Luba-Kasai language

Luba
Tshiluba
Spoken in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Region Kasai-Occidental and Kasai-Oriental provinces
Native speakers 9.5 million  (2009)
Language family
Language codes
ISO 639-1 lu
ISO 639-2 lua
ISO 639-3 lua

Luba-Kasai (also called Luba-Lulua, Western Luba, Kasai, Luva, and Tshiluba) is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is a national language, along with Lingala, Swahili, and Kikongo. It is one of two major Congolese languages called "Luba". (See Luba-Katanga.)

Contents

Geographic distribution

Tshiluba is spoken by about 6 million people, chiefly in the Kasaï Occidental and Kasaï Oriental provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Dialects

There are significant dialect differences between an eastern dialect of the East Kasai Region, spoken by the Luba people, and a western dialect of the West Kasai Region, spoken by the Lulua people.

Alphabet

Luba-Kasai uses the following modified version of the Roman Alphabet:

A a B b C c D d E e F f G g H h I i J j K k L l M m N n Ny ny Ng ng O o P p S s Sh sh T t U u V v W w Y y Z z

Sample Text

Bantu bonsu badi baledibwa badikadile ne badi ne makokeshi amwe. Badi ne lungenyi lwa bumuntu ne kondo ka moyo, badi ne bwa kwenzelangana malu mu buwetu. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

External links