Example from lesson with Josh –
Ubungathini?
I parsed this as follows:
U-be-{wo-}nga-THI-ni?
The root of this predicative interrogative sentence is the following:
THI, an irregular verb denoting to Say, Speak or Mean.
Reading the particles of the verb as it is expressed, the following is the combined meaning:
You-contingent-{remote}can-SAY-what?
Translated as:
What would you have said in this instance?
It’s a thoroughly beautiful phrase, especially when one considers the fact that any -bu- sound that early in a predicative reminds the hearer of the abstract Noun Class, characterized by nouns such as ubuntu and ububi.
Another predicative interrogative from the lesson with Josh –
Wawungenzenjani?
This presented some interesting parsing too:
You (Remote Past) – you (repetition denoting remoteness or contingency) – can – DO – {subjunctive} – resembling – what?
Or
You could have potentially done something like what?
Or
What would you have done in this instance?
I love this language.
uMabhengwane 