Lega language
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2024) |
| Lega | |
|---|---|
| Native to | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Lega |
Native speakers | (450,000 cited 1982–2000)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:lea – Shabunda Legalgm – Mwenga Legakhx – Kanuktf – Kwami |
| Glottolog | lega1253 |
D.25,251[2] | |
| ELP | Lua error in Module:Endangered_Languages_Project at line 21: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
File:WIKITONGUES- Célestin speaking Kilega.webm
Lega is a Bantu language, or dialect cluster, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are two major varieties, Shabunda Lega, Mwenga Lega. Mwenga Lega, with about 10% of speakers, finds Shabunda difficult to understand.[citation needed]
Variant spellings of 'Lega' are Rega, Leka, Ileka, Kilega, Kirega. Shabunda is also known as Igonzabale, and Mwenga as Shile or Ishile. Gengele is reported to be a Shabunda-based creole.
According to Ethnologue, Bembe is part of the same dialect continuum. Nyindu is a dialect of Shi that has been heavily influenced by Lega.
Phonology
[edit | edit source]Vowels
[edit | edit source]| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i | u | |
| Near-close | ɪ | ʊ | |
| Mid | e | o | |
| Open | a |
Consonants
[edit | edit source]| Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |
| Plosive | voiceless | p | t | k | |
| voiced | b | d | (ɟ) | g | |
| Fricative | voiceless | (f) | s | ʃ | |
| voiced | v | z | |||
| Trill | r | ||||
| Lateral | l | ||||
| Approximant | j | w | |||
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Shabunda Lega at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Mwenga Lega at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Kanu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Kwami at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) - ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
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