Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/màcángʊ́

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

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.

*màcángʊ́ class 6^[1]

1. millet or pearl millet (exact referent uncertain)

• Lele (Congo) (C84): masangu (“millet”)
• Bushoong (C83): masháaŋ (“millet”)
• Kumu (D23): muyángu (“millet or sorghum”)
• Kwese (L13): másàngù (“millet”)
• Mbuun (B87): ásaŋ (“pearl millet”)
• Phende (L11): disangu (“millet”)
• Nsong (B85d): másàŋ (“pearl millet”)
• Wongo (C85): masangu (“millet”)

Borrowed from a Bantu language spoken on the Atlantic coast:

• → Bangi (C32): lisangu (“maize”)
• → Bolia (C35b): ihángú (“maize”)
• → Kota (Gabon) (B25): isangu (“maize”)
• → Mongo (C61): lisángú (“maize”)
• → Ntomba (C35a): isángú (“maize”)
• → Soko (C52): lisángú (“maize”) (probably borrowed)

Borrowed from a Bantu language spoken in Angola or Zambia:

• → Ila (M63): insangu (“small seed”)
• → Umbundu (R11): osangu (“small seed”)

• 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.