Some notes on the morphology of Zulu clan names

Abstract

Zulu clan names have a great deal of variation in their morphology. For example, Mzolo and Tolweni both refer to the same clan, as do Mthembu and aba Thenjini. One of the common variations is the locative inflection. With very few exceptions, the locative is only used with a plural noun class, and all plural forms can take the locative. The purpose of this article is threefold: to examine the potential for movement of a clan name between noun classes, to investigate the rules for locative inflection of clan names, and to look at the differences between the older forms of clan names, as given in Bryant and other early works, and modern forms.

Zoeloestam-/familiename vertoon 'n hoë mate van morfologiese variasies. Mzob en Tolweni verwys byvoorbeeld na dieselfde stam en so ook Mthembu en aba Thenjini. Een van die algemene variasies is die lokatief- verbuiging. Op baie min uitsonderings na, word die lokatief slegs by 'n meervoudsnaamwoordklas gebruik en alle meervoudsvorme kan die lokatief neem. Die doel van hierdie artikel is drievoudig: om 'n stamnaam se potensiaal vir beweeglikheid tussen naamwoordklasse te ondersoek, om die reëls vir die lokatiefverbuiging van stamname te ondersoek, en om die verskille tussen die ouer vorme van stamname, soos in Bryant en ander vroeë werke aangegee, en moderne vorme na te gaan.