Mbunda language
| Mbunda | |
|---|---|
| Mbúùnda, Chimbúùnda | |
| Native to | Angola, Zambia, Namibia |
| Ethnicity | Mbunda people |
Native speakers | 340,000 (2000–2006)[1] |
|
Niger–Congo
| |
Standard forms | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 |
Variously: mck – Mbunda yax – Yauma nkn – Nkangala |
| K.15,18[2] | |
Mbunda is a Bantu language of Angola, Zambia, and Namibia. There are several dialects: Katavola, Yauma, Nkangala,[3] Mbalango, Sango, Ciyengele ("Shamuka"), and Ndundu, all of which are close.[4] Mbunda was recognised as one of Angola's National languages in 1987, and as a consequence the Instituto de Línguas Nacionais (National Languages Institute) established spelling rules for Mbunda to facilitate teaching it in schools and promoting its use,[5] it was later replaced with Ngangela, a standard language created by mixing Mbunda, Luchazi, Luvale, and Lwimbe.[6]
Mbunda is spoken by the Mbunda people of the Moxico Province and Cuando Cubango Province of Angola. From there they migrated to western Zambia at the end of the 18th century,[7] upon the migration of among others, the Ciyengele,[8] and also at the beginning of the 20th century due to their resistance to Portuguese colonial occupation,[9] and later because of the impact of the Angolan War of Independence (1961–1974), the decolonization conflict in Angola (1974–1975),[10] and the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002). As a consequence of the civil war, a number of Mbunda also took refuge in Northern Namibia, the west and east of Kavango region, around Rundu and Nkurenkuru and Caprivi Strip.[11]
The Mbunda language in Zambia, Angola and Namibia is not spoken exactly the same way. In Zambia it has a strong upper teeth contact with the tongue, to pronounce words like: "Mundthzindthzime" (shadow), "chithzalo" (dress), "Kuthsa" (death) and many more. The difficult sounds represented by TH.[12] Mbunda language in Angola and Namibia is spoken without the TH sounds, like in the Luchazi language;[13] the words above are pronounced as "Mutzitzime" (shadow), "chizalo" (cloth), "Kutsa" (death). Even within Zambia, the Mbunda language spoken by the Chiyengele group that migrated earlier is different from that spoken by the Mbunda group that fled into Zambia as a consequence of the Mbunda-Portuguese war of 1914. That is why the Mbunda language of the Chiyengele group of the 15th Mbunda monarch, mainly found in Mongu, is nicknamed "Shamuka",[14] heavily influenced by Lozi language. The same term can be attributed to the Mbunda language in Namibia, which is heavily influenced by the Nyemba and Luchazi languages.
Sounds
Mbunda is similar to Luchazi, but has some differences in the consonants. Among other differences, where Luchazi has /s, z/, Mbunda has /θ, ð/. Where Luchazi has /ts/, Mbunda has dental /t̪/, contrasting with a Portuguese-like denti-alveolar /t/.
Vowels
Like other languages in eastern Angola and Zambia, Mbunda language has five contrastive vowels:
| Front (unrounded) |
Central (unrounded) |
Back (rounded) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| high | i | u | |
| mid | ɛ | ɔ | |
| low | a |
Consonants
Voiced plosives only occur as prenasalized stops, where they contrast with aspirated plosives. Otherwise only tenuis plosives are found in Mbunda.[15]
| Aspirated | Voiced | Place of formation | Sample | Word Sound | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| /mpʰ/ mp | /mb/ mb | bilabial | mbandu | _Aspirated_Prenasalized_consonants_word_sound.wav) | sore |
| /nt̪ʰ/ nths | /nd̪/ ndthz | dental | ndthzili | _Aspirated_Prenasalized_consonants_word_sound.wav) | power |
| /ntʰ/ nt | /nd/ nd | alveolar | ndolome | _Aspirated_Prenasalized_consonants_word_sound.wav) | brother |
| — | /ndʒ/ nj | alveopalatal | njamba | _Aspirated_Prenasalized_consonants_word_sound.wav) | elephant |
| /ŋkʰ/ nk | /ŋɡ/ ng | velar | ngonde | _Aspirated_Prenasalized_consonants_word_sound.wav) | moon |
Alphabet: Notably absent from the Mbunda alphabet are the letters q and r.
| Graphic Representation | Phonetic Symbol(*) | Word Example | Word Sound | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | /a/ | angula | _category_word_sound.wav) | choose |
| mb | /mb/ | mbunga | _category_word_sound.wav) | crowd |
| ch (used with nouns) or c | /tʃ/ | cili | _category_word_sound.wav) | true |
| chiyambi | _category_word_sound.wav) | hunter | ||
| nd | /nd/ | ndumba | _category_word_sound.wav) | lion |
| e | /ɛ/ | ewa | _category_word_sound.wav) | yes |
| f | /f/ | fundanga | _category_word_sound.wav) | gun powder |
| ng | /ŋɡ/ | ngombe | _category_word_sound.wav) | cow, ox |
| ŋ | /ŋ/ | ŋala | _category_word_sound.wav) | crab |
| h | /h/ | hanja | _category_word_sound.wav) | outside |
| i | /i/ | imanena | _category_word_sound.wav) | wait |
| j | /ʒ/ | jombolola |  | reveal |
| k | /k/ | kovela | _category_word_sound.wav) | enter |
| l | /l/ | lilonga | _category_word_sound.wav) | plate, dish |
| m | /m/ | mulonga | _category_word_sound.wav) | offence |
| n | /n/ | naana | _category_word_sound.wav) | my mother |
| ndthz | /nd̪/ | ndthzita |  | war |
| nk | /ŋkʰ/ | nkuta | _category_word_sound.wav) | court |
| ny | /ɲ/ or maybe /nʲ/ | nyali | _category_word_sound.wav) | brother or sister-in-law |
| o | /ɔ/ | owo | _category_word_sound.wav) | that one |
| p | /p/ | putuka | _category_word_sound.wav) | start |
| mp | /mpʰ/ | mpulu | _category_word_sound.wav) | gnu |
| t | /t/ | tulo | _category_word_sound.wav) | asleep, sleepy |
| th | /θ/ | thimbu | _category_word_sound.wav) | time |
| ths | /t̪/ | thsa |  | die |
| thz | /ð/ | thzala |  | dress up |
| u | /u/ | uli | _category_word_sound.wav) | where is he (she) |
| v | /β/ | vwato | _category_word_sound.wav) | boart, canoe |
| w | /w/ | wahi | _category_word_sound.wav) | he (she) is not here |
| x | /ʃ/ | xwata | _category_word_sound.wav) | forest |
| y | /j/ | yange | _category_word_sound.wav) | myself |
Numerals
Numerical counting in Mbunda follows the usual numerals but in Mbunda words. Fill ups are easily made using small numerals.
|
1 - Chimo. 2 - Vivali. 3 - Vitatu. 4 - Viwana. 5 - Vitanu. 6 - Vitanu na chimo. 7 - Vitanu na vivali. 8 - Vitanu na vitatu. 9 - Vitanu na viwana. 10 - Likumi. 11 - Likumi na chimo. 20 - Makumi avali. 22 - Makumi avali na vivali. 30 - Makumi atatu. 33 - Makumi atatu na vitatu. 40 - Makumi awana. 44 - Makumi awana na viwana. 50 - Makumi atanu. 55 - Makumi atatu na vitanu. 60 - Makumi atanu na limo. 66 - Makumi atanu na limo na vitanu na chimo. 70 - Makumi atanu na avali. 77 - Makumi atanu na avali na vitanu na vivali. 80 - Makumi atanu na atatu. 88 - Makumi atanu na atatu na vitanu na vitatu. 90 - Makumi atanu na awana. 99 - Makumi atanu na awana na vitanu na viwana. 100 - Chiita. 101 - Chiita na kamo. 110 - Chiita na likumi. 111 - Chiita na likumi na kamo. 152 - Chiita na makumi atanu na tuvali. 163 - Chiita na makumi atanu na limo na tutanu. 174 - Chiita na makumi atanu na availi na tuwana. 185 - Chiita na makumi atanu na atatu na tutanu. 186 - Chiita na makumi atanu na atatu na tutanu na kamo. 197 - Chiita na makumi atanu na awana na tutanu na tuvali. 200 - Viita vivali. |
201 - Viita vivali na kamo. 300 - Viita vitatu. 400 - Viita viwana. 500 - Viita vitanu. 600 - Viita vitanu na chimo. 700 - Viita vitanu na vivali. 800 - Viita vitanu na vitatu. 900 - Viita vitanu na viwana. 1,000 - Likulukathzi. 1,111 - Likulukathzi na chiita na likumi na kamo. 2,000 - Makulukathzi avali. 3,000 - Makulukathzi atatu. 4,000 - Makulukathzi awana. 5,000 - Makulukathzi atanu. 6,000 - Makulukathzi atanu na limo. 7,000 - Makulukathzi atanu na avali. 8,000 - Makulukathzi atanu na atatu. 9,000 - Makulukathzi atanu na awana. 10,000 - Likumi lya makulukathzi. 11,111 - likumi lya makulukathzi na likulukathzi na chiita na likumi na kamo. 20,000 - Makumi avali amakulukathzi. 30,000 - Makumi atatu amakulukathzi. 40,000 - Makumi awana amakulukathzi. 50,000 - Makumi atanu amakulukathzi. 60,000 - Makumi atanu na limo amakulukathzi. 70,000 - Makumi atanu na avali amakulukathzi. 80,000 - makumi atanu na atatu amakulukathzi. 90,000 - makumi atanu na awana amakulukathzi. 100,000 - chiita cha makulukathzi. 200,000 - viita vivali vya makulukathzi. 300,000 - viita vitatu vya makulukathzi. 400,000 - viita viwana vya makulukathzi. 500,000 - viita vitanu vya makulukathzi. 600,000 - viita vitanu na chimo vya makulikathzi. 700,000 - viita vitanu na vivali vya makulukathzi. 800,000 - viita vitanu na vitatu vya makulukathzi. 900,000 - viita vitanu na viwana vya makulukathzi. 1,000,000 - likulukathzi lya makulukathzi. |
See also
- Mbunda Kingdom
- Mbunda people
- List of The Rulers of the Mbunda Kingdom
- List of Mbunda Chiefs in Zambia
References
- ↑ Mbunda reference at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
Yauma reference at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013)
Nkangala reference at Ethnologue (17th ed., 2013) - ↑ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
- ↑ Not to be confused with the Ngangela language
- ↑ Bantu-Languages.com, citing Maniacky 1997
- ↑ Ministério da Administração do Território
- ↑ Robert Papstein, "The Central African Historical Research Project", in Harneit-Sievers, 2002, A Place in the World: New Local Historiographies from Africa and South Asia, p. 178
- ↑ The elites of Barotseland, 1878-1969: a political history of Zambia's Western Province: a. Gerald L. Caplan ISBN 0900966386 Publisher: C. Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd, 1970
- ↑ Bantu-Languages.com, citing Maniacky 1997
- ↑ René Pélissier, Les Guerres Grises: Résistance et revoltes en Angola (1845–1941), Montamets(Orgeval: Éditions Pélisier, 1977
- ↑ Franz-Wilhelm Heimer, Der Entkolonisierungskonflikt in Angola, Munich: Weltforum Verlag, 1979 ISBN 3-8039-0179-0
- ↑ Franz-Wilhelm Heimer, Der Entkolonisierungskonflikt in Angola, Munich: Weltforum Verlag, 1979 ISBN 3-8039-0179-0
- ↑ A.W, July 1, 1917, A Comparative Vocabulary of Sikololo-Silui-Simbunda, African Affairs, Oxford University Press
- ↑ Tusona: Luchazi Ideographs : a Graphic Tradition of West-Central Africa By Gerhard Kubik, pages 291, 292
- ↑ Bantu-Languages.com, citing Maniacky 1997
- ↑ Tusona: Luchazi Ideographs : a Graphic Tradition of West-Central Africa By Gerhard Kubik, page 300
Literature
- Jacky Maniacky, 1997, "Contribution à l'étude des langues bantoues de la zone K: analyse comparative et sous-groupements", Mémoire pour l'obtention du DEA de langues, littératures et sociétés, études bantoues, INALCO (Paris - France), 101p.
- Robert Papstein, 1994, The History and Cultural Life of the Mbunda Speaking People, Lusaka Cheke Cultural Writers Association, ISBN 99 820 3006X
- José Redinha, 1975, Etnias e Culturas de Angola, Luanda: Instituto de Investigação Científica de Angola; reprinted fac-simile by the Associação das Universidades de Língua Portuguesa, 2009, ISBN 978 989 8271 00 6
External links
Coordinates: 14°06′44″S 21°26′07″E / 14.11222°S 21.43528°E
Category:Populated places in Moxico Province Category:Populated places in Cuando Cubango Province Category:Municipalities of Angola