Nzema language

Nzema, also known as Nzima or Appolo, is a Central Tano language spoken by the Nzema people of southwestern Ghana and southeastern Ivory Coast.[2] It is partially intelligible with Jwira-Pepesa and is closely related to Baoulé.[3]

"Appolo" redirects here. For other uses, see Appolo (disambiguation).
Nzema
RegionGhana, Ivory Coast
EthnicityNzema
Native speakers
412,000 (2013)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-2nzi
ISO 639-3nzi
Glottolognzim1238

Although it is a Bia language, Nzema has had considerable influence from Akan languages, especially Twi and Fante.[4]

Phonology

Consonants
Labial Labiodental Dental Alveolar Alveolo-palatal Palatal Velar Labial-velar
plain labialized plain labialized palatalized nasalized plain labialized plain labialized plain labialized
Nasal plain m n̪ n ɲ ɲʷ ŋ ŋʷ ŋm
Plosive/

affricate

 voiceless p tp t̪ dʑ dʑʷ k kʷ kp
voiced b db d̪ d tɕ tɕʷ ɡ gʷ ɡb
Fricative voiceless f fʷ s sʷ sʲ ɕ ɕʷ x
voiced v vʷ z zʷ zʲ ɣ
Trill r
Lateral l l̃
Approximant j w

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i u
Near-close ɪ ʊ
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Near-open ɐ
Open a

Of Nzema's ten vowels, eight may be nasalized: /i᷈/, /ɪ᷈/, /ɛ̃/, /ɐ̃/, /a᷈/, /u᷈/, /ʊ᷈/, and /ɔ̃/.[4]

References
  1. Nzema at Ethnologue (22nd ed., 2019)
  2. "Nzema". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  3. Burmeister, Jonathan L. (1976). "A comparison of variable nouns in Anyi-Sanvi and Nzema". Annales de l'Université d'Abidjan. H (Linguistique 9): 7–19.
  4. Berry, J. (1955). "Some Notes on the Phonology of the Nzema and Ahanta Dialects". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 17 (1): 160–165. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00106421. ISSN 1474-0699.


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