Janga Wolof

Overview of Wolof Determiners

In Wolof, determiners provide essential information about nouns, such as definiteness, specificity, quantity, and proximity. These markers are closely tied to Wolof’s noun class system, with class indicators influencing the form and use of determiners.

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Types of Determiners in Wolof

Definite Articles

• Definite articles in Wolof are formed by combining a class indicator with a vowel.
  • Singular Class Indicators: b-, g-, j-, l-, m-, s-, w-, k-.
  • Plural Class Indicators: y-, ñ-.
  • Examples:
    • dëkk bi (“the town”).
    • xale bu njool bi (“the tall child”).
  • Neutral Form: -u or -i for general use.
    • Example: mbaay si (“this father”).

Indefinite Articles

• Two main forms are used to express indefiniteness:
  1. Ab: Used with singular nouns.
     • Example: ab dëkk (“a town”).
  2. Benn: Indicates “one” or “a/an.”
     • Example: benn xale (“a child”).
  • Plural: ay (“some”).
    • Example: ay dëkk (“some towns”).

Demonstratives

• Demonstratives indicate proximity and emphasis, often referencing physical or contextual closeness.
  • Close Proximity: bii (“this”).
    • Example: ginaar bii (“this chicken”).
  • Far Proximity: bee (“that”).
    • Example: ginaar bee (“that chicken”).
  • Associative Proximity: boobu (“that one near you”).

Quantifiers

• Indicate quantity or totality.
  • Bépp: Each/all.
    • Example:
      • bépp fas (“each horse”).
      • fas bépp (“all the horses”).
  • Bu ne/bu nekk: Every/each.
    • Example: loxo bu ne (“each and every hand”).

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Usage of Determiners in Wolof

Agreement with Noun Classes

• Determiners are closely tied to Wolof’s noun class system.
  • Example:
    • Singular: ker gi (“the house”).
    • Plural: ker yi (“the houses”).

Placement

• Determiners typically follow the noun they modify but can precede for emphasis.
  • Example:
    • Standard: ñaquloo alal jii (“you did not earn this money honestly”).
    • Emphatic: ñaquloo jii alal (“this money, you did not earn it honestly”).

Contextual Adaptation

• Determiners adapt based on distance and familiarity.
  • Examples:
    • ginaar bii walla bee (“I want to buy this or that chicken”).
    • boobu (“that one near you”, implies association).

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Exercises

1. Translate the following sentences using appropriate determiners:
   • “This child is happy.”
   • “Some towns are beautiful.”
   • “I want that chicken.”
2. Identify the correct determiner based on noun class in provided examples.
3. Form sentences with both singular and plural demonstratives.

This guide provides an in-depth understanding of Wolof determiners, their forms, and their usage. Practice these examples to master noun-determiner relationships in Wolof.