Gender assignment in Datooga nouns

Abstract

This study describes gender assignment in Datooga nouns. The article shows that gender is linguistically expressed in Datooga nouns. Noun gender in Datooga is a non-agreeing one depicted as both overt and covert. The overt gender is morphologically represented using u/ud(v)- (feminine gender) and gi/ gid(v)- (masculine gender) prefixes. The covert gender is realised from the semantics of a given referent. The parameter size (sometimes understood in terms of consequences) of a referent, affective values associated with a referent and association with a male or female cultural sphere of life guide the semantics of noun gender assignment. Further, mythological association overrode the semantics of noun gender assignment in Datooga.