MIPANDA YEMAZITA (NOUN CLASSES)
Chii chinonzi Mupanda? (What is a Noun Class?)
Mupanda inzira yekuronga mazita (nouns) mumapoka akasiyana-siyana. ChiShona chine mipanda inosvika makumi maviri nerimwe (21), asi mimwe yacho haichanyanyi kushanda kana kuti ine mazita mashoma. Mupanda wega wega une chivakashure (prefix) chinoiswa pamberi pezita, uye chivakashure ichi chinobatsira kuziva kuti zita riri mumupanda upi.
(A noun class is a way of categorizing nouns into different groups. Shona has about 21 noun classes, though some are less productive or contain few nouns. Each noun class has a prefix that is attached to the noun stem, and this prefix helps identify which class the noun belongs to.)
Kukosha kweMipanda (The Importance of Noun Classes):
Mipanda yakakosha zvikuru nekuti inodzora kuti zvimwe zvikamu zvekutaura (parts of speech) zvinoenderana sei nezita racho. Izvi zvinonzi zvibvumirano (concords/agreements). Zvibvumirano izvi zvinoshandiswa pa:
- Zviito (Verbs): Chivakamberi chechiito (subject prefix) uye dzimwe nguva chivakashure (object prefix) zvinoenderana nemupanda wezita riri kuita kana kuitirwa chiito.
- Zvipauro (Adjectives): Chivakashure chechipauro chinoenderana nemupanda wezita riri kutsanangurwa.
- Zvisazitasingwi zveChiratidzo (Demonstratives): Mazwi anoti "ichi," "uyo," "zvino" anochinja zvichienderana nemupanda.
- Zvisazitasingwi zveUhwene (Possessives): Mazwi anoti "-angu," "-ako," "-ake" anotora chivakashure chinoenderana nemupanda wechinhu chiri cheni.
- Zvimwe Zvikamu Zvekutaura: Zvinosanganisira zvinoratidza huwandu (numerals) nezvimwe.
(Noun classes are very important because they determine how other parts of speech agree with the noun. These are called concords or agreements. These concords are used with:
1. Verbs: The subject prefix and sometimes the object prefix of a verb agree with the noun class of the subject or object.
2. Adjectives: The prefix of an adjective agrees with the noun class of the noun it describes.
3. Demonstratives: Words like "this," "that," "these" change according to the noun class.
4. Possessives: Words like "my," "your," "his/her" take a prefix that agrees with the noun class of the possessed item.
5. Other Parts of Speech: Including numerals and others.)
Kurongwa kweMipanda (Organization of Noun Classes):
Mipanda inowanzorongeka nepaviri, paine mupanda weuzhinji (singular) nemupanda weuwandu (plural). Asi pane mimwe isina uwandu kana kuti inoshandisa mupanda mumwe chete. Mimwe mipanda ine mazita anoreva zvinhu zvakafanana (semantic grouping), asi izvi hazvisi nguva dzose.
(Noun classes are often organized in pairs, with a singular class and a plural class. However, some do not have a plural or use the same class. Some classes contain nouns with similar meanings (semantic grouping), but this is not always the case.)
Mienzaniso yeMipanda Mikuru neZvibvumirano Zvayo (Examples of Major Noun Classes and their Concords):
Ngationei mimwe mipanda yakajairika: (Let's look at some common noun classes):
Mupanda 1 (Singular), Mupanda 2 (Plural)
Kazhinji anoreva vanhu. (Often refers to people.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): Mu- (Mupanda 1), Va- (Mupanda 2)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- munhu (person) vanhu (people)
- mwana (child) vana (children)
- mudzidzisi (teacher) vadzidzisi (teachers)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 1):
- Chiito (Subject): Mwana anochema. (The child is crying.)
- Chipauro: Mwana murefu. (A tall child.)
- Chiratidzo: Mwana uyu. (This child.)
- Uhwene: Mwana wangu. (My child.)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 2):
- Chiito (Subject): Vana vanochema. (The children are crying.)
- Chipauro: Vana varefu. (Tall children.)
- Chiratidzo: Vana ava. (These children.)
- Uhwene: Vana vangu. (My children.)
Mupanda 1a (Singular), Mupanda 2a (Plural)
Kazhinji anoreva mazita ehukama, mazita evanhu, uye dzimwe mhuka dzinoremekedzwa. (Often refers to kinship terms, personal names, and some respected animals.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): Kazhinji hapana (Ø) kana kuti zita racho (Mupanda 1a), Vana- kana Va- (Mupanda 2a)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- baba (father) vanababa (fathers/paternal uncles)
- amai (mother) vanaamai (mothers/maternal aunts)
- Tonderai (name) vanaTonderai (Tonderai and his group/family)
- Shumba (Lion - zita remunhu) vaShumba (Mr. Shumba/Shumba family)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 1a):
Zvakafanana neMupanda 1 kana kuti zvinoshandisa zveMupanda 2a kuratidza rukudzo.
- Baba vauya. (Father has come - using plural concord for respect.)
- Tonderai uyu. (This Tonderai.)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 2a):
Zvakafanana neMupanda 2.
- Vanababa vauya. (The fathers have come.)
Mupanda 3 (Singular), Mupanda 4 (Plural)
Kazhinji anoreva miti, nhengo dzemuviri dzakareba, kana zvimwe zvinhu zvakareba. (Often refers to trees, long body parts, or other long things.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): Mu- (Mupanda 3), Mi- (Mupanda 4)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- muti (tree) miti (trees)
- muromo (mouth/lip) miromo (mouths/lips)
- mupinyi (axe handle) mipinyi (axe handles)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 3):
- Chiito (Subject): Muti unamera. (The tree is growing.)
- Chipauro: Muti mukuru. (A big tree.)
- Chiratidzo: Muti uyu. (This tree.)
- Uhwene: Muti wangu. (My tree.)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 4):
- Chiito (Subject): Miti inamera. (The trees are growing.)
- Chipauro: Miti mikuru. (Big trees.)
- Chiratidzo: Miti iyi. (These trees.)
- Uhwene: Miti yangu. (My trees.)
Mupanda 5 (Singular), Mupanda 6 (Plural)
Wakapamhama, une mazita akawanda akasiyana-siyana, anosanganisira zvibereko, nhengo dzemuviri, uye zvimwe zvinhu. (Broad class with many diverse nouns, including fruits, body parts, and other things.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): Ri- (rinowanzosiyiwa, richisiya izwi rekutanga rezita) kana kuti I- (Mupanda 5), Ma- (Mupanda 6)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- dombo (stone) matombo (stones) (Pano ri- rakasiiwa)
- zai (egg) mazai (eggs) (Pano ri- rakasiiwa)
- gumbo (leg) makumbo (legs)
- basa (work) mabasa (works/jobs)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 5):
- Chiito (Subject): Dombo rinopfura. (The stone passes.) / Basa rinopera. (The work ends.)
- Chipauro: Dombo rikuru. (A big stone.)
- Chiratidzo: Dombo iri. (This stone.)
- Uhwene: Dombo rangu. (My stone.)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 6):
- Chiito (Subject): Matombo anopfura. (The stones pass.) / Mabasa anopera. (The works end.)
- Chipauro: Matombo makuru. (Big stones.)
- Chiratidzo: Matombo aya. (These stones.)
- Uhwene: Matombo angu. (My stones.)
Mupanda 7 (Singular), Mupanda 8 (Plural)
Kazhinji anoreva zvinhu, mitauro, tsika, kana zvimwe zvidiki. (Often refers to things, languages, customs, or small items.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): Chi- (Mupanda 7), Zvi- (Mupanda 8)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- chigaro (chair) zvigaro (chairs)
- chingwa (bread) zvingwa (loaves of bread)
- ChiShona (Shona language) (kazhinji hapana uwandu)
- chipo (gift) zvipo (gifts)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 7):
- Chiito (Subject): Chigaro chinodhura. (The chair is expensive.)
- Chipauro: Chigaro chitsva. (A new chair.)
- Chiratidzo: Chigaro ichi. (This chair.)
- Uhwene: Chigaro changu. (My chair.)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 8):
- Chiito (Subject): Zvigaro zvinodhura. (The chairs are expensive.)
- Chipauro: Zvigaro zvitsva. (New chairs.)
- Chiratidzo: Zvigaro izvi. (These chairs.)
- Uhwene: Zvigaro zvangu. (My chairs.)
Mupanda 9 (Singular), Mupanda 10 (Plural)
Kazhinji anoreva mhuka, zvimwe zvibereko, nezvimwe zvinhu zvakasiyana-siyana. (Often refers to animals, some fruits, and other diverse things.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): N- (inoshanduka kuita m- kana ichisangana nemamwe mavhawero) kana kuti hapana (Ø) (Mupanda 9), DziN- (rinoshandukawo) kana kuti hapana (Ø) (Mupanda 10)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- imbwa (dog) imbwa (dogs) (Zita racho harichinji, asi zvibvumirano zvinochinja)
- nyoka (snake) nyoka (snakes)
- huku (chicken) huku (chickens)
- imba (house) dzimba (houses)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 9):
- Chiito (Subject): Imbwa inohukura. (The dog barks.)
- Chipauro: Imbwa nhema. (A black dog.) (N- inogona kusanganiswa)
- Chiratidzo: Imbwa iyi. (This dog.)
- Uhwene: Imbwa yangu. (My dog.)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 10):
- Chiito (Subject): Imbwa dzinohukura. (The dogs bark.)
- Chipauro: Imbwa nhema. (Black dogs.)
- Chiratidzo: Imbwa idzi. (These dogs.)
- Uhwene: Imbwa dzangu. (My dogs.)
Mupanda 11 (Singular)
Kazhinji anoreva zvinhu zvakareba uye zvakatetepa, kana mamwe mazita asina uwandu. (Often refers to long, thin things, or some abstract nouns.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): Ru-
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- rwizi (river) (uwandu hunogona kuva ndwizi (Mupanda 10) kana marwizi (Mupanda 6))
- rurimi (tongue) ndimi (tongues) (Mupanda 10)
- rukuni (piece of firewood) huni (firewood - Mupanda 10)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 11):
- Chiito (Subject): Rwizi runoerera. (The river flows.)
- Chipauro: Rwizi rurefu. (A long river.)
- Chiratidzo: Rwizi uru. (This river.)
- Uhwene: Rwizi rwangu. (My river.)
Mupanda 12 (Singular), Mupanda 13 (Plural)
Anoreva zvidiki (Diminutives).
Chivakashure (Prefix): Ka- (Mupanda 12), Tu- (Mupanda 13)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- kamwana (small child) tuvana (small children)
- kabhuku (small book) tubhuku (small books)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 12):
- Chiito (Subject): Kamwana kanochema. (The small child is crying.)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 13):
- Chiito (Subject): Tuvana tunochema. (The small children are crying.)
Mupanda 14 (Singular)
Kazhinji anoreva mazita asingaonekwi (abstract nouns) kana zvinwiwa. (Often refers to abstract nouns or liquids.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): U- kana Hu-
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- upfu (mealie meal) (kazhinji hapana uwandu)
- huchi (honey)
- usiku (night)
- hunhu (personhood/character)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 14):
- Chiito (Subject): Upfu hunopera. (The mealie meal is finishing.)
- Chipauro: Upfu hutsva. (New mealie meal.)
- Chiratidzo: Upfu uhwu. (This mealie meal.)
- Uhwene: Upfu hwangu. (My mealie meal.)
Mupanda 15 (Singular)
Anoreva zviito zviri muchimiro chezita (Infinitives). (Refers to verbs in their noun form.)
Chivakashure (Prefix): Ku-
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- kudya (to eat / eating)
- kufamba (to walk / walking)
- kuimba (to sing / singing)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 15):
- Chiito (Subject): Kudya kunonaka. (Eating is enjoyable.)
- Chipauro: Kudya kuzhinji. (Much eating.)
- Chiratidzo: Kudya uku. (This eating.)
- Uhwene: Kudya kwangu. (My eating.)
Mipanda yeNzvimbo (Locative Classes): Mupanda 16, 17, 18
Inoratidza nzvimbo. (Indicate place/location.)
Chivakashure (Prefix):
- Pa- (Mupanda 16): Panoratidza nzvimbo iri pedyo kana pamusoro. (Indicates a specific place, on top of, or at.)
- Ku- (Mupanda 17): Panoratidza nzvimbo iri kure kana kuti kwakananga. (Indicates a general area, towards, or from afar.)
- Mu- (Mupanda 18): Panoratidza nzvimbo iri mukati. (Indicates inside.)
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- pamba (at home)
- kumusha (to the rural home / from the rural home)
- mumba (inside the house)
Zvibvumirano (Concords):
Zvine zvibvumirano zvazvo zvakasiyana.
- Pamba pakanaka. (It is nice at home.)
- Kumusha kukure. (The rural home is far.)
- Mumba munodziya. (It is warm inside the house.)
Mupanda 21 (Singular)
Anoreva zvinhu zvikuru (Augmentatives) kana kuti dzimwe nguva zvinosemesa.
Chivakashure (Prefix): Zi-
Mienzaniso (Examples):
- zidombo (huge stone)
- zigomana (huge boy, often with negative connotation)
- zibhuku (huge book)
Zvibvumirano (Concords - Mupanda 21):
Zvakafanana neMupanda 5.
- Zidombo rikuru. (A huge stone.)