The Grammar of Compound Nouns in Bemba

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2022 in the subject African Studies - Linguistics, , language: English, abstract: This study is informed by the observations and revelations that Bemba compound nouns do alter the meaning of words. At the centre of generating meanings of compound nouns in Bemba is a critical analysis into the grammar of Bemba compound nouns with regard to their morphology, syntax and semantics. The study lends itself to the contention by Kula (2009) that the combined nominal roots show properties of compounds with respect to the head controlling agreement and with respect to prosodic requirements on the head to end in a high tone. According to Guthrie (1969), Bemba, coded (M42), is a Bantu language mainly spoken in the Northern part of Zambia. Bemba compound nouns present an interesting area of Bantu linguistics in the manner the compounds behave with regard to their grammar.

Dr. Kangwa N.K. is a lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University in Zambia. They are in the department of Literature and Langauges where they have been lecturing for more than ten years.