The Taita language, known as Kidawida, is spoken by the Taita people residing in the Taita Hills of Southeast Kenya. It is a member of the Bantu language family, and like many Bantu languages, its verbal system is rich with intricate prefixes and suffixes that denote tense, mood, person, and other grammatical aspects.
### Structure of the Kidawida Verb
In Kidawida, verbs are constructed using a combination of prefixes and suffixes that indicate grammatical meaning. As noted in the text, the verb can be broken down into three core parts: the verb prefix, the root, and the suffix. The root is the essential part of the verb, also referred to by scholars as "the minimum radical" (Whitely, 1969), which cannot be further divided. This root is almost always marked by the ending -a, similar to Swahili, a closely related Bantu language (Mohammed, M.A.: 71).
For instance, the verb "-ghua," meaning "to buy," loses its infinitive prefix "ku-" to form the verb root, resulting in structures like "nachighue" (I bought it). In this example, the prefix "na-" denotes the first person singular subject (I), "-chi-" is an objective prefix agreeing with a third-class noun (it), and "-ghua" is the root of the verb, meaning "buy." The tense and agreement with the noun class are crucial aspects of Kidawida verb formation, as they provide context and clarity.
### Tense and Aspect in Kidawida
Kidawida marks tense through various prefixes, often placed before the verb root. For example, the tense prefix "-e-" signals that the object of the sentence follows the verb. This can be seen in the sentence, "Nachighue kidu" (I bought the mortar). Here, the prefix "-e-" reflects the past perfect tense, indicating a completed action.
Another common tense marker is the imperfect tense, indicated by the prefix "-wa-." This prefix expresses continuous action, as seen in the sentence, "Nawalima" (I am hoeing). The verb "lima," meaning "to hoe," takes the subject prefix "na-" and the continuous tense marker "-wa-," to indicate ongoing action.
Additionally, the future tense in Kidawida does not employ a specific tense prefix. Instead, the pronominal prefixes convey both the subject and the future state. In the sentence "Nighulima" (I will hoe it), the prefix "ni-" serves both as the subject (I) and as the tense marker for future action.
### The Infinitive and Imperative Forms
Kidawida infinitive verbs are formed by attaching the prefix "ku-" to the verb root, and the verb typically ends with the vowel "-a." Examples include "kuseka" (to laugh), "kughenda" (to go), and "kukaba" (to beat). Like other Bantu languages, the infinitive in Kidawida is also used as a verbal noun. For instance, "kuseka" can mean both "to laugh" and "laughing," depending on the context. The phrase "kuseka kwako" means "your laughing," showing how the infinitive can take possessive markers to become a noun phrase.
The imperative form of verbs, which expresses commands, is straightforward in Kidawida. In the second person singular, the verb root is used without any additional prefix, as in "Seka!" (Laugh!), "Lima!" (Cultivate!), or "Lisha!" (Feed!). The second person plural, on the other hand, is formed by modifying the final "-a" of the singular form into "-e" and adding "-nyi." For instance, "Sekenyi!" means "Laugh, you all!"
When objective prefixes are used in the imperative, the final "-a" of the verb is replaced by "-e," as seen in "Mseke!" (Laugh at him!). The imperative can also be expressed through the subjunctive form, making it highly versatile.
### The Subjunctive Mood
In Kidawida, the subjunctive mood is created by adding pronominal prefixes similar to those used in the future indicative tense, and changing the final "-a" of the verb to "-e." This form is highly flexible and can express various meanings, such as requests, suggestions, or hypothetical scenarios. For example, "nikunde" means "that I may love." The subjunctive is often used in interrogative sentences as well, as seen in "Nighende wada?" (How may I go?) or "Banighende?" (May I go?).
### Conclusion
The Taita language, Kidawida, possesses a complex verb system that uses a series of prefixes and suffixes to mark tense, mood, and agreement with the subject and object. The rules for constructing verbs, whether in the infinitive, imperative, or subjunctive forms, show Kidawida's highly systematic nature, a feature common among Bantu languages. Through the detailed examples provided in "An Introduction to Kidawida," we can see how the various elements of Kidawida grammar come together to create a rich and expressive language system that is intricately tied to the cultural and linguistic identity of the Taita people.
"An Introduction to Kidawida: The Language of the Taita in Southeast Kenya, Volume III" offers a detailed exploration of this complex system, focusing specifically on verbs, adverbs, and their modifiers.
Editor: Zacharia Maganga Nyambu Email: zachariamaganga@duck.com
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