Abstract:We employ a cluster approach to explore the comparative semantic maps of several markers of modal possibility –
the “potential” prefix nga‑ and expressions meaning, roughly, ‘know how to’ and ‘be able to’ – in four South
African Nguni languages: isiNdebele, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Siswati. We also compare the Nguni results with results from Xitsonga, a
closely related language outside of the Nguni clade. The languages exhibit cross-linguistic differences i… Show more
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