Barombi (A41)

Abstract This chapter offers an analytical description of Barombi (Rombi, Lombe), a Narrow Bantu language of Zone A spoken in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. We analysed primary data for synchronic description (phonology, morphology and syntax) using basic linguistic theory. We also look at the interface between morphology and phonology and the link between morphology and syntax. Our results show that phonologically, Barombi counts 23 consonants, 7 vowels, two basic tones. Morphologically, the language has 13 noun classes grouped in many genres. The sentence structure is SVO. However, there is a subject pronoun preceding the subject marker. Morphophonologically, Barombi operates rules like vowel, consonant and syllable deletions, plosive voicing, vowel change in nouns and verbs, affricate and glide formations. In terms of morphotonology, the language exhibits high tone spreading, high tone lowering and plateauing. The analysis of the tense system reveals that the present progressive is tonally marked while the past is divided into recent or hordiernal (P0) and distant (hesternal and remote). The perfective and imperfective mark aspect in Barombi.