2016
XVIII, 354 pp.
1 colour map, 1 b/w map, numerous tables and charts, 3 Alagwa texts with interlinear and English translation, Alagwa–English lexicon, English-Alagwa index
Text language: English
Alagwa is a West-Rift Southern Cushitic language spoken in the area around the town of Kooloo in the Kondoa district of Tanzania by approximately 10,000 people, who are better known under the Bantu term Wasi or Waasi in Tanzania.
Previous linguistic work on the language is scarce. If at all, Alagwa is mostly treated among other languages, e.g. in the context of historical reconstruction. The present monograph is therefore the first comprehensive linguistic description of Alagwa to be published.
The book is structured as follows: Following a general introduction to the Alagwa area, the people and the language, chapter 2 deals with phonology, whereas a separate section is devoted to the various reduplication processes. Chapter 3 discusses the nominal modifying suffixes (demonstrative, possessive, directional, negative) and presents the pronouns, i.e. the independent counterparts of the modifying suffixes as well as personal pronouns. Chapter 4 addresses the complex number formation, nominal derivation as well as gender and its interrelatedness with number.
Chapters 5 and 6 treat verbal derivation and verbal inflection, respectively. Chapter 7 is dedicated to the inflectional elements termed selectors. Chapter 8 lists the remaining word classes: adjectives, quantifiers, adverbs, ideophones and question words. Chapter 9 deals with syntax. Finally, chapters 10 and 11 contain a sample of Alagwa texts as well as a short Alagwa–English lexicon including an English index.
Under these links you will find descriptions and analyses of further South Cushitic languages and their neighbours:
