On Singulatives in Nilotic Languages

Abstract

All three branches of the Nilotic language family use the ‘singulative’ formation in nominal morphology.

In the Proto-Western Nilotic language, singulative forms were derived from stems by attaching suffixes -O or -nO; the suffix -nO was attached to stems ending in a voiced stop consonant. The alveolar nasal of the suffix nasalized the preceding voiced consonant.

In Eastern Nilotic languages, singulative forms are derived from stems by attaching a number suffix -I/-i, which is accompanied by a formative suffix -Ak/-ok; they can also be derived by attaching a number suffix -A/-o, which is sometimes accompanied by a formative suffix -(V)t. The velar voiceless stop consonant becomes an alveolar nasal intervocally.

In Southern Nilotic languages, singulative forms are derived from stems by attaching a suffix -(y)a:n.

Other examples, such as ‘cattle’, ‘animal’, and ‘people’ use suppletion to distinguish singular from plural forms. The singular forms of these nouns originated from archaic singulative forms in the Proto-Nilotic language. For example, in the Maasai language, En-kItEng’ ‘cow’: PN *(kwI)-r₁Eg-Ak-I (singulative) > (kwI)-r₁Eg-An-I > (kwI)-r₁Eg-n-I > (kwI)-r₁Eng’-n-I > (kwI)-r₁Eng’-I > (kwI)-r₁Eng’