Towards the recognition of a word class ‘adjective’ for Zulu

Abstract

In this article it is proposed that a word class ‘adjective’, which contains the so-called ‘adjectives’, ‘relatives’ and ‘enumeratives’, be recognized for Zulu. Arguments are put forward indicating why none of the existing descriptions of the true nature and possible classification of these categories are adequate. The great similarities regarding the morphology, semantics, syntax and possible diachronic development of adjectives, relatives and enumeratives tend to support the theory that these categories belong to a single word class.