The use of the augment in Nguni languages

Abstract This chapter examines the use of the augment, a prefix preceding the noun class prefix, in the Nguni subgroup of the Bantu languages, which show striking similarities as well as differences in the use of the augment. The study provides new insights into developmental tendencies of the augment. It shows that, while all contexts in which the augment can be omitted are non-fact contexts, the presence versus absence of the augment does not mark a referentiality distinction as has previously been suggested. Referentiality constitutes a semantic and pragmatic explanation for the absence and presence of the augment in different contexts from a diachronic perspective, but this function is eroded in present-day Nguni and only a limited referentiality distinction for some speakers in some varieties is maintained. The loss of function explains why the augment is used in nearly all contexts in some varieties, and omitted everywhere in others.