diff --git a/content/article/blench.md b/content/article/blench.md index 107f426..a427eb8 100644 --- a/content/article/blench.md +++ b/content/article/blench.md @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ --- title: "Morphological Evidence for the Coherence of East Sudanic" authors: ["rogermblench.md"] -abstract: "East Sudanic is the largest and most complex branch of Nilo-Saharan. First mooted by Greenberg in 1950, who included seven branches, it was expanded in his 1963 publication to include Ama (Nyimang) and Temein and also Kuliak, not now considered part of East Sudanic. However, demonstrating the coherence of East Sudanic and justifying an internal structure for it have remained problematic. The only significant monograph on this topic is Bender1 which uses largely lexical evidence. Bender proposed a subdivision into Ek and En languages, based on pronouns. Most subsequent scholars have accepted his Ek cluster, consisting of Nubian, Nara, Ama, and Taman, but the En cluster (Surmic, E. Jebel, Temein, Daju, Nilotic) is harder to substantiate. Rilly has put forward strong arguments for the inclusion of the extinct Meroitic language as coordinate with Nubian. In the light of these difficulties, the paper explores the potential for morphology to provide evidence for the coherence of East Sudanic. The paper reviews its characteristic tripartite number-marking system, consisting of singulative, plurative, and an unmarked middle term. These are associated with specific segments, the singulative in *t-* and plurative in *k-* as well as a small set of other segments, characterized by complex allomorphy. These are well preserved in some branches, fragmentary in others, and seem to have vanished completely in the Ama group, leaving only traces now fossilized in Dinik stems. The paper concludes that East Sudanic does have a common morphological system, despite its internal lexical diversity. However, this data does not provide any evidence for the unity of the En languages, and it is therefore suggested that East Sudanic be analyzed as consisting of a core of four demonstrably related languages, and five parallel branches which have no internal hierarchy." +abstract: "East Sudanic is the largest and most complex branch of Nilo-Saharan. First mooted by Greenberg in 1950, who included seven branches, it was expanded in his 1963 publication to include Ama (Nyimang) and Temein and also Kuliak, not now considered part of East Sudanic. However, demonstrating the coherence of East Sudanic and justifying an internal structure for it have remained problematic. The only significant monograph on this topic is Bender's *The East Sudanic Languages,* which uses largely lexical evidence. Bender proposed a subdivision into Ek and En languages, based on pronouns. Most subsequent scholars have accepted his Ek cluster, consisting of Nubian, Nara, Ama, and Taman, but the En cluster (Surmic, E. Jebel, Temein, Daju, Nilotic) is harder to substantiate. Rilly has put forward strong arguments for the inclusion of the extinct Meroitic language as coordinate with Nubian. In the light of these difficulties, the paper explores the potential for morphology to provide evidence for the coherence of East Sudanic. The paper reviews its characteristic tripartite number-marking system, consisting of singulative, plurative, and an unmarked middle term. These are associated with specific segments, the singulative in *t-* and plurative in *k-* as well as a small set of other segments, characterized by complex allomorphy. These are well preserved in some branches, fragmentary in others, and seem to have vanished completely in the Ama group, leaving only traces now fossilized in Dinik stems. The paper concludes that East Sudanic does have a common morphological system, despite its internal lexical diversity. However, this data does not provide any evidence for the unity of the En languages, and it is therefore suggested that East Sudanic be analyzed as consisting of a core of four demonstrably related languages, and five parallel branches which have no internal hierarchy." keywords: ["East Sudanic", "Nilo-Saharan", "comparative linguistics"] --- @@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ The majority of languages she uses to exemplify this principle would now be clas These affixes are certainly present in East Sudanic languages along with others. Many languages also permit gemination or consonant doubling. The origins of gemination in suffixes remains in doubt, but may arise from resuffixing, just as long consonants in Niger-Congo can arise from reprefixing in noun class languages. Moreover, nominals in East Sudanic can allow “affix-stacking,” the addition in sequence of one or more affixes as part of historical stratification. -The paper considers each branch of East Sudanic in turn, and briefly lays out the evidence for the affix system, as well as the presence of germination and stacking. Discussion of the membership of individual branches, and their structure is not given here, but can be consulted in standard references.[^308] +The paper considers each branch of East Sudanic in turn, and briefly lays out the evidence for the affix system, as well as the presence of gemination and stacking. Discussion of the membership of individual branches, and their structure is not given here, but can be consulted in standard references.[^308] [^302]: Greenberg, “Nilo-Saharan Moveable-*k* as a Stage III Article." [^303]: Ehret, *A Historical-Comparative Reconstruction of Nilo-Saharan,* 176, 181. @@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ Nubian demonstrates strong evidence for tripartite number marking in nouns. Jako [^401]: Data from Jakobi & Hamdan, "Number Marking on Karko Nouns." -However, the majority of suffixes denote plurals (**Table 10**). The majority seem to be allomorphs of the singulative suffix, thus *ɖ ~ Vl ~ Vr,* with a distinct second set *Vɲ ~ Vŋ*. The suffix *-Vnd* may be a composite of the nasal and alveo-dental suffixes. +However, the majority of suffixes denote plurals (**Table 10**). The majority seem to be allomorphs of the singulative suffix, thus *ɖ ~ Vl ~ Vr,* with a distinct second set, *Vɲ ~ Vŋ*. The suffix *-Vnd* may be a composite of the nasal and alveo-dental suffixes. | Gloss | [sg]({sc}) | [pl]({sc}) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | @@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ Nyima covers two related languages, Nyimang and Afitti, now usually known as Ama | Gloss | [sg]({sc}) | [pl]({sc}) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | -| person, pl. people | wodáŋ | wàá | +| person, [pl]({sc}) people | wodáŋ | wàá | | child | wodéŋ | ɖúriŋ | **~~Table 14. Suppletive plural forms in Ama~~** @@ -320,7 +320,9 @@ Otherwise the loss of most plural marking is very marked in comparison with rela [^405]: Data from Bender, “Roland Stevenson’s Nyimang and Dinik Lexicon.” -Despite their lexical affinity to the Ek branch, Nyima languages have all but lost their indicative noun morphology. However, as Norton1 observes, the characteristic *t/k* alternations are well preserved in the verbal system in the distinction between factative and progressive. **Table 16** exemplifies this alternation. +Despite their lexical affinity to the Ek branch, Nyima languages have all but lost their indicative noun morphology. However, as Norton observes,[^a6] the characteristic *t/k* alternations are well preserved in the verbal system in the distinction between factative and progressive. **Table 16** exemplifies this alternation. + +[^a6]: Norton, "Number in Ama Verbs"; ![Norton, this issue](article:norton.md). | Gloss | Factative | Progressive | | :--- | :--- | :--- | @@ -362,7 +364,7 @@ Descriptions of the morphology of Taman languages are very limited. Kellermann p [^407]: Data from Kellermann, *Eine grammatische Skizze des Tama auf der Basis der Daten von R.C. Stevenson.* -As with other East Sudanic languages, once allomorphy is taken into account, number-marking affixes are quite reduced. Tama has *-t, -k,* *-(V)N,* and an underspecified vowel. No examples of synchronic tripartite number marking are given, but the use of *-t* in the singulative and the “moveable” *-k* all point to this as a formerly operating. The underspecified *V* in *-VC* suffixes suggests compounding, as in other East Sudanic languages. +As with other East Sudanic languages, once allomorphy is taken into account, number-marking affixes are quite reduced. Tama has *-t, -k,* *-(V)N,* and an underspecified vowel. No examples of synchronic tripartite number marking are given, but the use of *-t* in the singulative and the “moveable” *-k* all point to this as formerly operative. The underspecified *V* in *-VC* suffixes suggests compounding, as in other East Sudanic languages. ## Surmic @@ -530,10 +532,12 @@ Shatt and Laggori at least have considerable diversity of surface affixes markin [^t26]: Data from Boyeldieu, *La qualification dans les langues africaines.* -Boyeldieu also lists a significant number of irregular forms. There are three classes of noun, those with alternation, and those with singulatives and those with plurals. It appears there are now no examples of three-way contrast. Despite the surface variety, allomorphy suggests there are five underlying affixes, *-N, -T, -K, -y,* and *-V* where *V* is a high back vowel. In addition, the -x suffix may an allophone of an underlying fricative, i.e., *-S* (*s ~ z*) which would give Daju a complete set of East Sudanic affixes. Some singulative suffixes, such as *-zɨnɨc,* illustrate multiple compounding. There are, however, no examples of gemination. +Boyeldieu also lists a significant number of irregular forms. There are three classes of noun, those with alternation, and those with singulatives and those with plurals. It appears there are now no examples of three-way contrast. Despite the surface variety, allomorphy suggests there are five underlying affixes, *-N, -T, -K, -y,* and *-V* where *V* is a high back vowel. In addition, the *-x* suffix may an allophone of an underlying fricative, i.e., *-S* (*s ~ z*), which would give Daju a complete set of East Sudanic affixes. Some singulative suffixes, such as *-zɨnɨc,* illustrate multiple compounding. There are, however, no examples of gemination. The alternating nominal suffixes of Dar Daju described by Aviles present a far simpler set.[^417] Every noun has one of four singular suffixes. Aviles calls these “classificatory” although they have no obvious semantic association. These alternate with four plural suffixes, although these all appear to be allomorphs of *-ge* (**Table 27**). +[^417]: Aviles, *The Phonology and Morphology of the Dar Daju Daju Language.* + | Class | Gloss | [sg]({sc}) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | elder | ɉam-ne | @@ -575,9 +579,9 @@ If we presume the same processes of allomorphy as elsewhere in East Sudanic, the ### East Nilotic -The only survey of East Nilotic lexicon reamins Vossen's,[^419] and this can provide an impression of number marking morphology, although descriptions of individual languages provide more detail. For example, Kuku has unmarked nominals, with singulatives in some cases, and plurals, both suffixed. **Table 29** shows examples of the main number-marking strategies in Kuku. +The only survey of East Nilotic lexicon remains Voßen's,[^419] and this can provide an impression of number marking morphology, although descriptions of individual languages provide more detail. For example, Kuku has unmarked nominals, with singulatives in some cases, and plurals, both suffixed. **Table 29** shows examples of the main number-marking strategies in Kuku. -[^419]: Vossen, *The Eastern Nilotes.* +[^419]: Voßen, *The Eastern Nilotes.* | Gloss | Affix | [sg]({sc}) | Affix | [pl]({sc}) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | @@ -653,7 +657,7 @@ A feature of East Sudanic, and indeed Nilo-Saharan more generally, is extensive **~~Table 32: Allomorphs of East Sudanic nominal affixes~~** -**Table 33** shows the presence or absence of individual affixes in individual branches, together with affix-stacking and gemination, as well as the table which supports this analysis. +**Table 33** shows the presence or absence of individual affixes in each branch, together with affix-stacking and gemination, as well as the table which supports this analysis. | Branch | -T | -K | -N | -V | -S | Affix stacking | Gemination | Reference | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | @@ -724,7 +728,7 @@ Aviles, Arthur J. ![*The Phonology and Morphology of the Dar Daju Daju Language. Bell, Herman. !["Documentary Evidence on the Ḥarāza Nubian."](bib:9926e196-3eea-4b7c-856c-6272d4386c75) *Sudan Notes and Records* 7 (1975): pp. 1–36. -Bender, Lionel M. *Comparative Omotic Lexicon.* Unpublished manuscript. Carbondale: SIU, 2003. +Bender, Lionel M. *Comparative Omotic Lexicon.* Carbondale: SIU, 2003. Bender, Lionel M. “Genetic Subgrouping of East Sudanic.” *Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere* 45 (1996): pp. 139-150. diff --git a/content/article/rilly.md b/content/article/rilly.md index ed08d50..b89f208 100644 --- a/content/article/rilly.md +++ b/content/article/rilly.md @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ --- -title: "Personal Markers in Meroitic" +title: "Personal Markers and Verbal Number in Meroitic" authors: ["clauderilly.md"] abstract: "please provide an abstract" keywords: ["Meroitic", "Meroe", "Kush", "Napata", "pronouns", "Egyptian", "decipherment", "verbal morphology", "pronominal morphology", "person", "comparative linguistics", "Old Nubian", "Nobiin", "Andaandi", "Ama", "Nara", "Taman", "Mattokki", "Karko"] diff --git a/content/author/angelikajakobi.md b/content/author/angelikajakobi.md index 32771d5..f609baf 100644 --- a/content/author/angelikajakobi.md +++ b/content/author/angelikajakobi.md @@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ title: Angelika Jakobi # Biography -Something about the author. \ No newline at end of file +Angelika Jakobi holds a PhD in African linguistics from Hamburg University. Based on extensive periods of linguistic field work in Sudan and Tchad, her research has focused on some languages of the northeastern branch of Nilo-Saharan, particularly Fur, Nyima, Zaghawa, and Nubian. She is the author of *The Fur Language* (1990) and the compiler and annotator of the bibliography *The Nubian Languages* (1993, with Tanja Kümmerle). She has also published a study of the Saharan language Zaghawa, *Grammaire du beria* (2004, with Joachim Crass). In her articles she has explored aspects of semantics, morphosyntax, transitivity, grammatical relations, and case as well as historical-comparative issues. Although she has retired from her last position at Cologne University in 2016, she is still actively engaged in research. diff --git a/content/author/russelnorton.md b/content/author/russelnorton.md index b650827..c758ecf 100644 --- a/content/author/russelnorton.md +++ b/content/author/russelnorton.md @@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ title: Russel Norton # Biography -Something about the author. \ No newline at end of file +Russell Norton is a Senior Lecturer in linguistics at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria and a linguistics consultant at SIL International. He is the author of several articles on various Eastern Sudanic and Niger-Congo languages, and former editor of *ccasional Papers in the study of Sudanese Languages.* His research interests include the documentation, description, history and ecology of languages of Nigeria and Sudan. diff --git a/content/issue/dotawo7.md b/content/issue/dotawo7.md index 680fcc7..08878df 100644 --- a/content/issue/dotawo7.md +++ b/content/issue/dotawo7.md @@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Although Bender, Rilly, and Dimmendaal include the Nyima languages within NES,[^ ### The Inclusion of Meroitic -Finally, the inclusion of Meroitic in NES has long been a point of contention owing to our fragmentary comprehension of the language.[^a9] In this respect, the work of Claude Rilly represents an enormous leap forward in our understanding, which can now with relatively strong certainty be classified as Nilo-Saharan, in particular Northern East Sudanic.[^a11] His contribution ["Personal Markers in Meroitic”](article:rilly.md) provides for the first time a systematic overview of person marking in Meroitic, no doubt opening up further avenues in comparative Northern East Sudanic linguistics. +Finally, the inclusion of Meroitic in NES has long been a point of contention owing to our fragmentary comprehension of the language.[^a9] In this respect, the work of Claude Rilly represents an enormous leap forward in our understanding, which can now with relatively strong certainty be classified as Nilo-Saharan, in particular Northern East Sudanic.[^a11] His contribution ["Personal Markers and Verbal Number in Meroitic”](article:rilly.md) provides for the first time a systematic overview of person marking in Meroitic, no doubt opening up further avenues in comparative Northern East Sudanic linguistics. [^a1]: Greenberg, *The Languages of Africa,* p. 130. [^a2]: Bender, *The East Sudanic Languages,* p. 1.