Nalu language

Contrary to prior classifications, Güldemann (2018) classifies Nalu as unclassified within Niger-Congo. It also does not form a subgroup with the Rio Nunez languages.^[6]

Nalu is traditionally classified as Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Mbulugish-Nalu.^[7][8]

The Nalu people who speak Nalu have been described as settling in West Africa before the Mandinka people.^[9] This would place them as existing in West Africa between the 14th and 15th centuries. Wilson (2007) reports that the Nalu people had originally come from Guinea-Bissau.^[2]

Today, the Nalu speakers are shifting toward the Susu language which is gaining more popularity in Guinea.^[10] It has a predominantly adult-speaking population. The next generation is being passed on the language, however, in a few remote villages around Katoufoura.

Nalu is spoken predominantly on the littorals, or shore regions, of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.^[11] Most Nalu speakers in Guinea live north of the Nuñez River on the Tristão islands, in the sub-prefecture of Kanfarandé which is the prefecture of Boké. In Guinea-Bissau, most speakers of Nalu live in the Cacine estuary in the Tombali region.^[12]

• It is unclear whether vowel length is phonemic.

Nalu underwent a sound change in its language.^[13] Sound change generally occurs due to what sounds require less effort for the speaker. These sound changes are usually limited to each dialect in a language and examples of the Nalu language sound changes are in the section below. Nalu has six dialects. Three are spoken in Guinea-Conakry and three are spoken in Guinée-Bissau.^[13] However, the relationship between the dialects is unknown.