Venda uses a prefix on a noun to express instrumentality in a number of senses. This prefix is 'nga-', which I will gloss as INST For instance:
(1) means of transportation (CON = Concord or agreement)
Vha ya mushumo-ni nga modoro
CON-pl go work-to INST car
'They travel to work by car.'
(2) tool or instrument used
U khou tshea nama nga lufhanga lwo gomalaho
3ps AUX cut meat(?) INST knife (?) blunt/dull
'She is cutting the meat with a blunt knife.'
(3) material used
Vha bika nga khali dza vumba
CON-pl cook INST pots (?) clay
'They cook with earthenware pots.'
This same suffix, 'nga-' can also be used to express manner, when attached to a noun:
(4) nga maanda
INST strength, power
'quickly' (literally 'by means of strength/power')
(5) nga maduvha
INST days
'always' (literally 'by means of the days')
The comitative is expressed through the prefix 'na-' which I will gloss as CO:
(6) na musadzi
CO the woman
'with the woman' (literally, 'also the woman')
(7) na mmbwa
CO dog
'with a dog' (literally, 'also the dog')
'Na-' also is also used as a conjunction between two nouns:
(8) malegere na notshi
sweets CO honey
'sweets and honey'
(9) munna na musadzi
man CO woman
'a man and a woman'
In Venda, the prefix 'nga-' seems to have a sense of "by means of" which can express a way of doing things, whether it is with a tool, container, or vehicle, or a quality such as 'strength' or a sense of time such as 'days'. ( 'Nga-' is used in many other ways in this language, which are beyond the scope of this short exploration.)
However, the expression of "together with" is embodied in a different prefix, 'na-' which in this language has a very different sense from 'nga-'. 'Na-' has the sense of "association." So we see it used when someone is married to someone, or speaking with someone.
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Revised January 28, 1999