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Variation among expressions of modal possibility in a South African language cluster

ORCID logo | University of Helsinki
ORCID logo | University of South Africa
ORCID logo | University of South Africa
ORCID logo | University of South Africa
ORCID logo | University of KwaZulu-Natal
ORCID logo | Rhodes University

We employ a cluster approach to explore the comparative semantic maps of several markers of modal possibility – the “potential” prefix nga‑ and expressions meaning, roughly, ‘know how to’ and ‘be able to’ – in four South African Nguni languages: isiNdebele, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Siswati. We also compare the Nguni results with results from Xitsonga, a closely related language outside of the Nguni clade. The languages exhibit cross-linguistic differences in the expansion of core meanings, some of which do not appear to follow the cross-linguistically common diachronic pattern in which goal-oriented modality precedes deontic modality. In addition, the distinction between inherent and learned ability is salient in several of these languages. Semantic maps of the markers’ functional distributions further show the diversity of modal systems that can be found even in closely related languages in significant contact with one another.

Keywords: modal possibility, South African Bantu languages, Nguni, Xitsonga, grammaticalization
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1Nguni and Tsonga languages
    • 2.2Modal possibility
      • 2.2.1Typology of modal possibility
      • 2.2.2Modal possibility and grammaticalization
    • 2.3Studies of modality and modal possibility in Bantu
  • 3.Study methodology
  • 4.Potential prefix ngá-
    • 4.1Form and history
    • 4.2Functional distribution of nga‑
  • 5. know
    • 5.1Form and history
    • 5.2Functional distribution of know
      • 5.2.1Participant-internal
      • 5.2.2Deontic
      • 5.2.3Teleological and other participant-external contexts
      • 5.2.4Epistemic
      • 5.2.5Summary of results and further research directions
  • 6. able
    • 6.1Form and history
    • 6.2Functional distribution of able (positive polarity)
      • 6.2.1Participant-internal
      • 6.2.2Deontic
      • 6.2.3Teleological and other participant-external contexts
      • 6.2.4Epistemic
      • 6.2.5Summary of results and further research directions
  • 7.Conclusions and outlook
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at [email protected].

Published online: 23 May 2024
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.22074.cra
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