Nzema
RegionGhana, Ivory Coast
EthnicityNzema
Native speakers
430,000 (2013–2021)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-2nzi
ISO 639-3nzi
Glottolognzim1238

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]

Although it is a Bia language, Nzema is also one of the many Akan languages, and it has had considerable influence from other Akan languages, especially Twi and Fante.[4] There are notable towns in Nzemaland such as Bonyere, Nkroful, Half Assini, Axim, Eikwe, Baku, Atuabo, Beyin and Essiama.

Phonology

Consonants

[4] Labial Labiodental Dental Alveolar (Alveolo-)
Palatal
Velar Labial-velar
plainlab. plainlab.pal. plainlab. plainlab.
Nasal plain m n ɲ ɲʷ ŋ ŋʷ ŋm
Plosive/
Affricate
voiceless p tp dʑʷ k kp
voiced b db d tɕʷ ɡ ɡb
Fricative voiceless f s ɕ ɕʷ x
voiced v z ɣ
Trill r
Lateral plain l
nasalized
Approximant j w

Vowels

[4] 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: /ĩ/, /ɪ̃/, /ɛ̃/, /ɐ̃/, /ã/, /ũ/, /ʊ̃/ and /ɔ̃/.[4]

Writing system

Nzema alphabet[5]
Uppercase ABDƐE FGHIK LMNƆO PRSTU VWYZ
Lowercase abdɛe fghik lmnɔo prstu vwyz

References

  1. Nzema at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  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. 1 2 3 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.
  5. Language Guide, 1977


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