Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu Languages
This article discusses lexical and grammatical comparison and sub-grouping in a set of closely related Bantu language varieties in the Morogoro region, Tanzania. The Greater Ruvu Bantu language varieties include Kagulu [G12], Zigua [G31], Kwere [G32], Zalamo [G33], Nguu [G34], Luguru [G35], Kami [G...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nordic Africa Research Network
2013-09-01
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| Series: | Nordic Journal of African Studies |
| Online Access: | https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/159 |
| _version_ | 1827828816273211392 |
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| author | Malin Petzell Harald Hammarström |
| author_facet | Malin Petzell Harald Hammarström |
| author_sort | Malin Petzell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This article discusses lexical and grammatical comparison and sub-grouping in a set of closely related Bantu language varieties in the Morogoro region, Tanzania. The Greater Ruvu Bantu language varieties include Kagulu [G12], Zigua [G31], Kwere [G32], Zalamo [G33], Nguu [G34], Luguru [G35], Kami [G36] and Kutu [G37]. The comparison is based on 27 morphophonological and morphosyntactic parameters, a lexicon of 500 items and the speakers’ self-assessment of linguistic similarity. In order to determine the relationships and boundaries between the varieties, grammatical phenomena constitute a valuable complement to counting the number of identical words or cognates. We have used automated cognate judgment methods, as well as manual cognate judgments based on older sources, in order to compare lexical data. Finally, we have included speaker attitudes (i.e. self- assessment) in an attempt to map whether the languages that are perceived by speakers as being linguistically similar really are closely related.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:56:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de02e09fb62a49f79fcef3da1e9f0822 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1459-9465 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:56:11Z |
| publishDate | 2013-09-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Africa Research Network |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nordic Journal of African Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-de02e09fb62a49f79fcef3da1e9f08222023-09-03T11:54:56ZengNordic Africa Research NetworkNordic Journal of African Studies1459-94652013-09-0122310.53228/njas.v22i3.159Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu LanguagesMalin Petzell0Harald Hammarström1University of GothenburgMax Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics This article discusses lexical and grammatical comparison and sub-grouping in a set of closely related Bantu language varieties in the Morogoro region, Tanzania. The Greater Ruvu Bantu language varieties include Kagulu [G12], Zigua [G31], Kwere [G32], Zalamo [G33], Nguu [G34], Luguru [G35], Kami [G36] and Kutu [G37]. The comparison is based on 27 morphophonological and morphosyntactic parameters, a lexicon of 500 items and the speakers’ self-assessment of linguistic similarity. In order to determine the relationships and boundaries between the varieties, grammatical phenomena constitute a valuable complement to counting the number of identical words or cognates. We have used automated cognate judgment methods, as well as manual cognate judgments based on older sources, in order to compare lexical data. Finally, we have included speaker attitudes (i.e. self- assessment) in an attempt to map whether the languages that are perceived by speakers as being linguistically similar really are closely related. https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/159 |
| spellingShingle | Malin Petzell Harald Hammarström Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu Languages Nordic Journal of African Studies |
| title | Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu Languages |
| title_full | Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu Languages |
| title_fullStr | Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu Languages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu Languages |
| title_short | Grammatical and Lexical Comparison of the Greater Ruvu Bantu Languages |
| title_sort | grammatical and lexical comparison of the greater ruvu bantu languages |
| url | https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/159 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT malinpetzell grammaticalandlexicalcomparisonofthegreaterruvubantulanguages AT haraldhammarstrom grammaticalandlexicalcomparisonofthegreaterruvubantulanguages |