RVN Webinar Series - Words and Qualities: A Survey of Smallness in the Tanzanian Rift
Channel: Rift Valley Network
Date: 2024-02-29

Note: This talk has not gone through a process of peer review, and 
findings should therefore be treated as preliminary and subject to change.

How to cite: Harvey, Andrew. 2024. Words and Qualities: A Survey of "Smallness" in the Tanzanian Rift. Talk Given at Rift Valley Webinar Series 21/02/2024.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10727523

Abstract: Inspired by a handful of resemblances between words indicating smallness in the languages of the Tanzanian Rift, this talk is an initial survey therein of the semantic field of “smallness”. Focusing on lexical items and morphemes expressing the concepts /SHORT/, /FEW/, /SMALL/, /CHILD/, /LITTLE PEOPLE/, as well as diminutivising operations, this talk: 1) identifies forms expressing these concepts in the Rift languages, 2) identifies resemblances, and 3) discusses whether resemblances could be due to contact, genetic inheritance, or chance. Where contact is deemed possible, individual scenarios are proposed. Finally, reflection is made on the significance of qualities such as “smallness” having shared terms across languages, and suggestions are made for future research.