Grammar, usage, orthography and vocabulary in Otjiherero
What the domain tests
This domain tests control of Otjiherero grammar and written conventions: noun classes and concords, tense and aspect, pronouns, adjectives, word division, capitalisation and vocabulary choice.
Core rules
- Every noun belongs to a class; the subject concord on the verb must agree with that class.
- Object concords also agree with the noun object, not with the subject.
- Check tense and aspect markers carefully; a small prefix changes present, past or future meaning.
- Write words separately according to standard Otjiherero orthography; do not copy English word division.
- Capitalise proper names and sentence beginnings, not every noun.
- Choose vocabulary that fits the register; a synonym may be grammatically correct but socially wrong.
Worked example
Incorrect: “Ovana u-ra-lesa embo.” Correct: “Ovana va-ra-lesa embo.” Reasoning: “Ovana” is a class 2 noun with the subject concord “va-”. The prefix “u-” belongs to class 1, as in “Omona u-ra-lesa embo.” The verb must change concord, not just the noun. If the object is also a class 2 noun, the object concord must match it as well.
Traps that cost marks
- Using class 1 concord with plural nouns.
- Confusing subject and object concords.
- Translating English word order directly into Otjiherero.
- Splitting or joining words by English habit.
- Over-capitalising common nouns.
- Choosing a correct word with the wrong register.