Isanzu language
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| Isanzu | |
|---|---|
| Kinyihanzu | |
| Native to | Tanzania |
| Ethnicity | Anyihanzu |
Native speakers | 26,000 (2009)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | isn |
| Glottolog | isan1243 |
F.31B[2] | |
| ELP | Lua error in Module:Endangered_Languages_Project at line 21: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Isanzu | |
|---|---|
| People | Anyihanzu |
| Language | Kinyihanzu |
| Country | Ihanzu |
Isanzu is a Bantu language spoken by the Isanzu people south of Lake Eyasi in Tanzania.
The position of Isanzu within the Bantu family is uncertain. It is rather distinct in certain features from other Bantu languages of the area, such as Nyaturu, but is quite close in others. One easily recognizable feature is /h/ in words where neighboring languages have /s/ or /tʃ/, as in the name Isanzu ~ Ihanzu, a feature it shares with Iramba, and a reason it is commonly classified with Iramba.[citation needed]
Phonology
[edit | edit source]| Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | p b | t d | k g | ||
| Affricate | dz | dʒ | |||
| Fricative | f | s | ʃ | x | h |
| Nasal | m̥ m | n̥ n | ɲ | ŋ̊ ŋ | |
| Approximant | w | r, l | j |
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i iː | u uː | |
| Mid-high | e eː | o oː | |
| Mid-low | ɛ ɛː | ɔ ɔː | |
| Low | a aː |
Additionally, Isanzu distinguishes between high tone and low tone.[3]
References
[edit | edit source]
