Numeral Systems of the West Rift Southern Cushitic Languages

Abstract

This paper investigates numeral systems of the West Rift Southern Cushitic languages—Iraqw, Gorwaa, Alagwa, and Burunge. It provides a detailed description of the properties of numerals, the knowledge, current use and status of the indigenous numeral systems. For descriptive analysis, the study banks on the data collected through elicitation, observations, and documentary review. Morphologically, the un-derived numerals are monolexeme with some phonological changes from the proto form of the Southern Cushitic. The derived numerals are formed from basic numerals through addition, multiplication and a combination of both processes. The numeracy of these languages is vulnerable to endangerment since number words for 100 and 1,000 in Alagwa and Burunge have already been replaced by the Swahili numeral words. In spontaneous speech, speakers prefer Swahili numeral terms over their native ones. Speakers of these four languages count by using Swahili or both but very rarely use indigenous terms for lower numbers. Infrequent use of the indigenous terms triggers loss of knowledge among young people. Other factors are use of Swahili as lingua franca in trade and business, penetration of Swahili to the home domain, early schooling age, and decline of the traditional games and folklores. Thus, this paper calls for the urgent description, documentation, and revitalization of indigenous numeracy of minority languages, other than those of Southern Cushitic languages.