A phonological and morphological sketch of isanzu lect (Bantu, Tanzania)

Abstract

This paper presents the outcomes of a short linguistic fieldwork on a Bantu lect Isanzu (F31B) that is spoken in the north central Tanzania. Data collection aimed at basic description of phonetics and morphology. Method used to achieve this goal consists of translational elicitation of the 207-item Swadesh list, H. Batibo’s questionnaire on Bantu morphosyntax as well as of recrodings and transcriptions of two narratives (a fairy tale and a Pear story). The analyses of data show that Isanzu possesses 7V-system /i, e, a, ɔ, o, u/, 24 item consonant inventory /p, b, t, d, k, g, m, m, n, n, ɲ, ŋ, ŋ, f, s, ʃ, x, h, ʣ, ʤ, r, l, w, j/ and 2 level tones (H, L). Isanzu noun class system comprises 15 agreement classes with the following markers [nominal-pronominal]: 1 [mo-o], 2 [a-a], 3 [mo-o], 4 [me-e], 5 [i-la], 5a [lo/ro-lo/ro], 6 [ma-a], 7 [ke-ke], 9 [N-i,e], 10 [N-zi], 11 [lo-o], 13 [ka-ka], 15 [ko-ko], 16 [pa-pa], 17 [ko-ko], 18 [mo-mo]. Noun prefixes with /o/ are augmented with o, other noun prefixes are augmented with e. Isanzu verb structure includes following slots [morphemes]: negation [sha], subject marker [n, u, o, k, m, a/e, nominal markers], tense-aspect-mood marker 1 [e ‘present’, a ‘past’, ka ‘narrative past’, o ‘ future’], extension 1 [(k)i ‘reflexive/reciprocal’], object marker [ni, ko, mo, ke, wa, wa, nominal markers], root, extension 2 [i ‘applicative’, w ‘passive’, z ‘causative’, ag ‘durative’, ek/ik ‘stative’], tense-aspect-mood marker 2 [ire ‘perfective’], final vowel [a ‘indicative’, e ‘subjunctive / optative / perfective’]. Phonetics and morphology of Isanzu reveal its conservative and regular nature. The results of this study may be useful in comparative and historical research of Bantu languages.