Les réflexes du proto-bantu en cíbìnjì cyà ngúsú, langue bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo)
- Author
- Michel Onokoko Onyumbe and Joseph Koni Muluwa (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- This paper examines reflexes of Proto-Bantu phonemes in Cibinji cya Ngusu, a Bantu language classified as L231 and spoken in the Central Kasaï province of the RD Congo. First, this article shows an overview of the synchronic phonology of this language and its vowel, consonant and tone systems. In particular, it is shown that the inherited second and third degree vowels *ɪ, *e and *ʊ, *o have an unusual evolution in this language, in contrast to what is evidenced in many other Bantu five-vowel languages. For instance, *e and *o are realized /e/ and /o/ instead of /ɛ/ and /ɔ/, respectively. *ʊ has two regular reflexes, both /u/ and /o/; this change is also exceptional for a five-vowel Bantu language. A peculiar phenomenon in consonant evolution is the spirant devoicing of inherited voiced plosives. A type of Meinhof’s rule called the “Swahili type” is also observed in the evolution of prenasalized consonants. At the tone level, Cibinji cya ngusu has completely inverted the tone scheme of Proto Bantu so that inherited high tones became low tones, and low tones are realized as high tones.
- Cet article examine les réflexes des phonèmes du proto-bantu dans le cíbi nji cya ngúsú, une langue bantu classée L231 et parlée dans la province du Kasaï central en RD du Congo. Cet article présente une vue d›ensemble de la phonologie synchronique de cette langue, son système de vocalique, consonantique et tonal. En particulier, cet article montre que les voyelles du deuxième et du troisième degré *ɪ, *e et *ʊ, *o héritées du proto-bantu ont une évolution inhabituelle dans cette langue, contrairement à ce qui est mis en évidence dans de nombreuses autres langues bantoues à cinq voyelles. Par exemple, *e et *o sont réalisés respectivement /e/ et /o/ au lieu de /ɛ/ et /ɔ/. *ʊ a deux réflexes réguliers, à la fois /u/ et /o/. Ce changement est exceptionnel pour une langue bantu à cinq voyelles. Un autre phénomène particulier dans l›évolution des consonnes est l’assourdissement des occlusives sonores héritées. Un type de règle de Meinhof, du «type swahili», s’observe également dans l’évolution des consonnes prénasalisées. Au niveau des tons, le cíbi nji cya ngúsú a complètement inversé le schème de tons du proto bantu, de sorte que les tons hauts hérités sont devenus des tons bas et les tons bas des tons hauts.
- Keywords
- Bantu, diachronic phonology, Proto-Bantu, Cibinji, Cibinji cya Ngusu, sound changes, vowel and consonant reflexes
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8719468
- MLA
- Onokoko Onyumbe, Michel, and Joseph Koni Muluwa. “Les Réflexes Du Proto-Bantu En Cíbìnjì Cyà Ngúsú, Langue Bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo).” NORDIC JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES, vol. 28, no. 3, 2019, pp. 1–30, doi:10.53228/njas.v28i3.450.
- APA
- Onokoko Onyumbe, M., & Koni Muluwa, J. (2019). Les réflexes du proto-bantu en cíbìnjì cyà ngúsú, langue bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo). NORDIC JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES, 28(3), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.53228/njas.v28i3.450
- Chicago author-date
- Onokoko Onyumbe, Michel, and Joseph Koni Muluwa. 2019. “Les Réflexes Du Proto-Bantu En Cíbìnjì Cyà Ngúsú, Langue Bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo).” NORDIC JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES 28 (3): 1–30. https://doi.org/10.53228/njas.v28i3.450.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Onokoko Onyumbe, Michel, and Joseph Koni Muluwa. 2019. “Les Réflexes Du Proto-Bantu En Cíbìnjì Cyà Ngúsú, Langue Bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo).” NORDIC JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES 28 (3): 1–30. doi:10.53228/njas.v28i3.450.
- Vancouver
- 1.Onokoko Onyumbe M, Koni Muluwa J. Les réflexes du proto-bantu en cíbìnjì cyà ngúsú, langue bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo). NORDIC JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES. 2019;28(3):1–30.
- IEEE
- [1]M. Onokoko Onyumbe and J. Koni Muluwa, “Les réflexes du proto-bantu en cíbìnjì cyà ngúsú, langue bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo),” NORDIC JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 1–30, 2019.
@article{8719468,
abstract = {{This paper examines reflexes of Proto-Bantu phonemes in Cibinji cya Ngusu, a Bantu language classified as L231 and spoken in the Central Kasaï province of the RD Congo. First, this article shows an overview of the synchronic phonology of this language and its vowel, consonant and tone systems. In particular, it is shown that the inherited second and third degree vowels *ɪ, *e and *ʊ, *o have an unusual evolution in this language, in contrast to what is evidenced in many other Bantu five-vowel languages. For instance, *e and *o are realized /e/ and /o/ instead of /ɛ/ and /ɔ/, respectively. *ʊ has two regular reflexes, both /u/ and /o/; this change is also exceptional for a five-vowel Bantu language. A peculiar phenomenon in consonant evolution is the spirant devoicing of inherited voiced plosives. A type of Meinhof’s rule called the “Swahili type” is also observed in the evolution of prenasalized consonants. At the tone level, Cibinji cya ngusu has completely inverted the tone scheme of Proto Bantu so that inherited high tones became low tones, and low tones are realized as high tones.}},
author = {{Onokoko Onyumbe, Michel and Koni Muluwa, Joseph}},
issn = {{1235-4481}},
journal = {{NORDIC JOURNAL OF AFRICAN STUDIES}},
keywords = {{Bantu,diachronic phonology,Proto-Bantu,Cibinji,Cibinji cya Ngusu,sound changes,vowel and consonant reflexes}},
language = {{fre}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{1--30}},
title = {{Les réflexes du proto-bantu en cíbìnjì cyà ngúsú, langue bantu L231 (Kasaï Central, RD Congo)}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.53228/njas.v28i3.450}},
volume = {{28}},
year = {{2019}},
}
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