On Reconstructing The Proto-Bantu Object Marking System

Abstract

This chapter critically examines the divergent hypotheses about the Proto-Bantu (PB) object marking system proposed by Meeussen (1967) and Polak (1986). It then builds on their insights with additional data and details of analysis and develops a new reconstruction of PB object marking, including its place in a larger system of topicality marking also involving the subject marker.