Cushitic affixes in Ilwana

Summary

Affix function number of borrowed affixes

Description

Information and examples are from Möhlig (1986). The exact source language is unknown, but “plural formation with suffixes is certainly not Bantu [and] looks somehow Cushitic” (Möhlig 1986: 279).

 

4 plural markers

-ɛna ‘plural’, e.g. ngɔ́mena ‘drums’ (ngɔ́ma ‘drum’), híɗɛna ‘roots’ (híɗa ‘root’), bɔ́kwɛna ‘cheeks’ (bɔ́kɔ ‘cheek’)

-ıɾa ‘plural’, e.g. símbıɾa ‘sticks’ (símbɔ ‘stick’), sâ:pwıɾa ‘palms of hand’ (sâ:pu ‘palm of hand’), pâ:ngıɾa ‘machetes’ (lupâ:nga ‘machete’)

-wakı ‘plural’, e.g. sî:ɾwakı ‘knifes’ (sî:ɾu ‘knife’), ɣɛ́ɾwakı ‘giraffes’ (ɣɛ́ɾı ‘giraffe’)

-imɔ ‘plural’, e.g. ɓánimɔ ‘branches’ (ɓána ‘branch’), ɓáɓalimɔ ‘doors’ (ɓáɓala ‘door’), ɲâ:limɔ ‘claws’ (ɲâ:la ‘claw’)