The linguistic ethnobiology of Masa

In this talk, I survey the different ways in which speakers of Masa languages (Chadic < Afroasiatic) name plants and animals. I focus on the Northern division of Masa, which comprises Masana, Musey, Gizey, Ham, and Marba(-Lew). These languages use plenty of composite labels (endocentric). Unitary labels are also attested. The unitary labels involve simple lexemes and compounds (exocentric). Most unitary compounds are metaphor-based. A number of labels involve reduplication. Reduplication in the fauna and flora vocabulary can be iconic (onomatopoeia) or driven by analogy.