Mongo language

Mongo, also called Nkundo or Mongo-Nkundu (Lomongo, Lonkundu), is a Bantu language spoken by several of the Mongo peoples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mongo speakers reside in the north-west of the country over a large area inside the curve of the Congo River. Mongo is a tonal language.

Not to be confused with Mongo language (Cameroon), Mongol language, or Daju Mongo language.
Mongo
Nkundu
Lomongo
RegionDemocratic Republic of Congo
EthnicityMongo people
Native speakers
(400,000 cited 1995)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-2lol
ISO 639-3lol – inclusive code
Individual code:
ymg – Yamongeri
Glottologmong1338  Mongo
bafo1235  Bafoto
C.61,611; C.36H[2]

There are several dialects. Maho (2009) lists one of these, Bafoto (Batswa de l'Equateur), C.611, as a separate language. The others are:[2]

  • Kutu (Bakutu), including Longombe
  • Bokote, including Ngata
  • Booli
  • Bosaka
  • Konda (Ekonda), including Bosanga-Ekonda
  • Ekota
  • Emoma
  • Ikongo, including Lokalo-Lomela
  • Iyembe
  • Lionje, Nsongo, Ntomba
  • Yamongo
  • Mbole, including Nkengo, Yenge, Yongo, Bosanga-Mbole, Mangilongo, Lwankamba
  • Nkole
  • South Mongo, including Bolongo, Belo, Panga, Acitu
  • Yailima
  • Ngombe-Lomela, Longombe, Ngome à Múná

Phonology

Consonants
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Plosive plain p  b t  d k  ɡ
prenasal ᵐp ᵐb ⁿt  ⁿd ᵑk ᵑɡ
Affricate plain t͡s  d͡z
prenasal ⁿt͡s ⁿd͡z
Fricative plain f s h
prenasal ⁿs
Lateral l
Approximant w j
  • /d͡z/ can be heard as alveolar or dental [d̪͡z̪] and /t͡s/ can be alveolar or postalveolar [t͡ʃ], when before front vowels.[3]

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i u
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Open a

References
  1. Mongo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Yamongeri at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. de Rop, Albert J. (1958). Grammaire du lomongo: phonologie et morphologie. Leuven & Léopoldville: Université Lovanium.
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