Structure of noun database.

CLASS             

      Class of the noun, using traditional Bantu numbering system. 
      [If the same root occurs in more than one class, they are
      separated by a slash, e.g. rafiki `friend' 5/9.  If class
      unclear from dictionary entry (e.g. if no plural given),
      tentative class plus ? entered (e.g. kipilipili `kind of
      fish' =7?)]

HUMAN       

      n = not human.  If human, subcategorized into:
      kin
      religious, e.g. nabii `prophet'
      occupation, e.g. karani `secretary'
      character, e.g. mjinga `fool'
      agentive, e.g. mvunja `one who breaks/destroys'
      physical description, e.g. mkongwe `old person'               
      nationality, e.g. Mwarabu `Arab'
      social organization (=apart from kin, e.g. mseja
      `bachelor')
      description (miscellaeous, e.g. tajiri `wealthy
person')

ANIMAL            

      n = not animal.  If animal, subcategorized into:
      invertebrate, e.g. kaka `leech', with subcategory
      sea, e.g. kaya `kind of shellfish'
      snake
      mammal
      insect
      domestic
      amphibian
      origin, e.g. horn used as musical instrument
      made, e.g. honeycomb, made by animals
      fish
      bird
      part, e.g. pezi `fin of fish'
      social organization, e.g. killed as sacrifice
      unspecified, e.g. mnyama, general term for `animal'

PLANT       

      n = not plant.  If plant, subcategorized into:
      tree
      fruit
      nut
      root
      grain
      grass
      seed
      flower
      whole plant, e.g. jimbi `bracken'
      various kinds, e.g. palizi `weeds'
      material = made from plant, e.g. kawa `grass dish
cover'
      part, e.g. tawi `branch'

INANIMATE         

      n = not inanimate.  If inanimate, subcategorized into:
      body part, which also includes wound, abscess, and
      diseases 
      artifact, also including furniture and carpets
      man made, but not artifact-like, e.g. rago `camp'
      tool (e.g. whetstone, but also furniture, utensils such
      as baskets, and weapons)
      part (of inanimate object, e.g. omo `prow of ship')
      liquid
      mass
      collection (of discrete objects, e.g. shada `string of
flowers/beads')
      place, e.g. nyika `barren place'
      religious, e.g. mzumai `rosary bead'
      abstract, also including sounds, utterances, games,
dances
      nominalization (derived from a verb, as distinct from
      non-derived abstractions)
      social organization, e.g. rika `same initiation rites
      as someone'
      container, e.g. baskets, hollowed out gourds etc.
      food, i.e. prepared food e.g. para `semsem cake' 
      transportation, e.g. meli `ship'
      extract, e.g. medicine or dye
      clothg, incl. chains, belts, necklaces
      left blank = none of the above

SHAPE       

      na = not applicable.  If applicable, subcategorized into:
      long, i.e. extended in one dimension
      2 dimensional solid, e.g. types of cloth
      2 dimensional hollow, e.g. bracelet, net
      3 dimensional solid
      3 dimensional hollow, e.g. baskets, containers 

SIZE        

      na = not applicable, or neither big nor small.  If
      applicable, subcategorized into:
      s (relatively small, but not diminutive of another noun)
      l (relatively large, but not augmentative of another
noun)
      xs (exceptionally small, i.e. diminutive of another noun)
      xl (exceptionally large, i.e. augmentative of another
noun) ? = unsure of size
      [NB:  general criterion for assigning size:  size relative
      to typical member of that category, or size relative to a
      human being.  Thus a bird described as "large" in dictionary
      def., or a plantation, categorized as l.]

NUMBER      
      singular or plural.  ? if unsure how to categorize.

AFFECT      

      positive, e.g. a term of praise
      negative, e.g. a derogatory term
      blank = neutral, or can't tell from dictionary def.
      
      [NB:  diseases and abnormal human conditions were regarded
      as negative in affect.]

DERIVED     
      blank = not derived.  If derived, give origin plus part of
      speech category, e.g. tambaa V `to crawl'
      
      
NATURAL FORCE (=not human, animal or plant. Includes deities,
spirits, and natural phenomena such as wind and rain)

      n or left blank = no;         y = yes

LOAN              

      Arabic
      Persian
      portuguese
      German
      English
      Japanese, e.g. riksho `rickshaw'
      Hindi
      French
      Turkish
      Malay
      Bantu = another, unspecified Bantu language
      ? (=unclear origin, but listed as borrowed).