Entries explained

 

1. Lexical entries

The lexical entries consist of Yaka words listed in alphabetical order. However, the verbs are presented according to the first letter of the radical (that is to say without the prefix of the infinitive u), to avoid having all the verbs under the letter u. E.g.:

To find ubeembe, look for –beembe under B.

To find upala, look for –pala under P.

Whenever the reader encounters a hyphen in front of a lexical entry, he knows it is a verb.

 

2. Homographs

When a lexical entry is followed by a small subscript number, it is a homograph. Two homographs are two words that are spelled the same way, but have two different meanings. They may or may not have identical pronunciation. E.g.:

-kaanga₁ [kɑ́:ŋga ]: hold, grasp

-kaanga₂ [kɑ́:ŋga ]: fry

 

lolo₁ [lɔlɔ́]: today

lolo₂ [lɔlɔ́]: papaya

 

na₁ [ná]: four

na₂ [na]: and

na₃ [ná]: who

In the case of -kaanga, the two words are pronounced identically, the same for lolo. But the word na has two different pronunciations (total patterns). (See: 4. phonetic transcription below)

 

3. Variants of pronunciation (Var: )

The dictionary notes pronunciation variants, or dialectal variants, directly after the main lexical entry. E.g.:

dzaaya Var: zaaya mockery

These variants are also listed separately (unless the difference between the two words is minimal), referring the reader to the main entry.

 

4. Phonetic transcription

The phonetic transcription in square brackets follows each lexical entry and its possible variant. Any acute accent (á) over a vowel indicates a high tone, and the absence of an accent indicates either a low tone or a tone that can change depending on the context of the sentence. (The final vowel of words is often swallowed in speech, making it difficult to clearly identify the tone on that vowel.) Ex.:

nyutu [ɲútu] body -mwaka [-mwɑ́kɑ] scatter (seed)

ngiri [ŋgirí] ban -siebe [-ʃsiɛ́bɛ] laugh

 

5. The plural, the past and the prefix of agreement (Pl:, Past:)

The plural form (Pl:) of the name is indicated in brackets after the phonetic transcription. The past tense conjugation (Past:) is given for verbs. E.g.:

mweete [mwɛ́:tɛ] (Pl: mieete) trap

-nemese [nɛ́mɛ́sɛ] (Past: -nemisi) to hurt

 

6. The origin of the word (Orig:)

When a lexical entry is a borrowing from another language that has been incorporated into the Yaka language, we indicate which other language it is. E.g.:

meese (Orig: Portuguese). table. muvoko (Orig: French) lawyer.

 

7. The grammatical category

The grammatical category of the lexical entry is indicated: noun (n), verb (v), adjective (adj), adverb (adv), verb phrase (loc v) , etc. See the "List of abbreviations used in this dictionary" at the end of this introduction.

 

8. Nominal classes

The Yaka has 11 noun classes (1 to 10 and 14) which are grouped into pairs (or genders) of prefixes indicating singular and plural. The two digits separated by a slash indicate first the singular class number, then the plural class number. (The numbers 1, 2, 3 etc. refer to the noun class system developed by Malcolm Guthrie and others to describe all Bantu languages.) Eg:

kinyi (Pl: makinyi) n 9/6 joy

The table below presents the main genders with their class prefixes, and their demonstratives. (ø = zero vowel prefix; N = homorganic nasal m or n)

 

Classes nominal	Name prefix	Example	Strative-demon	Direction
1 (sg) 2 (pl)	mu- ba-	mukaasa bakaasa	wu ba	woman women
3 (sg) 4 (pl)	mu- mi-	mutswe mitswe	wu mi	head heads
5 (sg) 4 (pl)	li- mi-	lisi misi	li mi	eye eyes
5 (sg) 6 (pl)	li- or Ø ma-	lito mato	li my	spoon spoons
5 (sg) 10 (pl)	li- Ø (+m/n)	lingari ngari	li di	palm nut palm nut
7 (sg) 8 (pl)	i- bi-	ikutu bikutu	ki bi	clothing clothes
9 (sg) 6 (pl)	Ø (+m/n) ma-	nzo manzo	yi my	house houses
14 (sg) 6 (pl)	bu- ma-	bula mala	ba my	village villages

 

There are some irregular pairs that do not carry the typical prefixes of their class, or that find their plural in a different class. e.g. :

5/2 baala/babaala man(s)</em >

5/4 lisi/misi eye/eyes

7/4 kuuli/miili leg(s)

9/4 ndwɔɔlɔ/indwɔɔlɔ rainy season

 

There are also non-countable, abstract or invariable nouns that do not have both singular and plural forms. They are found in different classes, depending on their prefixes. Liquids are mostly in class 6. Ex.:

n 5 lifuundu dust litoono love

n 6 maamba water maari oil mala drink

n 9 ngwanya truth tsoongili< /strong>adultery

n 10 tuumu       sweat

n 14 bukwa jealousy boomo fear bungori offering boo mushroom

The prefixes of variable verbs and adjectives are determined by the class of the noun which is their subject or which they qualify. Each nominal class also has its distinct demonstrative, possessive and relative pronoun.

 

9. The French definition

The meaning of the word Yaka is given in French by its direct equivalent or by a short description, if there is no direct equivalent.

Ex.: mbata species of frog

 

10. The additional senses 1), 2), 3)...

A word can have several meanings, always in the same semantic domain. The reader will find these related and sometimes figurative meanings of the lexical entry, introduced by a number 1), 2), 3), etc.

Ex.:

-subu 1) urinating

2) carry

 

-tsara 1) destroy

2) reverse

 

tsuungi 1) moon

2) months

 

-beenge 1) become red

2) mature

3) be fair-skinned, fair-skinned

 

11. The Illustrative Phrase

The illustrative sentence in Yaka (and its French translation) shows how the lexical entry works in a sentence, in relation to the meaning given. Each additional meaning can have an illustrative phrase. E.g.: -beenge

• become red: Misi mia banywiiri ba fwoomo koo miabeenge. The eyes of smokers are often red.
• mature: Mako moosi ma mu tsiee mamaabeenge. All the bananas in the field are ripe now.

 

12. Synonyms and antonyms (Syn:, Ant:)

The synonyms and antonyms of the lexical entry are found after the French translation of the illustrative phrase. Synonyms are preceded by Syn: and antonyms by Ant: Each additional meaning can have synonyms and antonyms. E.g.:

-beembe        touch                    Syn: -bumunu</ p>

-toono like Ant: -bele₁< /p>

-iteyi statue Syn: imama</p >

13. The subentry: derivation or idiomatic expression

Sub-entries are words derived from the lexical entry (e.g.: a noun derived from a verb), and especially phrases or idiomatic expressions that associate other words. They appear under the main entrance and are shifted a little to the right to make the difference with the main entrance. Each subentry starts on a new line and is written in bold, like the main entry.

Ex.:

nguu n 1/2                          mother</p >

nguu a ndaa n 1 Main issue, theme

 

munywa n 3/4. mouth

munywa a nzo loc n. house entrance, door

munywa a mukuru loc n. opening the bottle

 

koo n 7 arms

ku koo kia babaala loc adv. right

ku koo kia bakaasa loc adv left

 

lisi n 5 eye

lisi kutso likaya loc n hypocrisy (idiomatic expression)