Luganda , also known as Ganda , is a Bantu language . It is mainly spoken in the region of Buganda in Uganda , with a population of over three million people. It is the most widely spoken second language in the country, after English . The language is used in some primary schools in the region, while students learn English, the country’s official language.
Noun classes [ edit | edit source code ]
The Luganda language has ten classes of nouns , which can be considered as ten genders .
Verbs, adjectives, possessives, few conjunctions and some adverbs vary depending on these classes (genders). These genres are characterized by specific prefixes, both singular and plural.
The classes or genres are as follows:
- 1 – mainly for people, however there are some inanimate beings in this class.
- 2 – various nouns, including most trees and long, cylindrical objects.
- 3 – various abstract concepts and most animals.
- 4 – inanimate and the impersonal neutral (conf. “It” do Inglês)
- 5 – mainly large and liquid objects; augmentatives are included there.
- 6 – mainly small things, diminutives, countries, abstract nouns; in the plural verbal nouns.
- 7 – diverse, especially languages.
- 8 – of little use, designates pejoratives
- 9 – for Infinitive or affirmative verbal nouns.
- 10 – unique for plural and singular, it is used for mass, bulk names; main use for drops, precious small amounts.
