Janga Wolof

Overview of Wolof Nouns

Wolof nouns belong to a sophisticated classification system that includes ten noun classes. These classes influence agreement with determiners, adjectives, and other nominal dependents. While the noun itself typically lacks overt class markers, class information is carried by its dependents, such as articles and relative markers. This guide explores the organization, assignment strategies, and usage of Wolof nouns.

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Noun Classes in Wolof

Singular and Plural Classes

• Singular Classes: Wolof has eight singular noun classes.
• Plural Classes: Wolof has two plural noun classes.
• Default Class: The b-class serves as the default for many loanwords and new terms.
• A noun may belong to three classes simultaneously: singular, plural, and diminutive.

Class Markers

• Class markers are consonants that appear on nominal dependents like determiners.
• Examples:
  • Singular: nit ki (“the person”) vs. Plural: nit ñi (“the people”).
  • Singular: ker gi (“the house”) vs. Plural: ker yi (“the houses”).

Diminutive Formation

• Transfer to the s-class and possible consonant mutation.
  • Example:
    • bey w- becomes mbey s- (“goat” to “small goat”).
    • gewel b- becomes ngewel s- (“griot” to “small griot”).

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Noun Classification Strategies

Semantic Classification

• Liquids: m-class (e.g., ndox mi “water”, meew mi “milk”).
• Trees and Fruits:
  • Trees: g-class (e.g., guy gi “baobab tree”).
  • Fruits: b-class (e.g., buy bi “baobab fruit”).
• Family Members: j-class (e.g., yaay ji “mother”, doom ji “child”).

Phonological Classification

• Some nouns are assigned classes based on their initial consonant.
  • Example: g-class for g-initial nouns (e.g., gaynde gi “the lion”).
• Phonological assignment also applies to loanwords.

Default Assignment

• The b-class acts as a catch-all for loanwords and terms lacking clear classification criteria.
  • Example: khalis bi (“money”, from Arabic).

Morphological Classification

• Derived nouns often resist default class assignment.
  • Example:
    • dox (“walk”) becomes doxin wi (“manner of walking”).
    • gis (“see”) becomes gisgis gi (“way of seeing”).

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Noun Agreement

Definite Articles

• Articles agree with the class of the noun.
  • Examples:
    • ker gi (“the house”).
    • ndox mi (“the water”).

Demonstratives

• Demonstratives also show class agreement.
  • Examples:
    • ker gii (“this house”).
    • nit kii (“this person”).

Relative Particles

• Relative markers match the class of the noun.
  • Examples:
    • ker gu baax (“a house that is good”).
    • nit ku baax (“a person who is good”).

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Exercises

• Classify nouns into their correct classes based on examples.
• Practice forming diminutives and plural forms.
• Translate noun phrases, paying attention to agreement.
• Create sentences using relative clauses with correct class markers.