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.
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)
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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 >
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)