A COMPARATIVE-HISTORICAL study op the manenguba languages (BANTU A.15, MBO CLUSTER) OP CAMEROON by ROBERT HEDINGER Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of London 1984 Department of Phonetics and Linguistics School of Oriental and African Studies ProQuest Number: 10672687 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10672687 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 2 ABSTRACT The Manenguba languages are a group of closely related Bantu languages spoken on the north-western edge of the Bantu area. The main goals of this, study are to reconstruct Proto-Manenguba (PM) from which the present day languages have developed and to examine how they are related to each other. In chapter two, the correspondences for consonants, vowels and tones are established and oroto-phonemes proposed. In chapter three, the sound changes that have apparently taken place between PM and the different languages are presented and discussed. Several diagrams are included to highlight the kinds of splits and mergers that have occurred. Chapter four is devoted to a comparison and partial reconstruction of the morphology of the noun class and concord system. In chapter five, PM roots are compared with Proto-Bantu (PB) reconstructions in order to examine the sound correspondences between the two proto-languages. Special attention is given to the apparent double reflexes of voiceless PB stops in North West Bantu languages which have recently been attributed to a former lenis/non-lenis distinction. Apparent non-productive morphophonemic alternations in one of the languages (Akaase) are brought to light involving reflexes of the above stops, although we are not able to provide a satisfactory answer as to their origin. Chapter six is concerned with the classification of the Manenguba languages. Previous classifications and some rece'nt 1exicostatistica1 classifteat ions are surveyed. We then present and discuss our own lextcostatistical sub-grouping of the Manenguba languages plus their relationship to some adjacent languages. This classification is then related to the previous classifications and to shared sound and morphological changes established in chapters three and four. The data on which the main part of this study is: based is appended comprising some 700 comparative word lists from fourteen languages/dialects. Also included where possible are PB and proposed PM reconstructions of the lexical items. 3 To the peoole who speak the Manenguba languages 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ekaa eh'Sg ekaa7! dyom. One hand cannot tie a bundle. Akoose proverb. The above proverb expresses very well the fact that this study would have been impossible by exclusively my own efforts. I would therefore like to express my thanks to all those who, in one way or another, were instrumental in bringing this study to fruition. I would like first of all to express my gratitude to the many speakers of the Manenguba languages who made this study possible by their enthusiasm, their encouragement, by making houses available to us and patiently working through lengthy lists of words with me. I would like to thank the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESR5), formerly the General Delegation for Scientific and Technical Research CDGRST), the Institute of Human Sciences (ISH) and the Centre for Anthropological Studies and Research (CREA) of the Republic of Cameroon who granted me permission to carry out my research. My thanks and appreciation go to my colleagues of the Summer Institute of Linguistics who first introduced me to linguistics and who have provided stimulus over the years, and especially Dr. J.T. Bendor-Samue1 who encouraged me to pursue further studies. Many thanks, also, to Mr. D.L. Estabrook who gave of his time to make it possible to produce this thesis on a word processor. Professor R.H. Robins of the School' of Oriental and African Studies made it possible for me to embark on my studies there. To him, and other members of Staff at SOAS from whom I have gained new insights, go my thanks. I am especially grateful to Dr. Th. Bynon, my supervisor,■who provided guidance in an enthusiastic spirit and spent many hours discussing and reading drafts of my thesis. I also wish to express my thanks to the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom for granting an Award under the Overseas Research Students Fees Support Scheme for the academic years 198.1/82 and 1983/84. Finally, I wish to thank our many friends and relatives in Switzerland and England who through moral and financial support have made it possible for me to pursue these studies. A special thanks goes to my wife, Sylvia, for typing and correcting draft after draft with a critical eye on my English style, without whose constant encouragement and active support this thesis would not yet be finished. In order not to ornit my ultimate apprec iat ion, I would like to end with the Psalmist's words* "To you alone, 0 Lord, to you alone, and not to us, must glory be given because of your constant love and faithfulness." Psalm 115*1. 5 CONTENTS ABSTRACT 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4 CONTENTS' 5 LIST OF CHARTS 1 | LIST OF MAPS 15 ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS 16 CHAPTER ONE INIRQttUCILflli 19 1.1 The aim of this study 19 1.2 The location 19 1.3 The people 23 1.4 The languages 28 1.4.1 General comments 28 1.4.2 The Manenguba languages 30 1.4.3 Ethnonyms and glossonyms 32 1.4.3.1 List of ethnonyms and glossonyms 34 1.4.3.2 The term "Manenguba" 36 1.4.4 The sociolinguistic situation 40 1.5 Previous linguistic work 42 1 .6 This study 48 FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER ONE 5 2 CHAPTER TWO RECONSTRUCTION OF PROTQ-MANENGIJBA 56 2.1 Introduction 56 2.2 The consonants 57 2.2.1 Consonants in Cl position 58 2.2.2 Consonants in C2 position 63 2.2.3 The PM consonants 2.3 The vowels 2.3.1 Short vowels 2.3.2 Long vowels 2.3.3 The PM vowels 2.4 Glides between C and V 2.5 Tone FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE SOUND__CHAN GES_AND_REFLEXES OF PM SOUNDS : 3. 1 Introduct ion 3.2 Consonant changes between PM and the present day languages 3.2.1 Sound changes involving stops 3.2.2 Sound changes involving continuants 3.2.3 Sound changes involving nasals 3.2.4 Consonant systems resulting from the sound changes 3.2.4.] The AKO consonant system 3.2.4.2 The MvNK consonant system 3.2.4.3 The 8B0 consonant system 3.2.4.4 The MKA consonant system 3.2.4.5 The MBE consonant system 3.2.4.6 The MYE consonant system 3.2.4.7 The MBN consonant system 3.3 Vowel changes between PM and the present day languages 3.3.1 Introduction 3.3.2 Changes of short vowels 3.3.2.1 Vowel changes of PM *i 7 3.3.2,3 Vowel changes of PM *e 1 15 3.3.2.4 Vowel changes of PM *a 116 3.3.2.5 Vowel changes of PM 1 18 3.3.2.6 Vowel changes of PM *o 1 19 3.3.2.7 Vowel changes of PM *u 1 22 3.3.3 Vowel systems and1 vowel changes 124 3.3.4 The second root vowel 127 3.3.5 Changes of long vowels 127 3.3.5.1 Vowel changes of PM *ii and *ee 1 28 3.3.5.2 ■Vowe1 changes of PM * 11 1 29 3.3.5.3 Vowel changes of PM *aa 130 3.3.5.4 Vowel changes of PM 130 3.3.5.5 Vowel changes of PM *oo 131 3.3.5.6 Vowel changes of PM *uu 132 3.3.6 Long vowel systems and vowel changes 132 3.4 Tone changes between PM and the present day languages 134 FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER THREE 136 CHAPTER FOUR QF~IhlE_NQilN GLASS AJIQ-QQNQQEID-SX^IEM I 37 4.1 Introduction 137 4.2 Elements with noun class and concord prefixes 142 4.2.1 Elements governing concord 142 4.3 Elements governed by concord 143 4.3.1 Possessive pronouns 144 4.3.2 Pronouns, demonstratives and reflexive pronouns w' 147 4.3.3 Numerals 148 4.3.4 Verbs 149 4.4 Noun, concord and person prefixes 150 8 4.4.1 The person prefixes 150 4.4.2 The noun and concord prefixes 152 4.4.3 Class one 154 4.4.4 Class two 156 4.4.5 ' Classes three and four 158 4.4.6 Class five 161 4.4.7 Class six 163 4.4.8 Class seven 165 4.4.9 Class eight 166 4.4.10 Classes nine and ten 168 4.4.11 Class fourteen 170 4.4.12 Classes nineteen and thirteen 172 4.4.13 Traces of other classes 174 4.5 Classes 9 and 10 reconsidered 174 FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER FOUR 179 CHAPTER FIVE PROTO-MANE N.GU3A,.AND PROTO-BANT1J 1 81 5.1 Introduction 181 5.2 "Double reflexes" of PB in north-west Bantu 183 5.2.1 The phonemic split solution 134 5.2.2 The lenis/non-lenis solution 186 5.3 PM and PB consonants 191 5.3.1 PM - PB correspondences in Cl position 192 5.3.2 PM - PB correspondences in C2 position 200 5.3.3 Consonant developments after Pre-PB 208 5.3.4 Classes 9 and 10 and the lenis/non-lenis distinction 210 5.3.5 Noun prefix variants and the loss of Clenis) Cl 2 11 5,4 The lenis/non-lenis distinction in lexical relations 213 9 5.4.1 Introduction 213 5.4.2 Reflexes of lenis and non-lenis proto-phonemes in AKO lexical relations 214 5.4.3 Reflexes of voiced and voiceless proto-phonemes in AKO lexical relations 216 5.4.4 * Conclusion 219 5.5 Some observations about tone discrepancies in related lexical items 220 5.6 PM and PB vowels and glides 222 5.7 PM and PB tones 225 FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER FIVE 230 CHAPTER SIX CLASSIFICATION QF_.THE_MANENGURA LANGUAGES 233 6.1 Introduction 233 6.2 Previous classifications 235 6.2.1 A survey 235 6.2.2 Summary 252 6.3 Lexicostatistica1 classification 254 6.3.1 Introduction 254 6.3.2 Lexicostatistical classification of the Manenguba languages 260 6.3.2.1 General comments 260 6.3.2.2 Description of our lexicostatistical study 263 6.3.2.3 Our lexicostatistical classification 267 6.4 Lexicostatistica1 classification and shared innovations 275 6.4.1 Sound changes and classification 276 6.4.2 Morphological changes and classification 279 6.4.3 Lexical isoglosses and classification 283 6.4.4 Conclusion 286 FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER SIX 289