West Kilimanjaro language

West Kilimanjaro, or West Chaga, is a Bantu language of Tanzania spoken by the Chaga people.

West Kilimanjaro
West Chaga
Native toTanzania
RegionMachame, Kilimanjaro Region
EthnicityChaga
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
jmc – Machame
rwk – Rwa
Glottologwest2852
E.621 (ex-E.61,62a)[1]

There are several dialects:[1]

  • Rwa (Rwo, Meru, Kirwo), or Meru, from Mount Meru
  • Mashami (Kimashame), or "Hai" (Kihai)
  • Siha
  • Kiwoso (Kibosho including Kindi, Kombo, Mweka)
  • Masama
  • Ng’uni

Phonology

Vowels
Front Central Back
High i iː u uː
Mid e eː o oː
Low a aː

Consonants
Consonants in the Mashame dialect[2][3]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Stop voiceless p t k
voiced b d (ɟ)
prenasal ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ
Fricative voiceless f s ʃ (h)
voiced β ɣ
Rhotic r
Lateral glide l
fricative ɮ
Approximant w j
  • /ɣ/ may also be heard as uvular [ʁ] in free variation.
  • /β/ can also be realized as [ʋ] or [w] among some speakers.
  • [ɟ] is found in loanwords.[3]
  • /h/ only rarely occurs.[2]

References
  1. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  2. Rugemalira, Josephat Muhozi (2008). Kimashami: Kamusi ya Kimashami-Kiingereza-Kiswahili. Dar es Salaam: Dept. of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, University of Dar es Salaam.
  3. Rugemalira, Josephat M.; Phanuel, Benedictor (2012). A grammatical sketch of Kimashami. University of Dar es Salaam.


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