Ubantu:Contents:Culture:Language

The Kikoka Language

The author made a deliberate choice to use as much Kiswahili as possible rather than inventing a new language for Kikoka, the lingua franca of Ubantu. The reason for this is simple and practical - if players are going to be forced to learn a new vocabulary, it's better for it to have some relation to the real world, as opposed to something totally fantastic and thereby useless. Some compromises have been made, especially in taking words from other Bantu languages and giving them Kiswahili prefixes and plurals, but these are noted. This text also uses Kiswahili plurals whenever possible. In Modern English, the plural of "hippopatomus" is "hippopatomi" - there is no real reason not to extend this to new imports. Moreover, the system of noun classes is fundamental to Bantu world view, and the author feels that retaining it is justified for the sake of favor. It is recommended that the GM use plurals appropriately and let the players do as they see fit. The following is VERY simplified, for all that it may seem bewildering to the casual reader. Note that in Bantu linguistics, "class" is used instead of "group" - class 1 and class 2 are the singular and plural of group 1 as it is presented here.

The written script of Ubantu is derived from both Hebrew, via the Lemba Jews, and from the script developed by the Bassa people, who originated in Mozambique and (eventually) founded a kingdom in the Congo.

Group 1

Nouns in group 1 refer mostly to people. Singular nouns have the m- prefix: mtu=person. Plurals take wa- . Thus watu=people. Animals are treated as group 1 but the prefixes are not used unless one is refering the to the entire species. Thus chui=leopard or leopards, wachui=leopard race. In Luganda words, this becomes ma-/ba-.

Practical examples:

• Mtawa/Watawa = priests (Swahili)
• Mwaguzi/Waguzi = mediums
• Mfuasi/Wafuasi = priests, followers, disciples
• Mchawi/Wachawi = witches
• Njovu = elephant(s), Wajovu = elephant race (Swahili and Luganda)
• Mguswa/Waguswa - the touched (mortuary ref)
• Msonona/Wasonona = mourners
• Mzimwi/Wazimwi = Ogres
• Mkonyingo/Wakonyingo = heaven people, elves
• Mganga/Waganga = sorceror (Isizulu, Inyanga)
• Mabaale/Babaale = heroes/saints
• Mandwa/Bandwa = mediums devoted to Babaale

Group 2

Group 2 nouns often have some sense of animation, but this is not always true. Geographical features, parts of the body, fire, plants and plant products and nonhuman spiritual beings and aspects are all Group 2, but so is "bread" (mkate/mikate), "moon" (mwezi/miezi), and "year" (mwaka/miaka). They have the singular m- prefix and the plural mi-.

• Msafu/Misafu = canons (Swahili, holy book)
• Msambwa/Misambwa = nature spirits, elementals (Luganda misambwa = nature spirit)
• Mkodi/Mikodi = evil spirits (Swahili kodi = evil spirit)
• Msimbi/Misimbi, Mkishi/Mikishi, Mgoloko/Migoloko, Mkela/Mikela, Mjengi/Mijengi = various types of spirits
• Mti/Miti = trees
• Mwavi/Miwavi = a type of tree with poisonous bark, also trial by poison
• Msomolezi/Misomolezi = guardian spirit (Swahili somo=namesake, lezi=guardian)
• Mji/Miji = city
• Mzimu/Mizimu = ancestor spirits

Class 3

Class 3 nouns are often things that come in groups. In the singular they have no prefix or ji-, which may be retained in the plural, whereas the plural is ma-. Ji-/ma- is also an augumentive, meaning big or large.

• Jina/Majina = names (Swahili, name)
• Simulizi/Masimulizi = legends (Swahili simulizi = legend)
• Makodi = evil spirits, Legion (Swahili, Kodi = evil spirit)
• Kafara/Makafara = charm (Sesotho modingwa= idol or fetish)
• Jiji/Maji = metropolis (Swahili, mji/miji = cities)
• Jiti la Mbingu = Great Tree of Heaven (Swahili, mti = tree)
• Maji = water
• Subiani/Masubiani = evil spirit (Swahili, kusubi = to curse or afflict
• Izimu/Amazimu = cannibal (this is a loan from Isizulu that has retained it's original forms in Kikoka)

Class 4

Group 4 nouns are mostly artifacts. They have the singular ki- prefix and the plural vi- prefix. Ki-/vi- or kiji-/viji- functions as a diminuative

• Kidini = the way
• Kitabu/Vitabu = books
• Kisafu/Visafu = texts, supplements to Masafu
• Kiunga/Viunga = links, part of Uchawi
• Chama/Vyama = sect, party
• Kijiji/Vijiji = village(s) (Swahili mji=town)

Group 5

Group 5 nouns are exceptions, often words from other languages. They have no prefixes, singular or plural.

• Nganga - cauldron(s) used by Wayombe
• Dzedzeta - wandering ghost(s)
• Nasaba = pedigree(s) (Swahili nasaba = family tree)
• Luja = thought (swahili, deep thought)

In addition, the Ki- prefix is used to indicate a language (Kikova), U- indicates an abstraction (Umajina) or a country/land (Ukoka). In Kikoka (not in Kiswahili) the I-/A- prefixes means something like anti- or xeno-, leading to Izimu/Amazimu = cannibals, unsouls and Imnga/Awanga = necromancers, antidoctors.

notes:

place where offerings are made to spirits, pl offering places { Swahili: muzimu , ( pl muzimu ) drum for warding off such a spirit { Swahili: dungumaro evil spirit { Swahili: dungumaro } dance (used for exorcism of spirits) { Swahili: kaputa , ( pl kaputa ) kind of dance used in exorcism of spirits { Swahili: kibwengo , ( pl vibwengo ) evil spirit living in big trees or sea { Swahili: kibwengo , ( pl vibwengo ) name of evil spirit { Swahili: kitimiri , ( pl vitimiri ) freeing someone from an evil spirit (act of) { Swahili: komoo , ( pl komoo kind of evil spirit { Swahili: milihoi , ( pl milihoi ) making an offering to propitiate the spirits of the dead (act of) { Swahili: mtambiko , ( assistant of the mganga (in exorcising spirits) { Swahili: mteja , ( pl wateja ) be possessed (by a spirit) { Swahili: -pagaa } [Terminology: anthropology] verb - [ edit entry ] [ photos: upload ] He is possessed by a spirit. : amepagawa na pepo charm (against evil spirits or dangers) { Swahili: pagao , ( pl mapagao ) abode of the dead (spirits of ancestors) { Swahili: pepo , ( pl pepo ) cause someone to be possessed by an evil spirit { Swahili: -pagaza shrine where offerings are made to spirits. { Swahili: ulili , ( pl malili ) } prepare magical charms (against the evil eye) { Swahili: -adua protective magic { Swahili: -kago [derived: kaga, ukago] black magic { Swahili: kipapae , ( pl vipapae ) magician { Swahili: mfumbaji , ( pl wafumbaji ) ] } - secrets magic for identifying a wrongdoer { Swahili: mburuga , ( pl miburuga ) magican { Swahili: mjusi , ( pl wajusi ) - astrologer taboo (for medical or magical reasons) { Swahili: mzio , ( pl mizio ) [ pronounce magic formulas (in preparing medicines) { Swahili: -tabana calabash containing magic potion { Swahili: tumba , ( pl matumba magic potion { Swahili: uganguzi } black magic { Swahili: ulamali } magic potion { Swahili: ushombwe [Dialect: archaic] ancient times (history of) { Swahili: uhenga [Dialect: archaic] dried and powdered skin of animal or reptile used as a charm or medicine { Swahili: usira enchant { Swahili: -roga [Dialect: archaic] } horn (of wood or ivory that is the emblem of a chief) { Swahili: siwa , ( pl masiwa ) [Dialect: archaic person of ill omen (one for whom an unfortunate life was foretold at his birth) { Swahili: mchimbi [derived: chimba V] [Dialect: archaic] } Swahili (language) { Swahili: Kijomba [derived: mjomba, Ujomba N] [Dialect: archaic] } witch doctor { Swahili: mganguzi , ( pl waganguzi ) [derived: ganga] [Dialect: archaic] } noun - [ edit entry ] [ photos: upload ] charm { Swahili: sihiri , ( pl sihiri ) [derived: usihiri N] } doctors believe in charms : Waganga wanaamini dawa za sihiri kafara { English: amulet } makafara -sihiri { English: enchant } [derived: usihiri N sihiri - charm secret society { Swahili: njama , ( pl njama ) chama/vyama - society, party, organization, club mfuasi/wafuasi - supporter, adherent, disciple uninhabited wild land { Swahili: pori , ( pl mapori ) Lukansi, which gives the drinker "invulnerability, superhuman strength, and the power to know and see things withheld from ordinary people." wamukamwami - seer fly-switch { Swahili: mgwisho , ( pl migwisho ) } pure person, pl pure people { Swahili: mtakatifu , ( pl watakatifu pure { Swahili: safi } - clear, fresh, genuine, honest, real, pure pure { Swahili: takatifu } ritual uncleanliness (after sexual intercourse) { Swahili: chanaba } [Terminology: Islamic chafu - dirty, indecent, obscene, unclean taka/mataka = dirt, filth garbage, junk from Luganda - gu/ga prefixes to mean big and ugly