Svngoku/luvila-kikongo-grammar · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Great numbers of people died.
Ndonga yingi bele (or yele) anlandi:
A great multitude went after him.
Bemba kingi (kia mbizi za maza) kibakamene (or zibakamene): A great shoal (of fish) was caught.
141
In agreeing with many Personal Nouns of various classes, considered as persons, the Verb may receive a Prefix of the ist Class, but in such case the Noun must be prefaced by the Article of the ist Class (if any Article appears at all), not the Article proper to its own Class, although the Attributes of the Noun may concord with its own Class; the 1st Class Article indicates the personification. O mfumu olueke, the chief has come; here the 2nd Class Noun, mfumu, is brought into the ist Class and thus personified ; otherwise it is : e mfumu ilueke. O mbuta aku wizidi, your relative has come, or, e mbuta aku izidi.
We keep the teachings which our fathers taught us.
Tulundanga o malongi batulongele o mase meto:
O selo kiaku, ovo ozolele o kwiza: If your steward likes to come.
A mfumu za nsi ke bazolele wo ko: The chiefs of the country do not like it.
Animals, trees, and things, may be thus personified, if they are for the moment supposed to hear, see, think, speak, or act, and the Verb receives a personal prefix accordingly. The Seasons may be thus personified.
O ngo vo, Ngongo ame: The Leopard said, I do not want to.
O Sivu, ovo obwidi:
When the Cold Season has set in.
142
After the Conjunctions of Time, wau, una, ova, vava, yavana, c., or even where they are understood, the Verb assumes an Impersonal prefix, ki- (lumbu, kolo, tandu, or some such noun of time being understood).
Una ke kiasumbilu o nti ko:
Before the tree was bought.
Una kivene o mfumu o nswa:
When the chief gave permission.
Wan kizidi o mayela mama:
Now that this epidemic has come.
Wauna kiafnlwa Kristn mnna mafwa:
Since Christ has been raised from the dead.
I nsonama kiasonama o mambu:
That is how the words were then written.
There is a singular idiom in Relative Sentences by which the Verb takes its Subjective Prefix "by attraction " from the Noun immediately preceding it, although it is not really its Subject at all, being actually the Object. It appears that the Subject in such sentences follows the Verb, rather than come between it and the Relative, and the Verb assumes the prefix proper to the word which immediately precedes it.
The thing which my child wants.
This sentence might also be translated:--The thing which loves (or wants) my child.
143
This is the explanation of the singular construction noted at the foot of page 707. Further examples are here given:---
Bazikidi o muntu ndiona ovondele e esi evata:
They buried the man who was killed by the towns-folk, or who killed them.
Tumwene e nkombo isumbidi Kipati:
We saw the goat which Kipati bought.
Ntambwidi o nkanda watnsonekena Mpongi:
I have received the letter which Mpongi wrote to us.
Batwese e nkayi yasikidi Makwekwe ezono:
They brought the antelope which Makwekwe shot yesterday.
In the same way there may be an "Attracted'' Subject to Intransitive Verbs.
Vana esambu diame divwende Kiantongona:
At my side sat Kiantongona.
Kuna Kindinga, evata diakete, diekala omaka makangu mame: At Kindinga, a small town, were some friends of mine.
Unsamunwina kuna kwatuka o wiki:
Tell me where the honey came from.
Some such "Concord by Attraction " as above noted must explain the following singular idiom. Where an action is only performed by one particular class, or thing, the Predicate concords with the Object. The Passive or Middle Voice would appear to be more appropriate, but the Active is used and the Verb " by attraction " takes as its Subject the Subject of conversation.
Only chiefs eat this food.
O madia mama, mfumu media:
O mayela, ndoki melokanga:
Sickness is only caused by witches.
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Sometimes only men haul the barges.
Only White-men weave cloth.
O nlele, Mindele ukubanga:
E mvwatu, akala mitunganga:
Only men sew clothes.
E mfundi, akento zilambanga:
Only women cook puddings.
Nouns of the 1st Class only can be represented by a Pronominal Prefix, the rules as to their form and use are given in the Grammar on pp. 670-87, and in the Syntax on page 716. In the latter place it is noted that they are not applied to the Auxiliary, but to the principal Verb. Such a sentence as:
Perhaps we shall be able to catch him,
is no exception to the rule; the Article before the Infinitive Noun shows that lenda is not serving as an Auxiliary, but as an ordinary Verb, and so receives the Objective prefix, which might appear with equal correctness on the Infinitive Noun, baka, thus:---
Nanga tulenda o kumbaka.
145
Many Adverbs take an Article: the rules which determine the use of the Article with the Adverb, &c., are given in this Appendix to the Syntax, under "The Attributes of the Subject The Article Rules 37-39." The influence of the Adverbs and Adverbial Clauses on the Pronominal prefix of the 3rd Person singular is noted in the Grammatical Section of this Appendix, under " The Pronoun Subjective Pronominal Prefixes."
Ne, nze.
Ne, and nze, as, like as, as though, take the Demonstrative Verbal Particle i after them, when they precede a Noun qualified by a Demonstrative or Relative Pronoun, or when they commence a clause; indeed, wherever the verbal idea as though (it were), &c., is to be implied.
Kina ne i disu dia lulungu, dina dimenene---: It is like (as though it were) a pepper seed, which grew.
Like a flower of the grass he will disappear.
Ne luvuma lua titi i kevempokela:
Otherwise.
Wina ne bulu:
He is like an animal.
PARTICLES OF NEGATION.
When two Negative sentences are joined by ne or nze, as though, just as if,as if, as though; or kufwila owu…ko, although, the second Particle of Negation appears once only, and that at the end of the combined sentences.
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Kumpangi diau adimosi ne ki mfumu eno ko: Do not treat me as though I were not your chief.
Kunati e nkele ne banza vo ke izita ko: Do not carry the box as though it were not heavy.
Kungika ne ki makangu maku ko: Do not speak of me as though I were not your friend.
Kufwila owu ngina vo ki mfumu ko: Not losing sight of the fact that I am not the chief.
POSITION OF MODIFIERS OF THE PREDICATE.
Ko, mo, vo.
The Locatives, ko, mo, vo, are really the Objective Pronouns proper to kuma, muma, and vuma, used adverbially, but in the matter of position they ollow the rules of. the Objective Pronoun (page 716). The Conjunction inkwa, lug, is verbal to some extent in character, and follows the rules as to the position of the Auxiliaries (page 711).
Ozolele ko kota:
He wishes to enter there.
Kazolele ko kota ko:
He does not wish to enter there.
Maza mavaikidi mo ezono: Water flowed from that place yesterday.
Lest that he should find something therein.
Unkwa mo wana ma:
147
Mpe, also, too, when it especially refers to the Verb, or to its Object follows immediately after the Verb; nothing can intervene but the Objective Pronoun but that also may follow the mpe; indeed, it is preferable for the sake of Euphony, if for no other reason, that the Objective Pronoun should follow the mpe; natà mpe dio is more euphonic than nata diò mpe, although either would be correct in Syntax.
They go also to Lukunga.
Tubamwenè mpe:
We saw them too.
Londà mpe vava:
Mend here too.
Natà mpe dio kunà nzo:
Carry it also to the house.
Kwiza kekwizà mpe:
He will come too.

Great numbers of people died.

Ndonga yingi bele (or yele) anlandi:

A great multitude went after him.

Bemba kingi (kia mbizi za maza) kibakamene (or zibakamene): A great shoal (of fish) was caught.

141

In agreeing with many Personal Nouns of various classes, considered as persons, the Verb may receive a Prefix of the ist Class, but in such case the Noun must be prefaced by the Article of the ist Class (if any Article appears at all), not the Article proper to its own Class, although the Attributes of the Noun may concord with its own Class; the 1st Class Article indicates the personification. O mfumu olueke, the chief has come; here the 2nd Class Noun, mfumu, is brought into the ist Class and thus personified ; otherwise it is : e mfumu ilueke. O mbuta aku wizidi, your relative has come, or, e mbuta aku izidi.

We keep the teachings which our fathers taught us.

Tulundanga o malongi batulongele o mase meto:

O selo kiaku, ovo ozolele o kwiza: If your steward likes to come.

A mfumu za nsi ke bazolele wo ko: The chiefs of the country do not like it.

Animals, trees, and things, may be thus personified, if they are for the moment supposed to hear, see, think, speak, or act, and the Verb receives a personal prefix accordingly. The Seasons may be thus personified.

O ngo vo, Ngongo ame: The Leopard said, I do not want to.

O Sivu, ovo obwidi:

When the Cold Season has set in.

142

After the Conjunctions of Time, wau, una, ova, vava, yavana, c., or even where they are understood, the Verb assumes an Impersonal prefix, ki- (lumbu, kolo, tandu, or some such noun of time being understood).

Una ke kiasumbilu o nti ko:

Before the tree was bought.

Una kivene o mfumu o nswa:

When the chief gave permission.

Wan kizidi o mayela mama:

Now that this epidemic has come.

Wauna kiafnlwa Kristn mnna mafwa:

Since Christ has been raised from the dead.

I nsonama kiasonama o mambu:

That is how the words were then written.

There is a singular idiom in Relative Sentences by which the Verb takes its Subjective Prefix "by attraction " from the Noun immediately preceding it, although it is not really its Subject at all, being actually the Object. It appears that the Subject in such sentences follows the Verb, rather than come between it and the Relative, and the Verb assumes the prefix proper to the word which immediately precedes it.

The thing which my child wants.

This sentence might also be translated:--The thing which loves (or wants) my child.

143

This is the explanation of the singular construction noted at the foot of page 707. Further examples are here given:---

Bazikidi o muntu ndiona ovondele e esi evata:

They buried the man who was killed by the towns-folk, or who killed them.

Tumwene e nkombo isumbidi Kipati:

We saw the goat which Kipati bought.

Ntambwidi o nkanda watnsonekena Mpongi:

I have received the letter which Mpongi wrote to us.

Batwese e nkayi yasikidi Makwekwe ezono:

They brought the antelope which Makwekwe shot yesterday.

In the same way there may be an "Attracted'' Subject to Intransitive Verbs.

Vana esambu diame divwende Kiantongona:

At my side sat Kiantongona.

Kuna Kindinga, evata diakete, diekala omaka makangu mame: At Kindinga, a small town, were some friends of mine.

Unsamunwina kuna kwatuka o wiki:

Tell me where the honey came from.

Some such "Concord by Attraction " as above noted must explain the following singular idiom. Where an action is only performed by one particular class, or thing, the Predicate concords with the Object. The Passive or Middle Voice would appear to be more appropriate, but the Active is used and the Verb " by attraction " takes as its Subject the Subject of conversation.

Only chiefs eat this food.

O madia mama, mfumu media:

O mayela, ndoki melokanga:

Sickness is only caused by witches.

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Sometimes only men haul the barges.

Only White-men weave cloth.

O nlele, Mindele ukubanga:

E mvwatu, akala mitunganga:

Only men sew clothes.

E mfundi, akento zilambanga:

Only women cook puddings.

Nouns of the 1st Class only can be represented by a Pronominal Prefix, the rules as to their form and use are given in the Grammar on pp. 670-87, and in the Syntax on page 716. In the latter place it is noted that they are not applied to the Auxiliary, but to the principal Verb. Such a sentence as:

Perhaps we shall be able to catch him,

is no exception to the rule; the Article before the Infinitive Noun shows that lenda is not serving as an Auxiliary, but as an ordinary Verb, and so receives the Objective prefix, which might appear with equal correctness on the Infinitive Noun, baka, thus:---

Nanga tulenda o kumbaka.

145

Many Adverbs take an Article: the rules which determine the use of the Article with the Adverb, &c., are given in this Appendix to the Syntax, under "The Attributes of the Subject The Article Rules 37-39." The influence of the Adverbs and Adverbial Clauses on the Pronominal prefix of the 3rd Person singular is noted in the Grammatical Section of this Appendix, under " The Pronoun Subjective Pronominal Prefixes."

Ne, nze.

Ne, and nze, as, like as, as though, take the Demonstrative Verbal Particle i after them, when they precede a Noun qualified by a Demonstrative or Relative Pronoun, or when they commence a clause; indeed, wherever the verbal idea as though (it were), &c., is to be implied.

Kina ne i disu dia lulungu, dina dimenene---: It is like (as though it were) a pepper seed, which grew.

Like a flower of the grass he will disappear.

Ne luvuma lua titi i kevempokela:

Otherwise.

Wina ne bulu:

He is like an animal.

PARTICLES OF NEGATION.

When two Negative sentences are joined by ne or nze, as though, just as if,as if, as though; or kufwila owu…ko, although, the second Particle of Negation appears once only, and that at the end of the combined sentences.

146

Kumpangi diau adimosi ne ki mfumu eno ko: Do not treat me as though I were not your chief.

Kunati e nkele ne banza vo ke izita ko: Do not carry the box as though it were not heavy.

Kungika ne ki makangu maku ko: Do not speak of me as though I were not your friend.

Kufwila owu ngina vo ki mfumu ko: Not losing sight of the fact that I am not the chief.

POSITION OF MODIFIERS OF THE PREDICATE.

Ko, mo, vo.

The Locatives, ko, mo, vo, are really the Objective Pronouns proper to kuma, muma, and vuma, used adverbially, but in the matter of position they ollow the rules of. the Objective Pronoun (page 716). The Conjunction inkwa, lug, is verbal to some extent in character, and follows the rules as to the position of the Auxiliaries (page 711).

Ozolele ko kota:

He wishes to enter there.

Kazolele ko kota ko:

He does not wish to enter there.

Maza mavaikidi mo ezono: Water flowed from that place yesterday.

Lest that he should find something therein.

Unkwa mo wana ma:

147

Mpe, also, too, when it especially refers to the Verb, or to its Object follows immediately after the Verb; nothing can intervene but the Objective Pronoun but that also may follow the mpe; indeed, it is preferable for the sake of Euphony, if for no other reason, that the Objective Pronoun should follow the mpe; natà mpe dio is more euphonic than nata diò mpe, although either would be correct in Syntax.

They go also to Lukunga.

Tubamwenè mpe:

We saw them too.

Londà mpe vava:

Mend here too.

Natà mpe dio kunà nzo:

Carry it also to the house.

Kwiza kekwizà mpe:

He will come too.