Abstract
M.A. (African Languages)
Various sets of nouns have been established as noun classes in Setswana as well as
in other African languages. Generally speaking, a class of nouns is made up of
words that have a specific prefix and are in turn linked with a unique set of
concords which are morphophonemically related to the prefix. Each class is
regarded to contain nouns sharing certain semantic features. However, these
semantic characteristics are by no means clear-cut for every class.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the semantic characteristics of the noun
classes of Setswana. An approach different from that which is customary in
describing the semantics of noun classes will be followed, in that I will attempt to
establish those semantic features which uniquely characterize each class and
distinguish it from other classes rather to list the various types of nouns
occurring in it. The concept "core meaning" will be employed in this. regard.
(See Section 1.7).
In this chapter an overview will be given of the numbering and grouping of noun
classes in publications on Setswana (1.2.1) as well as the prefixal morphemes
employed (1.2.3). This will be followed by a discussion of the views of different
authors on the semantics of the noun classes of Setswana (1.3) and of Bantu
languages in general (1.4), the relation between noun classes and number (1.5),
and semantic typologies of noun classes that have been suggested (1.6). The
chapter will be concluded with a restatement of the aim of the research and of
the method followed.
The arrangement of the chapters that follow, is eclectic. Where there is a fairly
simple singular-plural relation between two semantically similar classes, they
will be grouped together for the purpose of discussion. Cf. Chapter 2 (CI 1, Ia, 2
and 2a), Chapter 3 (CI 3 and 4), Chapter 4 (Cl 7 and 8) and Chapter 5 (CI 9 and
10). Classes 5, 11 and 14 are grouped into one chapter (Chapter 6) because of
their complex number relation to plural classes. A special chapter (Chapter 7)...