Singulatives in a sample of Cushitic languages: a comparative study

This talk focuses on singulative markers used in the expression of number in Cushitic languages (Afro-Asiatic) spoken in Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania.

The term singulative indicates a morphologically derived number form denoting at least “one individual” or “a/one unit”. A singulative is formed by adding a marker to a non-unit denoting base, as shown in Saho (1).

(1) Saho (Zaborski 1986:23)

baqhla (f) ‘mule(s)’

base

baqhla-t-to (m), baqhla-t-tó (f) ‘a/one mule’

singulative

baaqhil ‘mules’ (m)

plurative

The current stage of my project is devoted to the distribution of an online questionnaire designed to elicit nouns having the following number values: base (non-number-specific), singulative, plurative or, possibly, paucative. See (2) for a complete paradigm in Saho.

(2) Saho (Zaborski 1986:21)

adám ‘man’

base

adám-to (m), adám-tó (f) ‘a/one man’

singulative

adám-um ‘men’

plurative

adám-tit ‘a few men’

paucative

The data collected via questionnaire, will be the base for a semantic analysis on singulative nouns in a sample of Cushitic languages. The languages included in the questionnaire are: ˁAfar (Qafar), Alaaba-K’abeena (Alaba, Halaba, Qebena, Wanbasana), Alagwa, Arbore, Aweer (“Boni”), Bayso (Baiso), Beja, Bilin (Bilen), Burji (Burǧi, Bembala, Daashi), Burunge, Dahalo, Dhaasanach (Dasenech, Daasanach, Dhaasanac, Marille, Gallab, Geleba, Dama), Diraytata (Dirayta, Dirasha, Gidole), Gawwada (Dullay, Gollango, Ale-Gawwada), Gedeˀo (Gedeo, Derasa, Darasa), Gorwaa (Gorowa), Hadiyya (Hadiyyisa), Iraqw, Kambaata, K’emant (Qimant, Kemant), Konso, Oromo Borana (Boraana, Borana-Arsi-Guji), Oromo Harar (Eastern Oromo), Oromo Orma, Oromo Rayya (Raya), Oromo Waata, Oromo Wellegga (Welega), Saho (Saaho), Sidaama (Sidamo, Sidaamu, Sidamu), Ts’amakko (Tsamai, S’amai, Tamaha, Bago), Xamtanga (Khamtanga, Khamir, Khamta, Agawinya).

Note: This talk has not gone through a process of peer review, and findings should therefore be treated as preliminary and subject to change. Acknowledgement and citation: Dires, Rahel T. 2022. Singulatives in a sample of Cushitic languages: a comparative study. Talk given at the Rift Valley Network Webinar Series. 19/10/2022.