Nsei language

Grassfields Bantu language of Cameroon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kenswei Nsei (Kensense), also Nsei or Mesing (Bamessing), is a Grassfields Bantu language of Cameroon.

NativetoCameroon
Native speakers
25,000 (2008)[1]
ISO 639-3ndb
Quick facts Native to, Native speakers ...
Nsei
Kenswei Nsei
Native toCameroon
Native speakers
25,000 (2008)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3ndb
Glottologkens1251
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Phonology

Consonants

More information Labial, Alveolar ...
Consonants[2]
LabialAlveolarPost-alveolarVelarGlottal
-voice+voice-voice+voice-voice+voice-voice+voice-voice
Nasal Plain mnɲŋ
Labialized ɲʷŋʷ
Plosive/
Affricate		 Plain btdt͡ʃd͡ʒkgʔ
Pre-nasalized ᵐbⁿtⁿdⁿt͡ʃⁿd͡ʒᵑkᵑg
Lablalized bʷtʷdʷt͡ʃʷd͡ʒʷkʷgʷ
Pre-nasalized
and labialized		 ᵐbʷⁿtʷⁿdʷⁿt͡ʃʷⁿd͡ʒʷᵑkʷᵑgʷ
Fricative Plain fvszɣ[a]h
Pre-nasalized ᶬfⁿs
Labialized sʷzʷ
Pre-nasalized
and labialized		 ⁿsʷ
Approximant Plain lj[b]w
Labialized lʷjʷ
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  1. [a]
    /ɣ/ becomes [ɰ] before back vowels.
  2. [b]
    [j] is in free variation with [ʒ].

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
Vowels[2]
FrontCentralBack
Close iɨ̝[a]u
Close-mid e[b]ə[c]o[d]
Open-mid ɛɔ
Open æä[e]
Close
  1. [a]
    /ɨ̝/ becomes [ɨ] before /ŋ/.
  2. [b]
    /e/ becomes [ɪ] in short open syllables.
  3. [c]
    /ə/ becomes [ɵ] before a pause when friction is present.
  4. [d]
    /o/ becomes [ʊ] before a pause when friction is present.
  5. [e]
    /ä/ becomes [ɒ] before [w].

Tone

Nsei has both lexical and grammatical tone. There are at least two level tones (high, low, and possibly mid) and two contour tones (falling and rising).[3]

References

Further reading

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