Abstract:
In this article the semantic evolution of the modal verb -sóból- in Luganda is
examined through the analysis of a diachronic corpus spanning the last 120
years. It is shown that the usage frequency of this verb increased exponentially
between the early 20th century and the present, and that its use as a lexical verb
has dramatically decreased during the same time span. The corpus data furthermore
substantiate that its modal uses have been extended from the exclusive
expression of dynamic possibility until the 1960s to deontic possibility. Methodologically,
this is the first full-scale article within the young field of Bantu
corpus linguistics in which a corpus-driven study is performed on a diachronic
corpus. The approach is not only shown to be feasible, but the encouraging
results will hopefully entice colleagues working on the Bantu languages to
undertake the building and analysis of such diachronic corpora for linguistic
purposes.
