Isanzu language

Bantu language spoken in Tanznia
Isanzu
Kinyihanzu
Native toTanzania
EthnicityAnyihanzu
Native speakers
26,000 (2009)[1]
Language family
Niger–Congo?
Language codes
ISO 639-3isn
Glottologisan1243
F.31B[2]
ELPIsanzu
Isanzu
PeopleAnyihanzu
LanguageKinyihanzu
CountryIhanzu

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.

Phonology

Consonants[3]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive p b t d k g
Affricate dz
Fricative f s ʃ x h
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ̊ ŋ
Approximant w r, l j
Vowels[3]
Front Central Back
High i u
Mid-high e o
Mid-low ɛ ɛː ɔ ɔː
Low a

Additionally, Isanzu distinguishes between high tone and low tone.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Isanzu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  2. ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. ^ a b c Beletskiy, Stanislav; Diyammi, Mark Paul (2019). "A Phonological and Morphological Sketch of Isanzu Lect (Bantu, Tanzania)". Journal of Siberian Federal University: Humanities & Social Sciences. 12: 4–19.
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Official languagesIndigenous
languages
Bantu
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Bena–Kinga
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Northeast Coast
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Cushitic
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