Firstly, this is a verbal extension.
Secondly, it almost the least common of the 4 active izimpambosi in the language (after -EL- and -IS-, but more common than -ISIS-). It is called the Reciprocal or Associative extension.
Thirdly, what it does is:
- it allows for two subjects to mutually engage in an action (usually with na*)
- it intensifies an action (when there is only a singular subject, without na*)
Here are some examples explaining what happens to a verb’s meaning when you add this extension. Pay attention to the verbs which have to add other extensions between the stem and -ANA (indicated with a *)
| original verb | extended version |
| thanda love a thing prefer a thing | thandana love one another prefer one another [love+ reciprocal] |
| shaya exert force on a thing strike or hit a thing | shayana exert force on one another hit one another [hit + reciprocal] |
| shayisa cause something to hit something knock off work | shayisana collide with one another crash into each other [hit + cause + reciprocal] |
| dla eat something consume something | dlana consume one another be at each other’s throats [consume + reciprocal] |
| dlisa cause to eat something poison someone | dlisana poison each other [eat + cause + reciprocal] |
| funda read something study something | fundana study very hard [study + associative] |
| hlala* live somewhere | hlalisana live together [sit + cause + reciprocal] |
| sebenza* work fulfil function | sebenzisana work together [work + cause + recpriocal] |
| cabanga* think imagine | cabangelana consider each other [think + apply + reciprocal] |
Generally, the -AN- extension allows the verb to happen together, with each other, or intensely.
As with the -IS- extension, whatever function a word fulfills before adding the impambosi gets incorporated into the new meaning.
If you still have questions, you know where to ask for help!