Abstract

This work set out to classify nouns according to verbs of destruction in Nweh. Chapter one, presents the background knowledge to the language.  Chapter two presents relevant aspects of Nweh phonology, morphology, syntax and also an overview of Nweh noun classes.

Following this, is a semantic classification of nouns which brings out the mindset of Nweh people and a summary conclusion to the entire work. Research in this work was carried out using both primary and secondary data collection.

The primary data included information collected from language consultants. Three languages were used during this process: The English language and pidgin-English which were the intermediary languages and Nweh the language of research. Secondary data were also collected from reading of theses, dissertations and the internet.

The research found out that morphological noun classification is not the only method of classifying nouns. This work, proposes an alternative to the problem of contemporary noun classification in some Bantu languages which is semantic classification. This finding can apply to some Bantu languages faced with problems of noun class disappearance.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER ONE

This study examines noun classification according to verbs of destruction in Nweh a Bantu Grassfields language spoken in Lebialem Division in the South-West Region of Cameroon. In this chapter, we situate Nweh geographically, historically, and linguistically, present the literature review and aim of the study. Also, methodology and lastly, this chapter, presents the scope of work.

1.2 SITUATION OF THE LANGUAGE

1.2.1 Geographical Location

Fontem is located in Lebialem division and is constituted of nine chiefdoms; Njoaʔgwi, M’mŏckmbiŋ, M’mŏckŋgie, lèwͻh, Essͻʔ-Attah, Lebaŋ, Nduŋgatet, ŋwametaw and ŋwangonŋ, (Njika, 1991). It has boundaries with the Mundani people at the North-west, North-east by the Bamboutous, to the South-East by the Mbos and lastly by the Bayangs. We find Nweh people between the high Savannah plains of the North-West and Western Regions of Cameroon and the low forest zones of Manyu and Kupe Maneguba divisions.

1.2.2. Historical Situation

The Nweh people (Ngwe, nwe) live in the Fontem central and Alou sub-divisions of the South-West Region of the Republic of Cameroon. As of 2001, Nweh had 73,200 speakers Fennid et al. (2019). Further research shows that there has been an increase in number of previous census. By 2010 they were approximately 76,000 speakers (3rd RGPH 2010) with different stories of origin.

Apart from Vincent Lockhartʹs (1994), Brain’s (1967) documents and few others that exist in the history of Nweh, most part of it remains oral. This oral history recounts the origin of the Nweh people, a popular story of “the hunter and his nine servants”. This hunter descended from the Bamileke area “lekhu” and settled in the mountainous forest known as the Nweh. It is believed so because of the linguistic and cultural similarities between the two groups.

Table 1: Nweh Chiefdoms and Claimed Origin

CHIEFDOM   CLAIMED ORIGIN

njoàʔgwi          Essoh-Attàh

Essoh-Attàh    Mbo and Bayang Connections

Lèbaŋ  Nketse-The Home Békàtsà

lèwͻh   Ndùŋgatet

Ndùngatet       Small Bayang Hamlet of Fumbe near Bamenda

ŋwametaw       Small Bayang Hamlet of Fumbe near Bamenda

ŋwaŋgong       Fossung Wehtchem in the East

mʹmǒckmbiŋ   Fondong-Bafou(fondong afou of the west

mʹmǒckŋgie     Fondong-Bafou(fondong afou of the west

(Njika: 1991)

1.2.3   Linguistic Classification

According to Guy et Vergnaud (1993), Nweh is a Bantu Language of the Eastern Grassfields family. Atlas linguistique du Cameroun (ALCAM) classifies Nweh language under code no 953 of zone nine. It comprises languages of the Eastern grassfields Bantu, specifically the Bamileke group. It is part of the Bamileke dialect continuum with its closest relatives Yemba and Ngiemboon.

1.3. Aims And Objectives

The major aims and objectives of this study is to show how nouns in Nweh can be classified according to verbs of destruction. We would see how different nouns are destroyed and all the concepts of destruction would be discussed. In all, morphological noun classification which is commonly used is not the only classification criterion. How these nouns are destroyed can also be used to group and bring them together.

1.4. Methodology

This has to do with the methods used to collect and analyze the data. In order to collect data for this work a wordlist containing nouns and verbs which are the main point of focus was used.

To collect these raw data, I am a native speaker thus contributed to the collection process. I also used language consultants who were learned people with an educational background, born and raised in Lebaŋ chiefdom. The nouns were called out to them to say how they are destroyed. In the process, I wrote down what I was told since my consultant had given me the consent to do so.

During analysis, we discovered that the concept of destruction brought nouns staring some characteristics together. Some of these concepts brought out the mindset of Nweh people. Actions done intentionally and mistakenly.

1.5. Literature Review

The literature review for this study was done by reading textbooks, articles, dissertations. A review on Nweh noun classification was read from Nkemji (1995) dissertation. Nweh is a noun class language and Nkemji (1995) points out that Nweh language falls roughly into eight classes which have almost disappeared leaving two plural classes which were three and five other classes. In order to assign this classes, he follows a convention first introduced by Bleck around 1851, Practiced by Meinhof (1899), Guthrie (1970), Welmers (1973) to assign each number. Some of these classes are absent (class 4 and 8) and classes 2 and 8 have fused to one class.

1.6. Scope Of Work

This study is out to classify nouns according to verbs of destruction. In order to do this classification, list of nouns, verbs (of destruction) would be used. This would be done in order to show that, not only morphological class assignment of nouns can bring nouns together. Also, how these nouns are destroyed brings the nouns into semantic groups.

This system will also make us realize that nouns not belonging to the same morphological class can be grouped together following the fact that they have the same manner of destruction. The implication is that the verbs should be used to classify nouns in order to capture the cultural meanings that speakers have of their language.

1.7. Conclusion

This chapter has successfully paved a way to the detailed examination of the study. Thus, we have looked at the situation of the language geographically, linguistically and historically. We went further to examine the literature review, aims and objectives, methodology and scope work. The next chapter will proceed by analyzing the morphology, phonology and syntax of Nweh.