Description of Kimanda Noun Class System

Description of endangered language like Kimanda (NII) is among strategies of preserving some of its features. Due to the fact that noun classification is the one of the essential elements in Bantu language, this study described noun classes in Kimanda in order to determine the number of noun classes and examine the forms and distribution of noun class prefixes. After reviewing various literatures to establish how the classification system operates in various languages, the study employed semantics, morphological, syntactic and criteria to classify nouns. To achieve the desired results, elicitation, documentary review and participant observation were used as methods for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive method and findings are presented in tables and morphological pairing. The findings indicate that, despite discrepancies in some items like animals and body parts, there is very strong morphosemantic relation in classifying nouns in Kimanda: most nouns with semantic content take similar morphological forms. In our case gender ‘A’ (class 1 and 2) being the best example. Lake other languages the classification in Kimanda displays attitudinal feelings; consequently a handful of nouns denoting people with disability retain stereotype attitudes towards them. It has been conducted that much more research should be undertaken on Kimanda. At the same time, a comparative study with Kinyanja (Chichewa N.30) spoken in Malawi can be done to establish similarity and differences because speakers of Kimanda identify themselves as Vanyanja.