The analysis on which this synopsis is based is found in Essai de Grammaire Rundi, (Tervuren: Musée Royal, 1959) by A.E. Meeussen. Certain key ideas concerning style of treatment have been acquired over the years from many teachers and colleagues, especially William E. Welmers.
The problems which are faced by a non—Bantu student of Kirundi may be classified under the three traditional headings of phonology, morphology, and syntax. 'Phonology' has to do with all aspects of pronunciation, but without consideration for the grammatical function or the dictionary meaning of what is pronounced. 'Morphology' is a description of the meaningful units of the language (prefixes, roots, stems, etc.) and of the ways in which they combine with one another within single 'words'. 'Syntax' continues this description up to the levels of what are usually called 'phrases' and 'sentences'.
This synopsis concentrates on two of the most complex parts of Kirundi structure: (1) the morphology of the verb, and (2) the pronunciation of the vowels and consonants.
I. PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF KIRUNDI GRAMMAR
Subject prefixes, object prefixes, roots and stems. The kinds of meaningful elements which may be found in any one Kirundi Verb form are both numerous and highly diverse. There are three, however, at which the student should look first, both because they serve as useful landmarks in the description of complicated verb forms, and because they correspond closely with familiar categories of Indo—European grammar. These three kinds of elements are (1) subject prefixes, (2) object prefixes and (3) roots.
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