syllable. Names are derived from ordinary nouns by marking high tone on this syllable. Moreover, they are derived from verbs, adjectives, and ideophones by using nominalising suffixes in addition to the final high tone. The majority of names are used to refer to both sexes, therefore the gender of the name cannot be determined by the gender of the noun from which the name is derived, rather, it can be determined by the sex of the referent. Contact with Datooga has resulted in heavy borrowing of Datooga names. Swahili, and recently Christianity too, have also influenced names and naming. The latter seems to strongly influence the semantics of names.

A history of Gurara Berber (Taznatit)

Tahar Abbou — 2023-05-18

Nico Nassenstein, Swahili Proverbs from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Roberto Gaudioso — 2023-05-18

Paul Newman, A History of the Hausa Language. Reconstruction and Pathways to the Present

Nina Pawlak — 2023-05-18