ABSTRACT
The process of compensatory lengthening (CL) is probably best introduced by observing examples which illustrate the phenomenon. Consider the following examples, taken from Chilungu, a Zambian Bantu language (CP = Class Prefix; DN = Deverbal Nominal marker).
/ma-ino/ → miino ‘eyes’
CPeye
(cf. ma-tama ‘cheeks’)
CP cheek
/ka-eleka/ → keeleka ‘one who cooks’
DN cook
(cf. ka-koma ‘one who kills’)
DN kill
