Swahili affixes in Malagasy

Summary

Affix function number of borrowed affixes

Description

Information and examples are from Alexander Adelaar (2012:149–150); see also Adelaar (2005; 2009; 2010).

2 non-interrelated prefixes

  • ki- ~ tsi- ‘nominalizer, diminutive’, e.g. ki-tranu-trànu, tsi-tranu-trànu ‘doll house’ (from trànu ‘house’)
  • h- ~ hu(-) ‘future tense’, e.g. h-angàlatră pàuli ‘Paul will steal’ (vs. m-angàlatră Pàuli ‘Paul steals’), h-umè-nă àzi ni vùla ‘Money will be given to her’ (vs. umè-nă àzi ni vùla ‘Money is given to her’), hu tùnga rahampìtsu ìzi ‘He’ll arrive tomorrow’ (vs. tùnga izàu ìzi ‘He arrives today’)