Gender and number in Bayso

Abstract

Bayso is an East Cushitic language with complex systems of gender and number. Nouns mark four categories of number (unit reference, singulative reference, paucal reference and multiple reference). Agreeing elements have only three distinct forms, showing the considerable syncretism typical of Cushitic. The agreement class approach of Zaliznjak establishes that there are eight classes of nouns in Bayso. However, it is demonstrated that only two genders should be recognised in Bayso (contrary to earlier work) and that remaining classes have small membership and should be handled by features indicating irregularity in number agreement. These small groups of irregular nouns prove valuable for comparison with related languages, notably Dasenech, Elmolo, Arbore, Rendille and Boni. It is shown how various changes in Bayso have conspired to produce a system which, for all its apparent complexity, is simpler than that of related languages. of special note is the fact that it has adopted a particular multiple reference suffix for use as a paucal reference form; this suffix consistently takes plural agreements, while regular multiple reference forms take masculine agreements. © 1987.