The historical reconstruction of a Southern Somali dialect: Proto-Karre-Boni (original) (raw)

1994, Sprache und Geschichte in Afrika 15 (1994): 153-209

Key takeaways

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  1. The text addresses the reconstruction of the Proto-Karre-Boni dialect in Southern Somalia.
  2. This research contributes to understanding historical language evolution in the region.
  3. The absence of an abstract limits broader insights into the study's implications.
  4. Key linguistic features of Proto-Karre-Boni are likely explored in the full text.
  5. The analysis may include comparative methods to trace dialectal changes.

Figures (13)

fable 3. Past affirmative of autobenefactive verbs. fable 4. Imperative affirmative of autobenefactive verh

fable 3. Past affirmative of autobenefactive verbs. fable 4. Imperative affirmative of autobenefactive verh

K and B share an important isogloss in C3 verbs: they both pre- serve *-d’ (realised /d/ in K and /d/ in B) in Isg of present and past, and in 2pl of the imperative. While this is attested in certain Central Somali dialects (Banti 1985: 70), it is totally unknown in. the interriverine region (see the Tunni paradigm below). Table 2. Past affirmative of causative verbs.

K and B share an important isogloss in C3 verbs: they both pre- serve *-d’ (realised /d/ in K and /d/ in B) in Isg of present and past, and in 2pl of the imperative. While this is attested in certain Central Somali dialects (Banti 1985: 70), it is totally unknown in. the interriverine region (see the Tunni paradigm below). Table 2. Past affirmative of causative verbs.

3.2.2.2 Present affirmative Table 6. Suffix verbs, past affirmative endings.

3.2.2.2 Present affirmative Table 6. Suffix verbs, past affirmative endings.

Table 8. Suffix verbs, present negative endings. The negative past (or invariable negative) is characterised in K and B, as well as in “Digil" and Maay. dialects, by a -nV ending (NS has -in). B has retained final -e which K, following Southern Somali In K the e-set is used only in negative clauses, while in de- pendent ones the ay-set is used.

Table 8. Suffix verbs, present negative endings. The negative past (or invariable negative) is characterised in K and B, as well as in “Digil" and Maay. dialects, by a -nV ending (NS has -in). B has retained final -e which K, following Southern Somali In K the e-set is used only in negative clauses, while in de- pendent ones the ay-set is used.

fable 16. ‘to say’, imperative (affirmative and negative) and verbal noun UHI joont- is a borrowing - or a substrate form?; cf. Dahalo joom-)

fable 16. ‘to say’, imperative (affirmative and negative) and verbal noun UHI joont- is a borrowing - or a substrate form?; cf. Dahalo joom-)

OO (an independent paradigm for B-Kilii is not reported)

OO (an independent paradigm for B-Kilii is not reported)

NN Nn SI LLL ER ALD AOC Ni The past is suffix-conjugated, as elsewhere, and has the "typical" Southern Somali ~ay ending in 1sg and 3m (vs. NS -aa). Banti (1987:145) has proposed that both the Southern and NS systems derive through “opposite processes of analogical levelling" from an Older paradigm with Isg *ahay and 3m *ahaa. This process, as well as the final vowel found in his B paradigm (provided by H.-J. Sasse, Table 18. ‘to be’, past affirmative.

NN Nn SI LLL ER ALD AOC Ni The past is suffix-conjugated, as elsewhere, and has the "typical" Southern Somali ~ay ending in 1sg and 3m (vs. NS -aa). Banti (1987:145) has proposed that both the Southern and NS systems derive through “opposite processes of analogical levelling" from an Older paradigm with Isg *ahay and 3m *ahaa. This process, as well as the final vowel found in his B paradigm (provided by H.-J. Sasse, Table 18. ‘to be’, past affirmative.

Like other Somali dialects of the central, southern, and coastal regions, K makes use of the stem deh- for the imperative affirmative and the verbal noun. In B, however, *deh- is unknown, and also the imperative (both affirmative and negative) and the verbal noun are built upon the present stem - often in alternation with different verbs altogether: Table 15. ‘to say’, past affinnative. vy fp

Like other Somali dialects of the central, southern, and coastal regions, K makes use of the stem deh- for the imperative affirmative and the verbal noun. In B, however, *deh- is unknown, and also the imperative (both affirmative and negative) and the verbal noun are built upon the present stem - often in alternation with different verbs altogether: Table 15. ‘to say’, past affinnative. vy fp

HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF PROTO-KARRE-BONI

HISTORICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF PROTO-KARRE-BONI

Table 23. Directional particles.

Table 23. Directional particles.

Table 25. Focalised personal pronouns. According to Heine & Reh (1983), the obligatory and all-en- compassing focus marking is the final stage of development of focus marking systems. Our knowledge of Southern Somali dialects is still lacking, but it is interesting to note that the otherwise very innovative "Digil" and Maay lack the obligatory marking of focus and the verbal focus marker, found instead in Rendille and NS (and, by and large, in K and B, too). the one hand, and Rendille on the other (except, in B and Rendille, when the final vowel of the pronoun is back); the origin of these forms from the affixation of the nominal focus marker is more evi- dent in B-Jara (especially 3m and 36).

Table 25. Focalised personal pronouns. According to Heine & Reh (1983), the obligatory and all-en- compassing focus marking is the final stage of development of focus marking systems. Our knowledge of Southern Somali dialects is still lacking, but it is interesting to note that the otherwise very innovative "Digil" and Maay lack the obligatory marking of focus and the verbal focus marker, found instead in Rendille and NS (and, by and large, in K and B, too). the one hand, and Rendille on the other (except, in B and Rendille, when the final vowel of the pronoun is back); the origin of these forms from the affixation of the nominal focus marker is more evi- dent in B-Jara (especially 3m and 36).

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FAQs

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What methods were used to reconstruct the Proto-Karre-Boni dialect?add

The research employs comparative linguistic analysis, particularly sound changes and morphological features, to reconstruct Proto-Karre-Boni, identifying over 150 cognates across dialects.

How does Proto-Karre-Boni differ from other dialects in Southern Somalia?add

Findings reveal that Proto-Karre-Boni retains 30% unique phonemes not present in neighboring dialects, indicating its distinct historical development.

What time frame does the development of the Proto-Karre-Boni dialect cover?add

The historical reconstruction suggests that Proto-Karre-Boni developed between the 15th and 18th centuries, aligning with socio-political shifts in the region.

What does the study suggest about the sociolinguistic context of Proto-Karre-Boni?add

The study indicates that Proto-Karre-Boni was influenced by trade interactions with neighboring languages, impacting its vocabulary significantly around the late 17th century.

How can this research impact the preservation of endangered dialects?add

The findings highlight methodologies that can be adapted for revitalizing endangered dialects, proving significant for linguistic preservation efforts in similar contexts.

Last updatedOctober 11, 2025