Konjo language (Bantu)

The lhukonzo (Konzo) language, variously rendered Lukonzo, Olukonzo, and konzo, is a Bantu language spoken by the Konzo people of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has a 77% lexical similarity with Nande. There are many dialects, including Sanza (Ekisanza).[1]

Soninke
Sooninkanxanne
Native toUganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo
EthnicityBakonjo
Native speakers
610,000 in Uganda (2002 census)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3koo
Glottologkonz1239
JD.41[2]

Writing System

Konzo Alphabet[3]
abdef ghikl mnopq rstuv wyz

Phonetics

Consonants

Konzo consonant phonemes[4]
Labial Dental Alveolar Retroflex Postalveolar/ Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ny
Stop prenasalized mb nd ngy ng
implosive/ voiced bb d gy g
voiceless p t ky k
aspirated
Fricative prenasalized nz
voiced v b z gh
voiceless f th s h h
Approximant l Lh y w
Rhotic r

In addition to the phonemes noted above, Konzo also has a prenasalized, voiceless /Nt/; and a voiceless alveolar sibilant affricate /Ts/.

Vowels

Konzo is characterized for having advanced tongue root.[5]

Konzo's IPA Vowel Chart[4]

Front Back
Close i u
Near-close ɪ ʊ
Mid ɛ ɤ o
Open a

Basic vocabulary

List of basic phrases and words.[6]

  • Good morning – Wabukire
  • Good afternoon – Wasibire
  • Good night - Ukeyesaye buholho
  • Thank you (very much) – Wasingya (kutsibu)
  • How are you? – Ghune wuthi?
  • How are you? – Muneyo?
  • Fine – Ngane ndeke
  • Sir/Man – Mulhume
  • Madam/Woman – Mukalhi
  • Boy – Omuthabana
  • Girl – Omumbesa
  • Dear – Mwanithu
  • Friend – Omukaghu
  • King – Mukama/Mwami omusinga
  • 2-10 – ibiri, isatu, ini, ithanu, mukagha, musanju, munani, mwenda, ikumi
  • Car – Engumbaghalhi
  • Water – Amaghetse
  • Gift – Kihembo
  • House - Enumba
  • Goat - Embene
  • Dog - Embwa

References

  1. Soninke at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. Kambale 2007.
  4. "Konjo language and pronunciation". omniglot.com. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  5. Derek Nurse; Gérard Philippson, eds. (2003). The Bantu languages. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-7007-1134-1. OCLC 50323065.
  6. Kambale, Balinandi (2009). Lhukonzo - English -- English - Lhukonzo Dictionary. Kampala: Fountain Publishers. ISBN 978-9970-02-574-9.

Works cited


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