Within Lingala there are some verbs that have a special use in that they can be used for more than their basic meaning. An example of this is the verb –zang– which means to lack. It can also be used to give the sense of being without something or someone.
Other than it’s basic meaning, it can be used along with other verbs (and words) to emphasize what the verb does is missing, or that it is the opposite. Notice some examples using some of our new words for this lesson:
| kozanga kokoka | to be imperfect / unable | to lack to be able |
| kozanga kotosa | to violate | to lack to obey |
| kozanga mobali | to be without husband | to lack man/husband |
| kozanga kokufa | to be immortal | to lack to die |
| kozanga kokanisa | to be thoughtless | to lack to think |
So in these cases, compounding the verb –zang– with other verbs helps us to form great ideas. This is something that is often done in Lingala where it lacks specific words to express an idea in just one word.
In the first example above we have kozanga kokoka. The root –kok– has a meaning of being able. This means it can also be used to describe something as perfect, or at least give the sense of that idea. So the phrase kozanga kokoka appropriate means to lack perfection, or be imperfect.