The Component Kwa- in Zulu Placenames Derived from Khoisan

Author: Raper, Peter E.¹

Source: Names: A Journal of Onomastics, Volume 57, Number 3, September 2009 , pp. 127-140(14)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

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Abstract:

The prefix Kwa occurs in many Zulu placenames, indicating “the place of,” frequently referring to a person or personified feature. In composite placenames derived from Khoisan but adapted into the Zulu phonological and orthographic system, the component Kwa is often found to be a folk etymological adaptation of a Khoisan word, sometimes with the same lexical meaning as the other component of the name. In placenames of the latter sort, the prefix Ma- is sometimes also inserted as a result of misinterpretation of a Khoisan component phonologically similar to Kwa-. The present investigation also reveals a feature of Khoisan placename formation relating to the utilization of demonstrative adverbial locative elements that have in the past sometimes been regarded as generic terms or feature type designators.

Keywords: GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES; ZULU PLACENAMES; SAN PLACENAMES; KHOISAN INFLUENCE ON ZULU PLACENAMES

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1179/175622709X436350

Affiliations: 1: University of the Free State, 40 Junction Road, Bramley, Johannesburg 2090, South Africa;, Email: lamoller@absamail.co.za

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