Njebi language

Bantu language spoken in Gabon and the Republic of Congo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Njebi (or Nzebi, Njabi, Ndzabi, Yinjebi, etc.) is a Bantu language spoken in Gabon and the Republic of Congo.

NativetoGabon, Republic of Congo
EthnicityBanjabi, Bongo
Native speakers
(140,000 cited 2000–2007)[1]
Quick facts Native to, Ethnicity ...
Njebi
Yinjebi
Native toGabon, Republic of Congo
EthnicityBanjabi, Bongo
Native speakers
(140,000 cited 2000–2007)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3nzb
Glottolognjeb1242
B.52[2]
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Map of Gabon, with Njebi language area in gray

Phonology

Consonants

More information Labial, Alveolar ...
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Plosive voiceless p t k
voiced b d ɡ
prenasal ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ
Affricate p͡f t͡s t͡ʃ
Fricative voiceless f s ʃ
voiced β z (ʒ)
prenasal ᶬv ⁿz ⁿʒ
Nasal m n ɲ
Rhotic r
Lateral l
Approximant w j
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  • /z/ is heard as [ʒ] when before /i/.
  • /ɡ/ can be pronounced as [ɣ] or [x] in free variation.
  • /b/ can be heard as an implosive [ɓ] in free variation in initial position.[3]

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
Front Central Back
Close i iː u uː
Close-mid e eː ə o oː
Open-mid ɛ ɛː ɔ ɔː
Open a aː
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Vowel sounds may also be heard as tense in different positions.

Example

Gabonese singer SeBa's writes and sings her songs in the Njebi language.[4]

References

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