concord, noun
- Forms:
- Also with initial capital.
- Origin:
- English, isiXhosaShow more English; first used in relation to the Sintu-language (Bantu-language) prefix system by William B. Boyce (1803–1889) referring to isiXhosa (see quotation 1833).
Grammar
- Note:
- Boyce’s grammar was first published in 1834, and Kay (see quotation 1833) does not indicate his source.
1. With defining words, alliteral concord (see alliteral), alliterative concord, euphonic concord: in Sintu (Bantu) languages, grammatical agreement between a noun or pronoun and another word, produced by attaching a prefix to the other word or to its stem, most such prefixes being similar in sound to the pronouns or noun prefixes with which they are associated, so that alliterative or assonant effects may be produced.
1833 S. Kay Trav. & Researches 280There is..one remarkable peculiarity in the language, which renders it difficult of acquirement by Europeans; and which, as my worthy brother Missionary Mr. Boyce observes, may be termed ‘the euphonic or alliteral concord. One principal word in a sentence governs the initial letters or syllables of the other words...Changes must be made in the initial letters or syllables of the word which is governed by this euphonic concord.’
1928 E. Jacottet Practical Method to Learn Sesuto 4All the grammatical concord of Sesuto (called by some Grammarians the Euphonic Concord) is based upon the structure of the Nouns.
2. A prefix so used. Often with defining word indicating some function of the prefix, as adjectival concord, possessive concord, relative concord, subjectival concord, etc. Hence concordial adjective, making use of such prefixes.
1926 C.M. Doke Phonetics of Zulu Language 283A relative..qualifies a substantive, and is brought into concordial agreement therewith by the relative concord.
1992 Du Plessis & Visser Xhosa Syntax 88The infinitive is associated with concordial agreement elements, such as a subjectival, objectival, and adjectival concord.
With defining words, alliteral concord (see alliteral), alliterative concord, euphonic concord:in Sintu (Bantu) languages, grammatical agreement between a noun or pronoun and another word, produced by attaching a prefix to the other word or to its stem, most such prefixes being similar in sound to the pronouns or noun prefixes with which they are associated, so that alliterative or assonant effects may be produced.

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