Abstract
The IsiZulu morphemes e-/o- … -ini are known as locative prefixes and suffixes, and have generated interest among researchers and African linguistics scholars. This article attempts to show that not all isiZulu words that use the morphemes e-/o- … -ini are locatives, as some isiZulu teachers mistakenly do. It concludes by indicating that these morphemes, although they are generally called locative morphemes, that is, locative prefixes and suffixes, can also be used as prepositions, especially when used with infinitives and abstract nouns. Many contributions, on the morphemes e- or o- … -ini, from early Bantu languages scholars have ranged from their origin to their function in the construction of locatives. That could be why they are known as locative formatives. The researcher has used document analysis with respect to the morphological and phonological processes of the construction of locatives in isiZulu. The article gives a brief background to the contributions made by early African languages scholars. The morphemes e-/o- … -ini are discussed and analysed with a view to greater understanding of these morphemes. The concluding remarks will be given towards the end of the article.