Teach yourself Luganda part 2

Monosyllabic words

In Luganda, monosyllabic words take many, forms, the vowels, consonant – vowel (CV), consonant –consonant- vowel(CCV), the consonant -semi-vowel- vowel, the consonantconsonant -semivowel -vowel ( and consonantconsonant- semivowel- vowel- vowel . (i)The vowels with no consonants are usually used to show exclamation and are written with an exclamation mark Examples A! E! O! U! a! e! o! u!

These exclamations can be used to express surprise or shock

Vowels as monosyllabic words cont’d • The syllables can also be a question and in this way they can mean: what?, Can you say it again? When used as a question they end at a higher note whereas when used to express surprise or shock they end at a lower note.

• Examples of vowels used as questions • A? E? O? U? • Note that this is casual (peer to peer) and doesn’t show politeness.

(ii)Consonant – vowel words • In Luganda, syllables are separated by vowels.

This means that every syllable must have at least one vowel. Some of these monosyllables are full words with complete meanings • Wa - Give • Wa? - Where?

• Ba - Be • Va - Move • Fa - Die - Home • Ka

(iii) Consonant -consonant -vowel words • These take two forms; the nasal- consonantvowel words and the double consonant- vowel words.

Nasal- consonant- vowel words • From the earlier lessons we learnt that nasal m is only combined with b, p while n is combined with k, t, s, d,g, c, z and j,

Example of words in this form • Mpa - Give me • Mbi - It is bad.

• Mbu - Heresay • Mpi Slaps • NtaRelease/ Let go • Nte - Cow • Nsi World • Ndi I am (Note that some words are full sentences).

Double consonants- vowel word form • In Luganda, all consonants can be doubled except l, r, h and the semi vowels. When consonants are doubled, they make strong sound and in many situations, a single consonant with a vowel has different meaning from a souble consonant with the same meaning (e.g: Ta – let go Tta - Kill • Ka - home Kka - Come down

Other examples of double consonantsvowel words • • • • • •

Bba Ssa Dda Ggi Jjo Zza

- Steal - Put down - Breath - Egg - Yesterday - Bring back.

• • • • • • • •

Exercise Sound the sentences below and translate to English

E! mbi.

Ssa ggi.

Ndi nte.

Nsi mbi.

Wa ggi.

Va ka.

Tta nte.

Ta nte

Monosyllabic words (Consonant semi-vowel- vowel) Examples Lwa - Delay Lya - Eat Gwa - Fall Tya - Fear

Monosyllabic words (Consonantconsonant- semi-vowel- vowel .

• These take the form of either; double consonants- semivowelvowel or nasal- consonant- semi-vowel- vowel. (Apart from the nasal consonant combinations, in Luganda consonants that are different are not written following each other in one syllable).

• Examples • Mbwa - Dog • Bbwa - Wound • Nswa - white ant • Nkwa - Tick • Nkya - Tomorrow • Ggwa - Finish - Right hand • Ddyo

Polysyllabic words • Polysyllabic words are those with two or more syllables. Every syllable in Luganda ends with a vowel. This is the easiest guide to determining syllables in polysyllabic Luganda words. In such words a vowel standalone syllable only occurs at the beginning of words.

• Examples • Sala – ⟨/Sa.la/⟩ - Cut • Twala – ⟨/Twa.la/⟩ - Take • Ddwaaliro – ⟨/Ddwaa.li.ro/⟩ - Hospital • Nkuba - ⟨/Nku.ba/⟩ - Rain

Polysyllabic words (cont’d) • • • • • • • •

Ssomero – ⟨/Sso.me.ro/⟩ - School Muswaswangule - ⟨/Mu.swa.swa.ngu.le/⟩ -unruly/ wild Lunaku- ⟨/Lu.na.ku/⟩ - Day Luyimba - ⟨/Lu.yi.mba/⟩ - Song Buuza - ⟨/Buu.za/⟩ - Greet/ Ask Dduuka - ⟨/Dduu.ka/⟩ - Shop Ddiiro - ⟨/Ddii.ro/⟩ - Sitting room

Words beginning with vowels In Luganda words do not begin with double vowels except words of exclamation.

Vowels that occur at the beginning of words have long sounds even if they are in singular but when they appear in any other position they have short sounds when in singular and long when double.

Examples Abaana - Children Abana -The four (Note the long a sound at the beginning and the short a sound in the middle Abaana abana - The four children.

(Note that unlike English, in Luganda the adjective comes after a noun.

Abaana Noun abana Adjective

• Amaato • Amato

Boats The young

• Akaato Small boat • Akato The small • Avuumye • Avumye

He / she has roared He/ she has abused.

But when a vowel at the beginning of a word is followed by double consonants, the vowel sound at the beginning is short.

Abba Aba Atta Ata Assa Asa Ekka Eka

Listen to this song. It helps make a story out of sentences

LUGANDA SIMPLE SENTENCES

In Luganda, when constructing a simple sentence, you need a subject and a verb (subject + predicate). You should also note that in such a sentence, the pronoun is added to the verb and comes before the verb root

Personal pronouns • • • • • • •

Subject pronouns include: 1st person singular – N plural Tu 2nd person singular - O plural Mu 3rd person singular – A Plural Ba

Examples of Luganda simple sentences • • • • • • • • •

Mukasa asoma Nziruka Tugenda Abakazi bakola Sarah ayimba Aseka.

Balima.

Mugenda.

Okaaba.

-

Mukasa is reading.

I am running.

We are going.

Women are working.

Sarah is singing.

He/ She is laughing.

They are digging.

You (plural) are going.

You (singular) are crying.

Simple questions • NB: You can turn the above sentences into questions by simply putting a question mark at the end.

• When speaking, the voice will go up at the end for a question, whereas for a statement the voice comes down at the end

Examples • • • • • • • • •

Mukasa asoma? Nziruka? Tugenda? Abakazi bakola? Sarah ayimba? Aseka?

Balima?

Mugenda?

Okaaba?

-

Is Mukasa reading?

Am I running?

Are we going?

Are women working?

Is Sarah singing?

Is he/ she laughing?

Are they digging?

Are you (plural) going?

Are you (singular) crying?

Simple sentences cont’d In Luganda, the noun- verb (subjectpredicate) sentences are greatly supported by pronouns and these are based on the noun class in which the given subject falls.

Examples Mu – Ba Nouns in this class have class prefix ‘mu’ in singular and class prefix ‘ba’ in plural

Examples • • • • • • • •

Singular Musajja Mukazi Muguzi Mulenzi Mubbi Mubazzi Muyimbi

- Man - Woman - Buyer - Boy - Thief - Carpenter - Singer

Plural Basajja - Men Bakazi -Women Baguzi - Buyers Balenzi - Boys Babbi -Thieves Babazzi Carpenters Bayimbi -Singers

Simple sentences with MU- BA class subjects • Omulenzi asoma.

Abalenzi basoma.

The boy is reading.

The boys are reading.

• Omubbi adduka.

• Ababbi badduka.

The thief is running away.

The thieves are running away.

• Omuvubi avuba.

• Abavubi bavuba.

The fisherman is fishing The fishermen are fishing.

Simple sentences with MU- MI class subjects • Nouns in this category have prefix ‘mu’ on the noun root in singular and prefix ‘mi’ for their plural forms.

• These nouns take pronoun ‘gu’ in singular and ‘gi’ in plural • When constructing a simple sentences with nouns in this category, prefix ‘gu’ is added to the verb root when the subject is in singular and ‘gi’ added to the verb root when the subject is in plural.

Examples of nouns in Mu- Mi class • • • • • •

Singular Plural Muti - Tree Miti - Trees Muyembe - Mango Miyembe - mangoes Muvule - Mvule tree Mivule -Mvule trees Muggo - Stick Miggo - Sticks Mukeeka - Mat Mikeeka - Mats

Simple sentences with Mu- Mi class subjects • Omusota guluma.

• Emisota giruma.

A snake bites.

Snakes bite.

• Omuguwa gukutuse.

• Emiguwa gikutuse.

The rope has broken.

The ropes have broken.

• Omuti gukala.

• Emiti gikala.

The tree is drying.

Trees are drying.

LESSON 2: SIMPLE SENTENCES Turning MU- MI Class simple sentences into interrogative statements

• In the last lesson we looked at forming simple sentences with nouns in MU- BA and Mu -Mi classes.

• You can turn the simple sentences with Mu-Mi class subjects into questions by simply removing the full stop and putting a question mark at the end.

• When speaking, the voice will go up at the end for a question, while for a statement the voice comes down at the end.

Examples • Omuti gugudde?

• Emiti gigudde?

Has the tree fallen?

Have the trees fallen?

• Omuyembe gumeze? Has the mango tree sprouted?

• Emiyembe gimeze? Have the mango trees sprouted?

• Omusota gudduse?

• Emisota gidduse?

Has the snake run?

Have the snakes run?

Please note: • In some cases the prefix ‘gu’ turns into ‘gwe’ and in these cases the plural prefix g’ turns into gye • This arises when the root verb begins with vowel ‘e’ and since in Luganda we do not write two different vowels next to each other in a word, ‘ue ‘ combination becomes ‘we’ • E.g: We have root verb ‘engera’, meaning to ripen so the sentence will be w • Omuyembe gu + engera = gwengera • Omuyembe gwengera

The mango is ripening up.

More examples • Omusota gu + ebase = Omusota gwebase • If ‘gu’ is being added to a verb root which begins with vowel ‘a’ then then it becomes ‘gwa’ • E.g Omupiira gu + abise – Omupiira gwabise.

• The ball has burst. w • Omusota gu + asama = Omusota gwasama • The snake is opening its mouth.

In plural • In plural, gi + e = gye and gi + a = gya • • Examples: • Emiyembe gi + engera = Emiyembe gyengera.

• Emisota gi + asama = Emisota gyasama.

•

NB: You can sometimes hear some people say ‘Omuyembe guyengera’ or Omusota guyasama but these are usually children and learners who have not yet grasped the above language rule.

SIMPLE SENTENCES WITH THE LI- MA CLASS SUBJECTS • Li- ma class subjects are those nouns which begin with prefix ‘li’ added to the root of the noun in singular and prefix ‘ma’ added to the root of the noun when turning them to plural.

• Examples: • Liiso – Eye Maaso – eyes • Linnyo - Tooth Mannyo – Teeth - Boat Maato - Boats • Lyato •

(NB: Lyato comes from Li (subject prefix) + ato (root of the noun) and because in Luganda we do not write two dissimilar vowels next to each other, i+a becomes ya, thus the word lyato)

Examples of simple sentences • When forming subject- predicate sentences with nouns in the Li- Ma class, you add prefix ‘li’ to the root verb when the subject is in singular.

• Examples • Linnyo lisala - Erinnyo lisala.

- A tooth cuts.

• Liiso liraba - Eriiso liraba.

- The eye sees.

• Lyato litambula - Eryato litambula - The boat travels •

(Note that the letter ‘e’ at the beginning of the noun denotes article ‘the or a’)

Plural • When forming simple sentences with nouns in Li- Ma class, in plural you add prefix ‘ga’ to the root of the verb.

• Examples: • Mannyo gasala. - Amannyo gasala.

- The teeth cut.

• Maaso galaba - Amaaso galaba.

• - The eyes see.

• Maato gatambula - Amaato gatambula -The boats travel.

(Note that the letter ‘A’ at the beginning of the noun denotes article ‘the’)

NOTE: • Please take note that noun class prefix ‘li’ added to many nouns in this category, changes form and adopts the first consonant of the root noun doubling it and giving it a strong sound s • E.g Li + sasi= lisasi = Ssasi • Ssasi ligudde Essasi ligudde.

• The bullet has fallen.

T • Li + tabi = Litabi= Ttabi • Ttabi likaze.

Ettabi likaze • The branch (of a tree) has dried up.

• However in plural, the ‘ma’ prefix is clearly seen replacing one of the consonants at the beginning of the noun root thus proving that the noun belongs to the Li- Ma class.

• • • •

Examples: Masasi gagudde Amasasi gagudde.

Matabi gakaze.

Amatabi gakaze.

So many nouns belonging to the Li- ma class do not carry the ‘Li’ prefix but will have a double consonant at the beginning with one of the consonants representing the class prefix.

Simple sentences and noun classes cont’d

As said earlier, in Luganda, the nounverb (subject- predicate) sentences are greatly supported by pronouns and these are based on the noun classes Singular Plural Liiso - Eye Maaso -Eyes Linnyo -Tooth Mannyo -Teeth

• Note that the noun prefix in singular in some cases infuses with the noun root and gets lost only to be replaced by another consonant of the noun root making the root begin with double consonants which make a strong sound at the beginning of the noun.

• Examples: • Li + somero • Li somero= ssomero • Ssomero -School Masomero - Schools

• Li + kubo • Li kubo = kkubo • Kkubo - Path

Makubo

- Paths

• Li + paapaali • Lipaapaali= ppaapaali • Ppaapaali - pawpaw Mapaapaali - Pawpaws • Li + fumu • Lifumu= ffumu • Ffumu - Spear

Mafumu - Spears

Simple sentences with Li- Ma nouns • When constructing simple sentences with nouns in Li- Ma, the noun prefix is represented by ‘li’ in singular and ‘ga’ in plural. (Note that ‘l’ becomes ‘r’ when written next to ‘e’ or ‘I’.

• Examples • Eriiso liraba.

The eye sees.

• Amaaso galaba.

The eyes see.

• Erinnyo linnuma.

The tooth is paining me.

• Amannyo gannuma.

The teeth are paining me.

• Effumu ligudde.

The spear has fallen.

• Amafumu gagudde.

The spears have fallen.

• Eppaapaali liwooma.

A pawpaw is sweet .

• Amapaapaali gawooma.

Pawpaws are sweet.

Ki- Bi nouns • These are nouns which take prefix ‘ki’ in singular and prefix ‘bi’ in plural.

• Examples Singular Plural Kibbo Basket Bibbo Baskets Kitabo Book Bitabo Books Kisaanyi Caterpillar Bisaanyi Caterpillars Kifaananyi Photograph/picture Bifaananyi Photographs/pictures Kibira Forest Bibira Forests

Simple sentences with Ki- Bi nouns • • • • • • • •

Ekitabo kigudde.

Ebitabo bigudde.

Ekisaanyi kifudde.

Ebisaanyi bifudde.

Ekibbo kiwedde.

Ebibbo biwedde.

Ekibumba kiyidde.

Ebibumba biyidde.

The book has fallen.

The books have fallen.

The caterpillar has died The caterpillars have died.

The basket is finished.

The baskets are finished.

The liver is cooked.

The livers are cooked.

BUILDING SIMPLE SENTENCES WITH THE KI- BI NOUN CLASS SUBJECTS Nouns in Ki- Bi class are those nouns with prefix ‘Ki’ added to the root of the noun in singular, while in plural, prefix ‘Bi’ is added to the root of the noun for their formation.

Examples: Ki + bbo = Kibbo Basket Ki + kapu = Kikapu Straw satchel Ki + tabo = Kitabo Book Ki + be = Kibe Fox

Plural • When turning the above nouns to plural, you add prefix ‘Bi’ to the root of the noun.

Bi + bbo = Bibbo Baskets Bi + kapu = Bikapu Straw satchels Bi + tabo = Bitabo Books Bi + be = Bibe Foxes

Forming simple sentences • When forming subject- predicate sentences with nouns in the Ki- Bi class, you add prefix ‘ki’ to the root of the verb.

• (E) kitabo ki + yulika – Ekitabo kiyulika.

-The book is getting torn.

• (E) kikapu ki + gwa - Ekikapu kigwa.

- The straw satchel is falling.

• (E) kibbo ki + toba – Ekibbo kitoba.

-The basket is getting wet.

• (E) kibe ki + kaaba – Ekibe kikaaba.

-The fox is shrieking/ screaming.

Plural

• When you change the subjects to plural, you will have to add prefix ‘bi’ to the root of the verb.

• Examples: • (E) bitabo bi + yulika – Ebitabo biyulika.

- The books are getting torn.

• (E) bikapu bi + gwa - Ebikapu bigwa.

- The straw satchels are falling.

• (E) bibbo bi + toba – Ebibbo bitoba.

- The baskets are getting wet.

• (E) bibe bi + kaaba – Ebibe bikaaba.

-The foxes are shrieking/ screaming.

Note: • • • • • • • • • •

When a noun root begins with vowel ‘a’, the Prefix ki + a becomes ‘kya’ Example: Ki + angwe = Kyangwe - Sponge Ki + alo = Kyalo - Village When you turn them to plural, ‘bi’ the plural prefix + a becomes ‘bya’ Bi + angwe = Byangwe - Sponges Bi + alo = Byalo - Villages Ebyangwe bikuuta.

Sponges scrub.

Ebyalo bikyuse.

Villages have changed.

Simple sentences with N-N noun class subjects Many animal and bird names fall in this class.

The nouns do not change whether in singular or plural. They begin with letter ‘n’ except in exceptions we shall show later.

Examples Singular Plural Nte - Cow Nte - Cows Nkoko - Hen Nkoko - Hens

• Ntamu - Saucepan Ntamu- Saucepans • Ndogoyi -Camel Ndogoyi - Camels • Nkoofiira -Hat Nkoofiira -Hats • Nkobe - Ape Nkobe - Apes When the noun class prefix ‘N’ is added to noun roots beginning with b or p then N becomes M because N does not come before letter b or P in a Luganda word.

Examples • N+ buzi – N buzi N buzi = M buzi Mbuzi

Mbuzi - Goat

N + pafu – N pafu N pafu = Mpafu Mpafu

Mpafu

Canarium schweinfurthii (bush candle) fruits

• Another exception is with some noun roots beginning with ‘k’ or ‘s’. In these exceptional cases the class symbol ‘n’ disappears and is replaced with another ‘k’ or ‘s’ making the noun root begin with doubles.

Examples • N + kalaamu = Nkalaamu K • N kalaamu= Kkalaamu Kkalaamu Pencil Kkalaamu -Pencils

Examples of sentences • N + simu= Nsimu s N simu= Ssimu • Ssimu Phone Ssimu - Phones When constructing simple subject- predicate sentences with nouns in this class as subjects, you add prefix e to the verb when subject is singular and prefix ‘zi’ to the verb when the subject is plural.

Example of simple sentences with N- N noun subjects When constructing sentences in this category, the noun is represented by prefix e on the predicate in singular and by prefix ‘zi’ in plural Examples Ente edduka.

Ente zidduka.

-The cow is running.

The cows are running.

Enkoko ekekema.

Enkoko zikekema -The hen is clucking.

The hens are clucking Ekkutiya egubye.

Ekkutiya zigubye.

The sack is dirty.

The sacks are dirty.

So Luganda is a very easy language to learn if you take time to learn the noun classes in the language and their guiding principles. Look out for my second part of “Teach Yourself Luganda ‘’ series.