NOUN CLASS Meaning and
Definition
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Noun class refers to a grammatical category commonly found in certain languages, particularly in African and some Native American languages. It is a system used to classify nouns into different categories or classes based on shared characteristics such as shape, size, gender, animacy, or other semantic factors. Noun classes are often indicated by prefixes, suffixes, or other markers attached to the noun or associated words within a sentence.
Within noun class systems, each class is assigned a specific prefix or marker, and all nouns belonging to a particular class will use that marker consistently. For instance, in the Bantu language family, noun classes are typically identified by a prefix attached to the noun root. For example, in Swahili, the noun class prefix for humans is "m-", so the word for "person" is "mtu", while the prefix for animals is "m-" resulting in "mnyama" for "animal".
Noun classes can serve multiple functions within a language, including agreement with adjectives, verbs, pronouns, and other elements of the sentence. These classes can often determine the form of other words and expressions associated with the noun, impacting the overall structure of the sentence. In some languages, noun classes can also reflect cultural or social categorizations, such as distinguishing between singular and plural nouns, male and female entities, or animate and inanimate objects.
Overall, noun classes shape the grammatical structure of a language by grouping nouns into distinct categories, facilitating agreement and the production of sentences that follow specific patterns.
Etymology of NOUN CLASS
The word "noun class" derives from the combination of two different linguistic terms: "noun" and "class".
The term "noun" originates from the Latin word "nomen", which means "name". It refers to a part of speech that serves as the name of a person, place, thing, or concept. Nouns typically have the ability to function as the subject or object of a verb and can often take determiners or adjectives.
The term "class" comes from the Latin word "classis", which relates to a group or category of things that share common characteristics or properties. In linguistics, the concept of "class" is often used to describe a method of categorizing nouns based on certain shared linguistic features or patterns.
When combined, "noun class" refers to a categorization system that classifies nouns according to specific linguistic features such as gender, animacy, shape, or other criteria.
