The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan
Abstract The prefix Kwa occurs in many Zulu placenames, indicating “the place of,” frequently referring to a person or personified feature. In composite placenames derived from Khoisan but adapted into the Zulu phonological and orthographic system, the component Kwa is often found to be a folk etymo...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2009-09-01
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Series: | Names |
Online Access: | http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1865 |
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author | Peter E Raper |
author_facet | Peter E Raper |
author_sort | Peter E Raper |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract
The prefix Kwa occurs in many Zulu placenames, indicating “the place of,” frequently referring to a person or personified feature. In composite placenames derived from Khoisan but adapted into the Zulu phonological and orthographic system, the component Kwa is often found to be a folk etymological adaptation of a Khoisan word, sometimes with the same lexical meaning as the other component of the name. In placenames of the latter sort, the prefix Ma- is sometimes also inserted as a result of misinterpretation of a Khoisan component phonologically similar to Kwa-. The present investigation also reveals a feature of Khoisan placename formation relating to the utilization of demonstrative adverbial locative elements that have in the past sometimes been regarded as generic terms or feature type designators.
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first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:30:08Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-39acde88fd114d3cb8df8991950bd460 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0027-7738 1756-2279 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:30:08Z |
publishDate | 2009-09-01 |
publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
record_format | Article |
series | Names |
spelling | doaj.art-39acde88fd114d3cb8df8991950bd4602022-12-22T03:42:05ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghNames0027-77381756-22792009-09-0157310.1179/175622709X436350The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from KhoisanPeter E RaperAbstract The prefix Kwa occurs in many Zulu placenames, indicating “the place of,” frequently referring to a person or personified feature. In composite placenames derived from Khoisan but adapted into the Zulu phonological and orthographic system, the component Kwa is often found to be a folk etymological adaptation of a Khoisan word, sometimes with the same lexical meaning as the other component of the name. In placenames of the latter sort, the prefix Ma- is sometimes also inserted as a result of misinterpretation of a Khoisan component phonologically similar to Kwa-. The present investigation also reveals a feature of Khoisan placename formation relating to the utilization of demonstrative adverbial locative elements that have in the past sometimes been regarded as generic terms or feature type designators. http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1865 |
spellingShingle | Peter E Raper The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan Names |
title | The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan |
title_full | The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan |
title_fullStr | The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan |
title_full_unstemmed | The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan |
title_short | The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan |
title_sort | component kwa in zulu placenames derived from khoisan |
url | http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1865 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT petereraper thecomponentkwainzuluplacenamesderivedfromkhoisan AT petereraper componentkwainzuluplacenamesderivedfromkhoisan |