Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/-bʊ́mba

This Proto-Bantu entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Bantu

Verb

*-bʊ́mba (infinitive *kʊ̀ )

1. to work clay

Usage notes

Bostoen (2007) argues that although the word is morphologically reconstructible to Proto-Bantu, the specialized meaning "to make pottery" is not.

Derived terms

• *ìbʊ́mbà

Descendants

• Bemba (M42): -bumba
• Chichewa (N31): -umba
• Rwanda-Rundi (J61/62): -bumba
• Shona (S10): -umba
• Swahili (G42): -umba
• Southern Bantu:
  • Makhuwa (P31): -wuupa
  • Nguni:
    • Zunda:
      • Xhosa (S41): -bumba
      • Zulu (S42): -bumba
    • Tekela:
      • Phuthi (S404): -bubha
  • Sotho-Tswana:
    • Northern Sotho (S32): bopa
    • Sotho (S33): bopa
    • Tswana (S31): bopa
  • Venda (S20): -vhumba
• Swahili (G42): -umba

References

• Bostoen, Koen (2007). "Pots, words and the Bantu Problem: On Lexical reconstruction and early African history". The Journal of African History 48:2, pp. 173-199.