Number and animacy in the Teke noun class system

In this paper, we trace the development of Proto-Bantu noun classes into Teke
(Bantu B71, Ewo dialect), showing that formal reflexes of classes 1, 2, 5–9, and 14
are detectable. We further show that animacy, abstractness, and number allow us
to determine the fate of classes 3, 4, 10, 11 and identify the following singular/plural
genders: 1/2 (animate <PB 1/2, some 9/10), 1/8 (inanimate, <PB 3/4), 14/8 (abstract,
<PB 14/8), 5/6 (<PB 5/6), 5/9 (<PB 11/10, with 10>9 merger), 7/8 (<PB 7/8), and 9/6 (<PB 9/6). Such reassignments provide a window into probing parallel noun class changes in other Northwest Bantu and Niger-Congo in general.