2.2.2.
Noun analysis
Noun analysis has shown that nouns have been characterized by
three main facts in B.S. The latter deviates from S through loans from European
languages and vernaculars, neologisms, and S nouns whose meanings have been
transformed in B.S.
a) B.S loans from European languages and their S
equivalents.
|
B.S.
|
English equivalents
|
S
|
|
Adresse(French)
|
address
|
anuani
|
|
Bic(French)
|
Pen
|
kalamu
|
|
Choc (French)
|
Sprain
|
mshindo
|
|
Fete (French)
|
feast
|
karamu
|
|
Grade (French)
|
rank
|
daraja
|
|
Objectif (French)
|
Lengo
|
Aim
|
|
Prof (French)
|
Teacher
|
Mwalimu
|
|
Masta (English)
|
man/guy
|
Bwana
|
|
Bequi(lle) (French)
|
Crutch
|
Tegemmeo
|
|
Scie (French)
|
Saw
|
Msumeno
|
|
Accident (French)
|
Accident
|
Ajali
|
|
Bijou (French)
|
ear-ring
|
Johari
|
|
Prison (French)
|
prison/gaol
|
Gereza
|
|
Usine (French)
|
Factory
|
Kiwanda
|
All the loan nouns relating to human beings enter B.S. Cl1 and
Cl2, and those relating to things and animals enter B.S. Cl3 and Cl4 for
singular/plural distinction. A great many S nouns can be used interchangeably
with B.S. borrowings. That is, a B.S. speaker can use either»prof» or
«mwalimu».
b) B.S. loans from vernaculars and their S equivalents
|
B.S.
|
English equivalents
|
S
|
|
Birhimbo (Mashi)
|
elephantiasis
|
matende
|
|
Longo (Lega)
|
drool/dribble
|
ute
|
|
Luziba (Mashi)
|
Fen
|
ziwa la matope
|
|
Lukoma (Mashi)
|
banana plantation
|
shamba la migomba
|
|
Musherebera (Mashi)
|
lizard
|
mjusi
|
|
Meshega (Mashi)
|
dirty person
|
Mkoo
|
|
Musire (Mashi)
|
fool
|
mwenda wazimu
|
|
Sambaza (Lega)
|
fry
|
dagaa
|
|
Mukinga (Lega)
|
girl
|
binti
|
|
Mwami kazi (Mashi)
|
queen
|
malkia
|
|
Muhya (Mashi)
|
newlywed
|
bwana/bibi arusi
|
|
Masunga (Bembe)
|
yam
|
viazi vikuu
|
|
Mateka (Lingala)
|
grease
|
mafuta
|
Nouns from vernacular languages relating to human beings enter
B.S. Cl1 and Cl2, and those relating to things and animals enter Cl3 and Cl4
for singular/plural distinction. A great many S nouns can be used
interchangeably with the B.S. ones from vernacular languages. They are (or not)
characterized by little phonological distinction between the two varieties.
Example:
|
B.S.
|
S
|
|
Mwenda bazimu
|
mwenda wazimu
|
|
Shamba ya migomba
|
shamba la migomba
|
|
Binti
|
binti
|
c) B.S. neologisms and their
equivalents.
|
B.S.
|
English equivalents
|
S
|
|
Lipondo
|
crab
|
kaa
|
|
Mutai
|
Money
|
Pesa
|
|
Tate
|
Grandparent
|
baba/mama mkuu
|
|
Kikomo
|
Bracelet
|
Bangili
|
|
Sekuseku
|
Hiccough
|
Kwikwi
|
|
Kikoloto
|
Coin
|
Pata
|
|
Nyonjo
|
Hump
|
Kigongo
|
|
Kalicho (moya)
|
one-eyed person
|
chongo
|
|
Kasonga
|
Stool
|
Kibao
|
|
Maheshe
|
Chimpanzee
|
Sokwe
|
|
Koroboi
|
Tin
|
Kibweta
|
|
Vodo
|
Buttocks
|
Matako
|
|
Mulibo
|
Larynx
|
Koromeo
|
Neologisms are frequent in Bukavu Swahili, corresponding to
their S counterparts. They denote the ability for Swahili speakers of Bukavu to
coin new words without having to and those relating to things and animals enter
Cl3 and Cl4 for singular/plural distinction.
d) B.S. semantic transformation of S nouns.
S nouns whose meanings have been transformed in B.S. are not as
extended as one could expect them. A list of a few of them appears here below
matching with their S correspondences.
|
B.S
|
English equivalents
|
S
|
|
Duru
|
stupid person
|
Mjinga
|
|
Kasa
|
Albino
|
Mazeru
|
|
Nyanya
|
Eggplant
|
Mbiringanya
|
|
Mateka
|
Grease
|
Mafuta
|
|
Mashindano
|
test/exam
|
Mtihani
|
There is a thorough and systematic semantic transformation of S
terms by B.S. The nouns under B.S. are S terms which refer to different
concepts from those which the very nouns refer to in S. In S, »duru»
means «wheel/circle», «kasa» is an adverb meaning
«less» but has been nominalized in B.S., «nyanya» refers to
«tomato», «mateka» means «captive/hostage».
| 
