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m (Created page with 'by Medadi Erisa Ssentanda == '''This page is under construction''' == ''''DIMINUTIVES IN LUGANDA''' ==Introduction== A diminutive (DIM) is a …')
 
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It is interesting that all nouns and all proper names in Luganda can be diminuted by adding an affix that gives a meaning intended by the speaker. Diminutives in Luganda are widely formed by assigning any noun or proper name to classes 12/13 (12Aka/13Otu) for singular and plural respectively. Class 14Obu is also diminutive, but has more inherent nouns than 12 and 13. Classes 12/13 have very few nouns that inherently belong to them, and these inherently assigned nouns do not have a semantic feature of diminution. Examples of inherently assigned nouns to class 12Aka: akajanja (no plural), akateebe (deep water), akatandaalo ‘raised table-like structure for drying utencils’, akakongovvule  óuncle’, akakunizo ‘puzzle’, akalulu ‘vote’, akamooli ‘ventilator’,  .... Class 13otu has only one inherent noun, otulo sleep (no plural).  
 
It is interesting that all nouns and all proper names in Luganda can be diminuted by adding an affix that gives a meaning intended by the speaker. Diminutives in Luganda are widely formed by assigning any noun or proper name to classes 12/13 (12Aka/13Otu) for singular and plural respectively. Class 14Obu is also diminutive, but has more inherent nouns than 12 and 13. Classes 12/13 have very few nouns that inherently belong to them, and these inherently assigned nouns do not have a semantic feature of diminution. Examples of inherently assigned nouns to class 12Aka: akajanja (no plural), akateebe (deep water), akatandaalo ‘raised table-like structure for drying utencils’, akakongovvule  óuncle’, akakunizo ‘puzzle’, akalulu ‘vote’, akamooli ‘ventilator’,  .... Class 13otu has only one inherent noun, otulo sleep (no plural).  
 +
 
Class 14OBU (plural) has many inherently assigned nouns to it, for instance: obulo millet, obubaka message, obuugi porridge, obukeedo raw material for making a basket and so on.  
 
Class 14OBU (plural) has many inherently assigned nouns to it, for instance: obulo millet, obubaka message, obuugi porridge, obukeedo raw material for making a basket and so on.  
Noun class prefixes denoting diminution
+
 
 +
'''Noun class prefixes denoting diminution'''
  
 
Examples are given in the table below:
 
Examples are given in the table below:
  
Noun class Root Diminution Gloss  
+
{|border="1"
12AKA
+
|Noun class
Singular -sajja man Akasajja Small/tiny man
+
|Root
-wala girl Akawala Small/tiny girl
+
|Diminutive
Caayi tea [from Swahilli, chai] Kacaayi Tea (endeared)
+
|Gloss
-ti tree Akati Stick/tiny/small tree
+
|-
-ana child Akaana Small/beautiful child
+
|12AKA Singular
 
+
| -sajja man
13OTU
+
|akasajja
Uncountable nouns -zzi water Otuzzi Small amount of water / precious water
+
|small/tiny man
-nnyu salt Otunnyu Little salt/precious salt
+
|-
14OBU
+
| -wala girl
Plural -lenzi boy Obulenzi Small boys, derogatory
+
|akawala
-papula paper Obupapula Small/tiny papers
+
|small/tiny girl
 +
|-
 +
|caayi tea (from Swwhilli, chai)
 +
|kacaayi
 +
|tea (endeared)
 +
|-
 +
| -ti tree
 +
|akati
 +
|stick/tiny/small tree
 +
|-
 +
|13OTU Uncountable nouns
 +
| -zzi water
 +
|otuzzi
 +
|small amount of water/precious water
 +
|-
 +
| -nnyu salt
 +
|otunnyu
 +
|little salt/precious salt
 +
|-
 +
|OBU Plural
 +
| -lenzi boy
 +
|obulenzi
 +
|small boys, derogatory
 +
|-
 +
| -papula paper
 +
|obupapula
 +
|small/tiny papers/beautiful papers
 +
|}
  
 
Example sentences  
 
Example sentences  
1. A-ka-sajja ka-li ka-  n- tam- a
 
IV 12KA mn  12KA AGR DEM (distal) 12KA 1PSG OBJ loathe FV
 
I loathe the other man
 
  
2. Leet-a wano o – tu – nnyu twa-ange
+
<Phrase>17158</Phrase>
Bring FV here IV 13TU DIM salt of mine POSS 1PSG
+
 
Bring my precious/endeared salt here.
+
<Phrase>17159</Phrase>
 +
 
 +
<Phrase>17160</Phrase>
  
3. Ta- lin-a mu-limu, a-kol-a bulimo-limo bw-a-sanz-e
 
NEG 3SG have FV 3MU job 3SG work FV job (REP) 14BU 3SG find PERF
 
S/he does not have a job, s/he does any small/little job s/he finds.
 
 
The other additional element of meaning that is often associated with diminutive forms in Luganda is the emotive element involving expression of affection, endearment or sympathy towards the referent. For instance, in sentence (1) above, the speaker treasures the little salt referred to. Possibly it is the only salt left, and he/she cannot stand to waste it.  
 
The other additional element of meaning that is often associated with diminutive forms in Luganda is the emotive element involving expression of affection, endearment or sympathy towards the referent. For instance, in sentence (1) above, the speaker treasures the little salt referred to. Possibly it is the only salt left, and he/she cannot stand to waste it.  
  
 
Like Booij (2005:14) puts it, diminutives are not only used to denote small size but also for giving a positive negative evaluation. For instance in sentence (3) the jobs referred to are disapproved, they are not proper. I thought he/she does any kind of job he/she finds; he/she does not discriminate, and  the jobs are short lived, but not disapproved
 
Like Booij (2005:14) puts it, diminutives are not only used to denote small size but also for giving a positive negative evaluation. For instance in sentence (3) the jobs referred to are disapproved, they are not proper. I thought he/she does any kind of job he/she finds; he/she does not discriminate, and  the jobs are short lived, but not disapproved
 
In Luganda, diminution can also be formed by adding affixes to proper names: when this is done, the noun becomes derogatory and negatively evaluates the referent. This addition of a diminutive prefix onto a proper name can also mean little or endearment. However, the meaning here can also be colloquial. For instance:
 
In Luganda, diminution can also be formed by adding affixes to proper names: when this is done, the noun becomes derogatory and negatively evaluates the referent. This addition of a diminutive prefix onto a proper name can also mean little or endearment. However, the meaning here can also be colloquial. For instance:
4. Ka-mukasa (Mukasa is a Luganda proper name)
 
12Ka DIM
 
  
5. Ka-john kaako kazze, Little John or small/endeared John has come.
+
<Phrase>17161</Phrase>
12Ka DIM (John is an English proper name)
+
 
 +
<Phrase>17162</Phrase>
  
 
In this case the meaning of the diminutive varies from the context to context, see example ii above. The John in question can be endeared to the speaker or that the John talked of is negatively evaluated (derogatory).  
 
In this case the meaning of the diminutive varies from the context to context, see example ii above. The John in question can be endeared to the speaker or that the John talked of is negatively evaluated (derogatory).  
 
In his paper, A short survey of Diminutives in Slovak and English Alena Kačmárová mentions something interesting about diminutives: A means by which a language can be considered ‘cute’ is the usage of diminutive forms of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. In Luganda this phenomenon is true, diminution can at times be untranslatable. It is not uncommon in Ugandan English to hear Luganda speakers appending Luganda diminutives to English words in an attempt to express their intended meaning. This probably comes because the intended shade of meaning has no match to the English equivalents. What is interesting is that, the diminutives are sometimes appended to the English diminutives, see example iii and iv below. The same case happens with augmentation.  
 
In his paper, A short survey of Diminutives in Slovak and English Alena Kačmárová mentions something interesting about diminutives: A means by which a language can be considered ‘cute’ is the usage of diminutive forms of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. In Luganda this phenomenon is true, diminution can at times be untranslatable. It is not uncommon in Ugandan English to hear Luganda speakers appending Luganda diminutives to English words in an attempt to express their intended meaning. This probably comes because the intended shade of meaning has no match to the English equivalents. What is interesting is that, the diminutives are sometimes appended to the English diminutives, see example iii and iv below. The same case happens with augmentation.  
6. Your kadress is so beautiful. Your dress is so beautiful.
 
  
7. Give me a kasmall piece. Give me a small peace.
+
<Phrase>17169</Phrase>
 +
 
 +
<Phrase>17170</Phrase>
 +
 
 +
 
 
In example (6) the speaker endears the dress. The dress is not necessarily small but it is endeared or taken to be precious to the speaker. This kind of language is so common among the youth.
 
In example (6) the speaker endears the dress. The dress is not necessarily small but it is endeared or taken to be precious to the speaker. This kind of language is so common among the youth.
 +
 
In example (7) notice that ka (class12 prefix) denotes smallness, and the English adjective small also means small; but because of the untranslatable nature of some meanings, some speakers feel unsatisfied with using only the English adjective.  
 
In example (7) notice that ka (class12 prefix) denotes smallness, and the English adjective small also means small; but because of the untranslatable nature of some meanings, some speakers feel unsatisfied with using only the English adjective.  
Adjectives denoting diminution
 
8. -tono small
 
N-jagal-a a-ma-zzi ma-tono
 
1PSG want FV        IV 6MA water  6MA small
 
I want little water.
 
  
O-lu- goye          lwe                        lu-tono          te-lu-mu-tuuk-a
+
'''Adjectives denoting diminution'''
IV 11LU cloth    POSS 11LU 3PSG  11LU small    not 11LU 3PSG fit FV
+
His/her cloth is small, it does not fit him/her.
+
  
9. –tini tiny
+
-tono small
M- p- a ka-tini [the verb root is oku-w-a, /w/ changes to /p/]
+
 
1PSG give FV        12KA tiny
+
<Phrase>17163</Phrase>
 +
 
 +
<Phrase>17164</Phrase>
 +
 
 +
–tini tiny
 +
 
 +
<Phrase>17168</Phrase>
  
 
This adjective, -tini is very common in young children’s language. They use it to refer to smallness and also to tininess of something. Adults do not usually use this adjective.
 
This adjective, -tini is very common in young children’s language. They use it to refer to smallness and also to tininess of something. Adults do not usually use this adjective.
Cultural usage of diminutives
+
 
 +
'''Cultural usage of diminutives'''
 +
 
 
In Kiganda culture, when someone gives birth, people begin to ask of the sex of the baby one gave birth to. The question posed in this situation is diminutive denoting littlness, endearment and affection:  
 
In Kiganda culture, when someone gives birth, people begin to ask of the sex of the baby one gave birth to. The question posed in this situation is diminutive denoting littlness, endearment and affection:  
10. Namubiru yazadde kaana ki?
+
 
What is the sex of the baby that Namubiru gave birth to?
+
<Phrase>17165</Phrase>
  
 
Also, when one is congratulating a mother they say:
 
Also, when one is congratulating a mother they say:
11. A-ka- ana ka-                 kulik-e!
 
IV 12KA DIM child 12KA DIM AGR  congratulate MOOD
 
Congratulations upon being delivered of a baby
 
  
12. Ka-baby ka- kulik-e!
+
<Phrase>17166</Phrase>
12KA DIM baby 12KA DIM AGR congratulate MOOD
+
 
Congratulations upon being delivered of a baby
+
<Phrase>17167</Phrase>
  
  
  
References  
+
'''References '''
  
 
Booij, G.(2005) The Grammar of Words: An Introduction (2nd edn). Oxford University Press: UK
 
Booij, G.(2005) The Grammar of Words: An Introduction (2nd edn). Oxford University Press: UK

Revision as of 14:15, 13 December 2010

by Medadi Erisa Ssentanda

This page is under construction

'DIMINUTIVES IN LUGANDA

Introduction

A diminutive (DIM) is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutive, Accessed Tuesday, 23rd Nov, 2010). Luganda (Bantu E15) like many other Bantu languages uses noun class prefixes and adjectives to mark diminution with a meaning: smallness (minuteness), endearment or affection, derogatoriness (positive or negative evaluation), intimacy, colloquialism and encapsulation. When a diminutive is applied to a noun, it is not only realized on the noun only but also clearly marked on various words that agree with nouns or with noun phrases following agreement prefixes that relate to the noun being modified.

It is interesting that all nouns and all proper names in Luganda can be diminuted by adding an affix that gives a meaning intended by the speaker. Diminutives in Luganda are widely formed by assigning any noun or proper name to classes 12/13 (12Aka/13Otu) for singular and plural respectively. Class 14Obu is also diminutive, but has more inherent nouns than 12 and 13. Classes 12/13 have very few nouns that inherently belong to them, and these inherently assigned nouns do not have a semantic feature of diminution. Examples of inherently assigned nouns to class 12Aka: akajanja (no plural), akateebe (deep water), akatandaalo ‘raised table-like structure for drying utencils’, akakongovvule óuncle’, akakunizo ‘puzzle’, akalulu ‘vote’, akamooli ‘ventilator’, .... Class 13otu has only one inherent noun, otulo sleep (no plural).

Class 14OBU (plural) has many inherently assigned nouns to it, for instance: obulo millet, obubaka message, obuugi porridge, obukeedo raw material for making a basket and so on.

Noun class prefixes denoting diminution

Examples are given in the table below:

Noun class Root Diminutive Gloss
12AKA Singular -sajja man akasajja small/tiny man
-wala girl akawala small/tiny girl
caayi tea (from Swwhilli, chai) kacaayi tea (endeared)
-ti tree akati stick/tiny/small tree
13OTU Uncountable nouns -zzi water otuzzi small amount of water/precious water
-nnyu salt otunnyu little salt/precious salt
OBU Plural -lenzi boy obulenzi small boys, derogatory
-papula paper obupapula small/tiny papers/beautiful papers

Example sentences

Akasajja kali kantama
“I loathe the other man”
Akasajja
akasajja
IV12DIMman
N
kali
kali
12DIMDIST2
DEM
kantama
kantama
12SBJ1SGOBJloatheFV
V


Leeta wano otunnyu twange
“Bring here my (endeared/precious) salt”
Leeta
leeta
bringFV
V
wano
wano
here
PREP
otunnyu
otunnyu
IV13DIMsalt
N
twange
twaange
POSS13mine
PNposs


Talina mulimu, akola bulimulimu bwasanze
“S/he has no proper job, s/he does any job s/he finds”
Talina
tealina
notNEG haveFV
V
mulimu
mulimu
 work/job
N
akola
akola
3Pwrok/doFV
V
bulimulimu
bulimulimu
 work/job14DIM 
N
bwasanze
bweasang-įle
 3PfindPFV
V


The other additional element of meaning that is often associated with diminutive forms in Luganda is the emotive element involving expression of affection, endearment or sympathy towards the referent. For instance, in sentence (1) above, the speaker treasures the little salt referred to. Possibly it is the only salt left, and he/she cannot stand to waste it.

Like Booij (2005:14) puts it, diminutives are not only used to denote small size but also for giving a positive negative evaluation. For instance in sentence (3) the jobs referred to are disapproved, they are not proper. I thought he/she does any kind of job he/she finds; he/she does not discriminate, and the jobs are short lived, but not disapproved In Luganda, diminution can also be formed by adding affixes to proper names: when this is done, the noun becomes derogatory and negatively evaluates the referent. This addition of a diminutive prefix onto a proper name can also mean little or endearment. However, the meaning here can also be colloquial. For instance:

Kamukasa
“Small Mukasa/ Endeared Mukasa.”
Kamukasa
kamukasa
12DIM 
Np


kajohn kaako kazze
“Little/small John has come”
kajohn
kajohn
12DIM 
Np
kaako
kaakao
12 12AGRDIST
DEM
kazze
kajj-įle
12AGRcomePFV
V


In this case the meaning of the diminutive varies from the context to context, see example ii above. The John in question can be endeared to the speaker or that the John talked of is negatively evaluated (derogatory). In his paper, A short survey of Diminutives in Slovak and English Alena Kačmárová mentions something interesting about diminutives: A means by which a language can be considered ‘cute’ is the usage of diminutive forms of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. In Luganda this phenomenon is true, diminution can at times be untranslatable. It is not uncommon in Ugandan English to hear Luganda speakers appending Luganda diminutives to English words in an attempt to express their intended meaning. This probably comes because the intended shade of meaning has no match to the English equivalents. What is interesting is that, the diminutives are sometimes appended to the English diminutives, see example iii and iv below. The same case happens with augmentation.

Your kadress is so beautiful
“Your dress (endeared) is so beautiful”
Your
your
2p
PRTposs
kadress
kadress
12DIMdress
N
is
is
 
AUX
so
so
INTS
 
beautiful
beautiful
 
ADJ


Give me a kasmall piece
“Give me a small piece ”
Give
give
give
V
me
me
me1POBJ
PN
a
 
a
ART
kasmall
kasmall
12small
ADJ
piece
piece
piece
N


In example (6) the speaker endears the dress. The dress is not necessarily small but it is endeared or taken to be precious to the speaker. This kind of language is so common among the youth.

In example (7) notice that ka (class12 prefix) denotes smallness, and the English adjective small also means small; but because of the untranslatable nature of some meanings, some speakers feel unsatisfied with using only the English adjective.

Adjectives denoting diminution

-tono small

Njagala amazzi matono
“I want little water”
Njagala
nyagala
1PSBJwantFV
V
amazzi
amazzi
IV6water
N
matono
matono
6little/small
ADJ


Olugoye lwe lutono telumutuuka
“His/her cloth is small, it does not fit him/her”
Olugoye
olugoye
IV11SGcloth
CN
lwe
lue
11his/hersPOSS
 
lutono
lutono
11AGRsmall
ADJ
telumutuuka
telumutuuka
notNEG11AGR3PfitFV
V


–tini tiny

Mpa katini
“Give me a tiny piece”
Mpa
nwa
1PgiveFV
V
katini
katini
12DIMtiny
ADJ


This adjective, -tini is very common in young children’s language. They use it to refer to smallness and also to tininess of something. Adults do not usually use this adjective.

Cultural usage of diminutives

In Kiganda culture, when someone gives birth, people begin to ask of the sex of the baby one gave birth to. The question posed in this situation is diminutive denoting littlness, endearment and affection:

Namubiru yazadde kaana ki?
“Which sex of the child did Namubilu give birth to?”
Namubiru
namubiru
 
Np
yazadde
aazaal-įle
3PPASTbirthPFV
V
kaana
kaana
12DIMchild
N
ki?
ki?
Q
Wh


Also, when one is congratulating a mother they say:

Akaana kakulike!
“Congratulations upon being delivered of a baby!”
Akaana
akaana
IV12DIMchild
N
kakulike
kakulike
12AGRcongratulateSBJV
V


Kababby kakulike
“Congratulations upon your birth”
Kababby
kababby
12DIMbabby
N
kakulike
kakulike
12AGRcongratulateSBJV
V



References

Booij, G.(2005) The Grammar of Words: An Introduction (2nd edn). Oxford University Press: UK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diminutive

Kačmárová, Alena A short survey of Diminutives in Slovak and English