< Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu

Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/màcángʊ́

This Proto-Bantu entry contains reconstructed words and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Bantu

Etymology

Likely related by inheritance and semantic shift, but perhaps by borrowing, to various terms for maize in Niger-Congo, including the stem *-sáŋ in Eastern Grassfields, and farther afield, Leyigha nsaŋe, Legbo nzana, and Usaghade úsân.

Noun

*màcángʊ́ class 6 [1]

  1. millet or pearl millet (exact referent uncertain)

Descendants
  • Bashilele: masangu (“millet”)
  • Bushoong: masháaŋ (“millet”)
  • Kikumu: muyángu (“millet or sorghum”)
  • Kwese: másàngù (“millet”)
  • Mpuono: ásaŋ (“pearl millet”)
  • Phende: disangu (“millet”)
  • Songo: másàŋ (“pearl millet”)
  • Wongo: masangu (“millet”)

Borrowed from a Bantu language spoken on the Atlantic coast:

  • → Bangi: lisangu (“maize”)
  • → Bolia: ihángú (“maize”)
  • → Ikota: isangu (“maize”)
  • → Mongo: lisángú (“maize”)
  • → Ntomba: isángú (“maize”)
  • → Soko: lisángú (“maize”) (probably borrowed)

Borrowed from a Bantu language spoken in Angola or Zambia:

  • → Ila: insangu (“small seed”)
  • → Umbundu: osangu (“small seed”)

References
  1. Entry 486 at Bantu Lexical Reconstructions 3
  • Bostoen, Koen (2006–2007), "Pearl millet in early Bantu speech communities in Central Africa: A reconsideration of the lexical evidence." Afrika und Übersee: 89, 183–213.
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