Mageuzi ya Kimofolojia ya Msamiati wa Mame-Bantu kwenda Lugha za Kibantu: Mifano kutoka Kinyakyusa

Abstract

SWAHILI

Makala hii inahusu mageuzi ya kimofolojia kutoka Mame-Bantu (MB) kwenda Kinyakyusa. Lengo la utafiti huu lilikuwa kuchunguza mabadiliko ya kimofolojia ya maumbo ya vitenzi na nomino kutoka MB kwenda lugha ya Kibantu. Utafiti huu ni wa kitaamuli na uliongozwa na Nadharia ya Mofolojia Asilia ya Wolfgung U Dressler (1987). Data za utafiti zilikusanywa kwa njia ya uchambuzi wa matini pamoja na usaili wa wazungumzaji asilia wa Kinyakyusa. Jumla ya maumbo ya msamiati 35 ya MB yalichambuliwa kutoka kwenye matini ya Bostoen na Bastin (2016), kisha kufasiriwa kwa Kinyakyusa. Aidha, usaili uliofanyika kwa wazungumzaji asilia sita (06) wa Kinyakyusa ulilenga kupata tafsiri ya maumbo ya vitenzi na nomino zilizochunguzwa. Sampuli ya utafiti iliteuliwa kwa kutumia usampulishaji lengwa wa kipekee na kwa kuzingatia vigezo vya umri, jinsi na umahiri wa lugha. Matokeo ya utafiti yalionesha kuwapo kwa mageuzi ya kimofolojia ya msamiati wa MB kwenda Kinyakyusa. Mageuzi haya yanachagizwa na mabadiliko ya vitamkwa kama vile vipasuo kuwa vipasuo kwamizi kupitia uyeyushaji wa irabu. Pia, kipasuo kuwa likwidi au sauti za likwidi kutokana na uimarishaji au udhoofishaji wa konsonanti. Vilevile, uchunguzi ulibaini kuwapo kwa mageuzi si-kamilifu ambayo huhifadhi umbo asilia la mzizi wa neno la MB katika lugha ya Kinyakyusa. Pia kulibainika kuwapo kwa mageuzi kamilifu ya kimofolojia ambayo hayahifadhi umbo asilia la msamiati wa MB katika lugha za Kibantu. Kwa kuwa utafiti huu ulijikita katika umbo la msamiati pekee, tafiti zingine zijazo zinaweza kuchunguza kuhusu mageuzi na/au uhifadhi wa maana kupitia toni na miundo ya tungo kutoka Mame-Bantu kwenda lugha nyingine za Kibantu, kikiwamo Kiswahili.

ENGLISH

This article explores the morphological evolution of Proto-Bantu (PB) forms into Kinyakyusa. The main objective of the study was to examine how noun and verb forms have changed morphologically from Proto-Bantu to Kinyakyusa, a Bantu language. The research adopted a descriptive approach and was guided by Natural Morphology Theory (Wolfgang U. Dressler, 1987). Data were collected through textual analysis and interviews with native speakers of Kinyakyusa. A total of 35 Proto-Bantu lexical items were selected from the work of Bostoen and Bastin (2016) and translated into Kinyakyusa. In addition, six native Kinyakyusa speakers were interviewed to provide translations and insights into the noun and verb forms under study. Participants were purposively selected based on age, gender, and language proficiency. The findings indicate that significant morphological changes have occurred as Proto-Bantu vocabulary developed into Kinyakyusa. These changes are largely influenced by phonological processes, including the transformation of plosive consonants into affricates through vowel assimilation. Other changes involve the shift of plosives into liquid sounds, as well as the emergence of liquids through processes of consonant strengthening and weakening. The study also identified instances of partial morphological change, where the original Proto-Bantu root form is still recognisable in Kinyakyusa. In contrast, cases of complete morphological change were observed, where the original Proto-Bantu form is no longer preserved. Since this study focused primarily on lexical forms, future research could explore how meaning has been maintained or transformed through tonal patterns and sentence structures as Proto-Bantu evolved into other Bantu languages, including Kiswahili.

Keywords: Bantu language, morphological change, Nyakyusa language, Proto-Bantu, vocabulary.