Ngwe language

Not to be confused with Hungworo language.
Ngwe
Native toCameroon
Native speakers
73,000 (2001)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3nwe
Glottologngwe1238

Ngwe (Ŋwɛh, Nweh) is a Bamileke language spoken predominantly in Lebialem, Cameroon. As of 2001, Ngwe had 73,200 speakers, which was an increase from the numbers of previous censuses. Its closest relatives are Yemba and Ngiemboon.

Writing system

Ngwe Alphabet [2]
a b c d e ə ɛ f g gh ' h i j k kh l
m n ŋ o ɔ p pf r s t ts u ʉ v w y z

Phonology

Vowels

It has at least thirteen vowels, /i y e ɛ æ ɐ ɑ ɔ o u ɯ ɤ ʌ/.[3] /ɤ ʌ/ are centralised.[3] /y/ sounds somewhat like [ø] or [œ] and has a tongue position similar to that of /ɑ/, but with the jaw raised and the lips very close together.[3]

References

  1. ^ Ngwe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ The Languages of Cameroon Series.
  3. ^ a b c Ladefoged, Peter. A Phonetic Study of West African Languages: An Auditory-instrumental Survey. Cambridge University Press, 1968, pp. 33–36.


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