Abstract
M.A. (African Languages)
Zulu, like many other African languages, is characterized by a system of noun classes which is governed by a characteristic prefix with specific morphological and semantic
features. Most classes are found in pairs of which one is singular and the other plural. The prefix is also employed in linking the noun to other words which are syntactically
-related to it in the sentence by means of a concord which is derived from the prefix and which normally bears a close resemblance to it. The noun class prefixes have thus been subcategorized according to the following principles:
(a) the morphological structure of the prefix;
(b) the corresponding singular-plural form;
(c) the semantic traits of the noun root; and
(d) the agreement system generated by the prefix.
Although nouns in Zulu are regular to a great extent, many morphological, syntactical and semantical irregularities are found in the class system. Some of these are:
(i) the absence of an initial vowel with certain noun class prefixes;
(ii) some nouns belonging to singular-plural pairs have singular prefixes but no plural form whilst some have plural prefixes but no corresponding singular form;
(iii) similar singular prefixes take different plural prefixes whereas similar plural prefixes take different singular prefixes;
(iv) some nouns belonging to a particular singular-plural pair use a particular prefix in the singular but a plural prefix of a different class;
(v) two, and even three, prefixes are sometimes found before the noun root. Nouns in other Bantu languages sometimes lack prefixes;
(vi) non-mother tongue speakers may easily confuse the initial part of some nouns with nouns of other classes;
(vii) the morphologically determined agreement system is sometimes overruled by the semantic consideration animate versus inanimate. Nouns of class 1 (a) which have a prefix /u-/ and the semantic notion inanimate generate an agreement string similar to that of class 3. Nouns of class 1(a) with the prefix /u-/ and the semantic notion animate, non-human, occasionally use some of the agreement morphemes of class
(viii) loan words in class 9 which have a prefix /i-/ sometimes take the agreement system of class 5 instead of class 9;
(ix) nouns of classes other than 1, 2, 1 (a) and 2(a), denoting humans, sometimes use the agreement string of classes 1.and 2 in following sentences. The same applies to nouns indicating animals in classes other than 9 and 10, but which use the agreement string of the in-izin-classes in following sentences;
(x) the meanings of a vast number of nouns do not fit in with the particular semantic characteristics given for each class;
(xi) a large number of nouns with a singular form but plural meaning are found in the different classes;
(xii) a number of nouns in plural classes indicate abstract or non-count matters or have singular meanings;
(xiii) some mass or abstract nouns have singular prefixes but lack a plural form, whereas other mass or abstract nouns have plural prefixes but lack a singular form; and
(xv) nouns with similar roots and corresponding meanings sometimes fall into two different classes.