Appendix:Proto-Bantu Swadesh list
The following Proto-Bantu reconstructions are derived from the 100-word Swadesh list. Two versions are given, as quoted in Bastin (2019) and Schadeberg (2003) respectively. Both sources use BLR2 (Bantu Lexical Reconstructions 2) originally published in 1999.
Bostoen (2019)
[edit]The selected Bantu Lexical Reconstructions 2 (BLR2) reconstructions below are from Bastin, et al. (1999),[1] as quoted in Bostoen (2019).[2] 92 concepts, from the 100-word Swadesh list are given.
- Notes
No. | |
---|---|
0 | a previously proposed but rejected proto-form (731 items) |
1 | a well-established reconstruction having a Bantu-wide distribution and thus going back to PB (310 items) |
1a | a derived form whose root is a well-established PB reconstruction (514 items) |
1(a) | a derived form which can itself be reconstructed to PB (20 items) |
2/2a | a cluster of variable reconstructions which cover together the whole Bantu domain and have each a large distribution (17 items) |
3 | a well-established regional proto-form (593 items) |
3a | a derived form whose root is a well-established regional proto-form (519 items) |
4 | a problematic reconstruction (1243 items) |
5 | reconstructions corresponding to a comparative series whose attestations are few and/or spatially restricted (5397 items) |
No. | Proto-Bantu | Gloss | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | *ncè | all | 1 |
2 | *bókò | arm; hand; front paw | 1 |
3 | *bú | soil, ashes: dust | 1 |
4 | bark | ||
5 | *dà | abdomen, intestines; [belly] | 1 |
5 | *bùmò | abdomen; pregnancy [belly] | 3 |
6 | *nénè | big | 1 |
7 | *jʊ̀nì | bird | 4 |
8 | *dʊ́m | bite | 1 |
9 | *jídʊ̀ | black | 1(a) |
10 | blood | ||
11 | *kúpà | bone | 1 |
12 | *béèdè | breast, udder | 4 |
13 | *pɪ́ | be burnt; be hot; becooked; be ripe; be red | 1 |
14 | cloud | ||
15 | *pépò | wind; cold | 1 |
15 | *pód | be cold, cool down; be quiet | 1 |
16 | *jìj | come | 1 |
17 | *kú | die | 1 |
18 | *bʊ́à | dog | 1 |
19 | *nyó | drink | 1 |
20 | *jʊ́m | be dry | 1 |
21 | *tʊ́ì | ear | 1 |
22 | *dɪ́ | eat | 1 |
23 | *gɪ́ | egg | 4 |
24 | *jícò | eye | 1 |
25 | *kútà | fat; oil | 1 |
26 | *cádá | feather | 3 |
27 | *pɪ́à | fire | 1(a) |
27 | *jótò | fire, fireplace | 1a |
28 | *cúɪ́ | fish | 4 |
29 | *gʊ̀dʊk | fly; run fast | 1 |
30 | *jíjad | be full | 1(a) |
30 | *jíjʊd | become full | 1(a) |
31 | *pá | give | 1 |
32 | good | ||
33 | *cɪ́ | ground; country; underneath | 1 |
34 | *búɪ̀ | white hair | 1 |
35 | *tʊ́è | head | 1 |
36 | *jígu | hear | 1 |
37 | *tɪ́mà | heart; liver | 1 |
38 | *jɪ́gá | horn | 4 |
39 | *bʊ́d | break, smash; kill | 1 |
40 | *dúɪ́ | knee | 4 |
41 | *jíjɪ | know | 1a |
41 | *jíjɪb | know | 1a |
42 | *jánì | leaf; grass | 4 |
43 | *gʊ̀dʊ̀ | leg; hind leg | 1 |
44 | *dáad | lie down, sleep; spend night | 1 |
45 | *tɪ́mà | heart; liver | 1 |
46 | *dàì | long | 4 |
47 | louse | ||
48 | *dʊ́mè | male; husband [man] | 1 |
49 | *jíngɪ́ | many | 4 |
50 | *nyàmà | animal; meat | 1 |
50 | *títʊ́ | animal, meat | 1a |
51 | *jédì | moon; month | 1(a) |
52 | mountain | ||
53 | *nʊ̀à | mouth; lip | 4 |
54 | *jádà | finger/toe-nail; claw | 4 |
55 | *jínà | name | 4 |
56 | *kòtì | (nape of) neck; occiput | 1 |
56 | *kíngó | neck; nape; voice | 1 |
57 | *pɪ́à | new | 4 |
58 | *tíkʊ̀ | night | 4 |
59 | *bòmbó | forehead; (bridge of) nose | 1 |
59 | *jʊ́dʊ̀ | nose, nostril | 4 |
60 | *mòì | one | 4 |
61 | *jɪ̀dà | path | 4 |
62 | *ntʊ̀ | person | 1 |
63 | *búdà | rain | 1 |
64 | *kʊ́dà | red colour/substance | 4 |
65 | *tínà | root, base of tree trunk; banana-tree | 1 |
65 | *dì | root, fibre | 1 |
66 | round | ||
67 | *céké | sand; grains; dregs; chaff | 4 |
67 | *cèngà | sand; sandy ground | 4 |
68 | *gàmb | speak; answer | 1 |
68 | *tɪ̀ | say; quote | 1 |
69 | *bón | see; find; acquire; undergo | 1 |
70 | *bʊ́tò | seed | 1a |
71 | *jìkad | dwell; be; sit; stay | 1 |
72 | *kóbá | skin; strap; girdle | 1 |
73 | *dáad | lie down, sleep | 1 |
74 | *kéè | little, small | 3 |
75 | *jíkì | smoke | 4 |
76 | *jɪ́m | stand; stop, intr. | 4 |
77 | star | ||
78 | *bʊ̀è | stone | 1 |
78 | *tádè | stone | 1 |
79 | *jʊ́bà | sun | 4 |
80 | *jóg | bathe; wash; swim | 4 |
82 | *dɪ́mì | tongue; language; flame | 1 |
83 | *jínò | tooth | 1 |
83 | *gègò | molar tooth; tooth | 1 |
84 | *tɪ́ | tree; stick | 1 |
85 | *bɪ̀dɪ́ | two | 4 |
85 | *bàdɪ́ | two | 2 |
86 | *gènd | walk; travel; go (away) | 1 |
87 | warm (weather) | ||
88 | *jíjɪ̀ | water | 1 |
89 | *í | what ? | 4 |
90 | white | ||
91 | who? | ||
92 | *kádí | woman, wife | |
93 | *gɪ̀ | go | 1 |
Other well-established Proto-Bantu forms (coded 1 or 1(a) in BLR2) that are on the Swadesh 200-word list and/or the Leipzig-Jakarta list:
Proto-Bantu | Gloss |
---|---|
bá | dwell, be, become [live] |
bàd | count |
bɪ́ɪ̀ | bad |
bímb | swell |
bɪ̀ng | chase; chase away; go after [hunt] |
bòd | be rotten |
cèk | laugh; joke |
cèng | cut spp. |
cìngʊ | rub, smear |
dèm | be heavy; be honoured |
dìbà | pool, pond; deep water; well [lake] |
dɪ̀d | weep; shout; wail |
dɪ̀mb | trap by birdlime; stick to (something), intr; be firm, intr., [hunt] |
díng | turn round, tr. intr.; wind round, wrap up |
dʊ̀ | fight |
dʊ̀d | be bitter; be sharp |
dʊ́k | vomit |
dùmb | smell intr |
dʊ̀ng | join by tying |
dʊ̀ng | be straight, right; put straight, right; be fitting; adjust |
dùt | pull |
gàdʊk | turn, intr.; go back; come back |
gàng | tie up |
gɪ̀d | act, do; say; have |
gʊ̀ | fall |
gʊ̀ndà | forest, garden, luxuriant vegetation |
jákà | year; cultivation season; harvest |
jánà | child |
ját | split, tr.; separate |
jícɪ̀ | day, daytime |
jíjɪ̀ | river; waterhole |
jɪ̀mb | sing; dance |
jókà | snake; intestinal worm |
kád | be bitter; be sour; be sharp; be fierce |
kám | squeeze; wring |
kèd | cut |
kɪ́n | dance; play; gambol |
kóm | hit with hammer; beat; kill |
kʊ̀d | pull |
kʊ́dʊ́ | adult; important person; master; elder brother (sister); old |
kʊ́nì | firewood |
pád | scrape, scratch |
pèep | blow (as wind); winnow; smoke; breathe |
pèèpè | wind |
píc | hide; cover |
pìn | press, squeeze (especially with the fingers) |
píp | suck; extract juice |
pùk | dig up, fling up (earth) |
tá | throw away; throw; lose; put; trap; play game; do |
tààtá | father, my father |
táì | spittle |
tákò | buttock, rear part; back |
tɪ́ | fear |
tím | dig |
tɪ́n | cut |
tínd | push, push back |
títʊ́ | forest, thicket |
tó | stamp; pound; bite [grind, crush] |
tú | spit; fix the price |
tʊ́ád | carry on the head; carry; bring; carry away; be chief; include |
túm | stab |
túm | sew, plait |
tʊ́ng | put through; thread on string; plait; sew; tie up; build; close (in) |
Schadeberg (2003)
[edit]The following list of Proto-Bantu reconstructions is listed in Schadeberg (2003: 160-163).[3] The reconstructions themselves are from BLR2 (Bantu Lexical Reconstructions 2).[4] Distribution notes, provided in Schadeberg (2003), are sourced from Bastin, Coupez and Mann (1999).[5]
- Notes
- In the Parts of speech column, noun class categories are provided.
- In the Distribution column, Guthrie zone letters A-S are given. Lower case zones denote unexplained phonological or morphological deviations. Dashes denote lack of reflexes.
Gloss | Gloss notes | Proto-Bantu | Part of speech | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|---|
all | *=nce | (PPx-o-) | ABCDEFGHJKLMnpRS | |
arm | *kʊ=bóko | N 15/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMN–RS | |
ashes | *mʊ=tó (=tói ?) | N 3 (14) | ABcD–––H–KLMnprs | |
ashes | dust, soil, ashes | *i=bú | N 5 (3, 6) | A–CDEFG–JKLM–PRS |
bark (skin) | *i=gʊla | N 5 | ––c––F–HjKL––––– | |
bark (skin) | *kɪ=kʊ́kʊ́ | N 7 | ––CD––––j–LM–––– | |
bark (skin) | *lʊ=pʊ́ | N 11 | ––CD––––J–LM–––– | |
belly | *i=bumo | N 5 | AB–––––H–KLM––R– | |
belly | *i=tʊmbo | N 5 | ––––E–G–––––NP–S | |
big | *=néne | Adj. | ABCDE–GHJKLM––R– | |
big | *=néne-p-a | V | ––––E–GHJ–––NP–– | |
big | *=nén-a | V | ABC––––––––––––– | |
bird | *ka=jʊni | N 12/13 (9/10) | ABcDeFGHJKlMNP–S | |
bite | *=lʊ́m-a | V | ABC–EFG–J––MNPRS | |
black | *=jíl-a | V | ABCDEFgHJKLMNprs | |
black | *=jíl-ʊ | Adj. | ABCDEFGHJK––N––– | |
black | *pi | Ideo., Adj. | ––C––FG––––––––S | |
black | *i=piipí | N 5 | –B–––F––JKLMnP–S | |
blood | *ma=gilá | N 6 | ABCD–––H–KL––––– | |
blood | < avoid | *=gil-a | V | A–C–EFGHJKLMN–RS |
blood | *ma=gadí | N 6 | –––deF–––––MNP–S | |
blood | < oil palm, palm oil | *=gadí | N 9, 6 | –BC––––HJKLM––R– |
blood | *mʊ=lopa | N 3 | –––D––G––KLMN––S | |
blood | *ma=ɲínga | N 6 | –b––EF–HJKL––––– | |
bone | *i=kúpa | N 5/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
breasts | *ma=béele | N 5/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
burn, be hot | *=lʊng-ʊl-a | V | ––C–EFGHJKLMNpRS | |
burn, be hot | *=pɪ́ -a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
cloud | *i=lʊnde | N 5/6 | –––––FG–––––NPR– | |
cold | *mʊ=didi | N 3 | –BC––––H––––N––– | |
cold | *=didim-a | V | ––C–EFGH–––MN–RS | |
cold | cool | *=pól-a | V | ABcDEFGHJKLMNPRS |
come | *=jij-a | V | ABC–EFGHJKLMNPRS | |
die | *=kú-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
dog | *mbʊ́a | N 9/10 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
drink | *=nyó-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
dry | *=jʊ́m-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNP–S | |
dry | *=jʊ́m-u | Adj. | –B–––F––JKL–NP–– | |
ear | *kʊ=tʊ́i | N 15/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPR– | |
eat | *=lɪ́ -a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
egg | *i=gɪ́ | N 5/6 | ABCDEFGhJKLMnPRS | |
eye | *i=jíco | N 5/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
fat | *ma=kúta | N 6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNP–S | |
feather | *lʊ=cála | N 11 (5/6) | ABCD–––HJKL–––R– | |
fire | *mʊ=jóto | N 3/4 | –BC–EFGHJKLMNPRS | |
fire | < warm oneself | *=jót-a | V | ABCdEFGHJKLMNPRS |
fire | (< burn; v.s.) | *tʊ=pɪ́ -a | N 13 | A–CDE–––JKLMnprS |
fire | *tʊ=jíja | N 13 | A–CD–––H–KL––––– | |
fire | *mʊ=lɪlo | N 3/4 | ––––E–––J–LMN–RS | |
fish | *ncúɪ | N 9/10 | ABCDE–GHjKLM––R– | |
flea | *ndá | N 9/10 | ab–DEF––J––MN–rS | |
fly | *=gʊl-ʊk-a | V | A––DE–G–J–LMNP–– | |
full | *=jíjal-a | V | ABCDEfGHjKLmNPRS | |
give | *=pá-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
go | *=gɪ-a | V | ABCDEF–HJKLMNPRS | |
good | *=jijá | Adj. | ––––EF–HJ–L––––– | |
ground; (below) | *(pa-)ncɪ́ | N (16+) 9 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
hair | *=cíti (LL?) | N (class?) | A–––––––J–LMN–RS | |
hair | *lʊ=cʊkɪ́ | N 11/10 | ABC––––HjKL–––R– | |
hair | *lʊ=jʊɪ́lɪ́ (ɪ ~ e) | N 11/10 | –––DEFG–J–lM–––– | |
head | *mʊ=tʊe | N 3/4 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPR- | |
hear | *=jígu-a | V | ––c––FGHjKLMNPRS | |
heart | (> liver) | *mʊ=tɪ́ma | N 3/4 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPR– |
horn | *lʊ=pémbé | N 9/10 | ––CDEFG–J––MN––– | |
horn | (object made from horn) | *mʊ=céngo | N 3/4 | –––D–––HJKLMNP–– |
kill | *=bʊ́l(-ag)-a | V | ABCDEFGH–KL––PRS | |
kill | *=jíp(-ag)-a | V | a–cDeF–h–KLMNPrS | |
knee | *i=dúɪ́ (HL?) | N 5/6 | A–CDEFG–JKlM–––S | |
knee | *i=bóngó | N 5/6 | ABCDE––H––L––––– | |
know | *=jíjɪ(b-a) | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMN–RS | |
know | *=many-a | V | AbCDEFG–J–LMNP–– | |
leaf | *i=jáni (tone?) | N 5/6 | ABCDE–G–JKLMN––S | |
leg | *kʊ=gʊlʊ | N 15/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMN–R– | |
lie, sleep | *=lá-al-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNpRS | |
liver (see also heart) | *=balɪ | N (class ?) | ABC––––––K–––––– | |
long, far, long ago | *=lai | Adj. | –BCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
long, far, long ago | *=lai-p-a | V | A–––EFGHJKLM–pRS | |
man, husband | (< ‘bite’, v.s.) | *mʊ=lʊ́me | N 1/2; Adj. | ABCDE-GHJKLMNPRS |
many | *=jíngɪ́ | Adj. | aBcDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
meat, animal | *ɲama | N 9/10 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
moon | (< ‘white’, v.i.) | *kʊ=jédi | N 15/6, 3/4 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS |
mountain, hill | *lʊ=gʊlʊ | N 11/10 | –B–D–F––J–L–––R– | |
mountain, hill | < top, sky | *i=gʊlʊ (~ LH) | N 5 | ABC–EFGHJKLMNPRS |
mouth | *ka=nʊa | N 12 | aBCDE–gHJKLMnpRS | |
mouth | lip, mouth | *mʊ=lomo | N 3/4 | ––CDEFG–JKLMN––S |
nail | *lʊ=jála | N 11/10 | ABCDEfGHJKLMnpRS | |
name | *i=jína | N 5/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
neck | *nkíngó | N 9/10 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
neck | nape | *nkoti | N 9/10 | ABCDE–GHJKLMNPRS |
new | (< ‘burn’, v.s.) | *=pɪ́-a (HH?) | Adj. | –––DEFG–JKLMN––S |
night, 24 hour period | *bʊ=tíkʊ (í ~ ú) | N 14 | AbCDEFGhJKlMNpRS | |
nose | *i=jʊ́lʊ | N 5/6 | ABCDEF–HJKL–––R– | |
one | *=moi | Num. | ABCDEFGhJKLMnpRS | |
path | *njɪla (LH?) | N 9/10 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
person | *mʊ=ntʊ | N 1/2 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
rain | *mbúlá | N 9/10 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
red (substance) | *nkʊ́la | N 9 | ABCd–––HJKLM–––– | |
red (substance) | red soil | *nkʊ́ndʊ́ | N 9 | a–C–E–G––K–––pR– |
red (substance) | *=tɪl-a (tone?) | V | –BCD–––H–KL–––R– | |
root, fibre | *mʊ=di | N 3/4 | ABCDEFGHJKLMN–RS | |
round (be, make) | *=bʊ́lʊng-a | V | ––C–––GhJ–LMN–rS | |
round (be, make) | make round and smooth | *=kʊ́lʊng-a | V | ––C–––G–J––MN–RS |
sand | *mʊ=céké | N 3 | AbCD–––HJKLMN–RS | |
sand | *i=cenga (e ~ a) | N 3 | aBCDeFgHJKLMNprs | |
say, quote | *=tɪ | V | ––C–E–GHJ––MNPRS | |
say, quote | do, say | *=gɪl-a | V | ABCD––––JK–M–P–S |
say, quote | speak, answer | *=gamb-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNP–S |
see | *=bón-á (b ~ m) | V | –BCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
seed | *mbʊ́t-o | N 10 | –BCD–––HJKLMN–R– | |
sit | *=jikal-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
skin, strap, cloth | *=kánda | N 3/4, … | ABc–EFGHJKLMNPrS | |
skin, strap, cloth | skin, strap, bark | *mʊ=kóbá | N 3/4, … | ABCDEFG–JKLMnpRs |
skin, strap, cloth | skin, cloth | *ngʊ́bo | N 9/10 | A––dEfGH–kLMNP–S |
sleep | *tʊ=ló | N 13 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNpRs | |
small | *=(kée)kée | Adj. | –BCD––GHJ–LM–P–– | |
small | *=kée-p-a | V | –––D–FG–JKLMN––S | |
smoke | *mʊ=jíki (í ~ ó) | N 3/4 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
stand | *=jɪ́m(-al)-a | V | AbCDeFG–JKLMNp–S | |
star | *nyénye(dí) | N 9/10 | –B––E–gHJ–LMN––S | |
stone | *i=bʊe | N 5/6 | ––CDEFG–JKLMNPRS | |
stone | stone, iron ore | *i=tále | N 5/6 | ABCD–F–HJKLMNPRS |
sun | *i=jʊ́ba | N 5 | ABcDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
swim, bathe | *=jóg-a | V | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPR– | |
tail | *mʊ=kɪ́la | N 3/4 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
tongue | *lʊ=lɪ́mi | N 11/10 | ABcDEfGHJKLMNPRS | |
tooth | *i=jíno | N 5/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNP–S | |
tooth | molar | *i=gego | N 5/6 | ABC–EFG–jKL––PRS |
tree | *mʊ=tɪ́ | N 3/4 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
two | *=balɪ́ (a ~ ɪ) | Num. | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS | |
walk | *=gend-a | V | ABC–EFGhJKLMNPrS | |
warm, hot | (< ‘burn’, v.s.) | *=pɪ́ -ʊ | Adj. | ––––EFG–j–LMNPR– |
water | *ma=jíjɪ | N 6 | AbCDEFGHJKLMNprS | |
water | water, pool | *i=diba (HH?) | N 5/6 | ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRS |
what | *kı=í | N 7 | ––CDEFGHJ–LMN––– | |
what | where, which | *pa=í | N 16 | A–––––––JKL–––RS |
white, bright | *=jél-a | V | –BCD–FG–J–L–N–RS | |
white, bright | *=jél-ʊ | Adj. | ––CDEFGHJ––M–––– | |
white, bright | *=jél-ʊ | Adj. | ––CDEFGHJ––M–––– | |
who | *n(d)ai (tone?) | Inv. | ––C–––G–J––––––– | |
woman, wife | *mʊ=kádí | N 1/2 | ABCDefgHJKLMNprS |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Bastin, Y., A. Coupez & M. Mann (1999). Continuity and Divergence in the Bantu Languages: Perspectives from a Lexicostatistic Study. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa.
- ^ Bostoen, Koen (2019). Reconstructing Proto-Bantu. In Mark Van de Velde, Koen Bostoen, Derek Nurse, and Gérard Philippson (eds). The Bantu languages (2nd ed.), 308-334. New York: Routledge. →ISBN. (First edition published by Routledge in 2004.)
- ^ Schadeberg, Thilo C. 2003. Historical linguistics. In Derek Nurse and Gérard Philippson (eds.), The Bantu languages. (Routledge language family series 4. New York: Routledge. →ISBN
- ^ Coupez, A., Bastin, Y. and Mumba, E. (1998) Reconstruction lexicales bantoues 2/Bantu lexical reconstructions 2. (Computerized data base. Download from: http://www.linguistics.berkeley.edu/CBOLD .)
- ^ Bastin, Y., Coupez, A. and Mann, M. (1999) Continuity and divergence in the Bantu languages: perspectives from a lexicostatistic study, Tervuren: MRAC.
External links
[edit]- "Bantu Lexical Reconstructions 3". Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren. Searchable database of reconstructed Proto-Bantu words.