Mangbai language

Last updated
Mangbai
Native to Cameroon, Chad
Native speakers
14,000 (2002–2011) [1]
Niger–Congo?
Language codes
ISO 639-3 mcs
Glottolog mamb1294
ELP Mambai

Mangbai (Mamgbay, Mambai) is an Mbum language of northern Cameroon and southern Chad.

Contents

Distribution

In Cameroon, Mambay is spoken along the Mayo-Kebi River near the Chadian border, in the Djaloumé region (northern end of Bibemi commune, Bénoué department), where there is a massif called Hosséré Mambay. It is also spoken in the extreme southeast of Figuil commune, Mayo-Louti department. In Cameroon and Chad, there is a total of about 2,500 speakers, many of whom also speak Mundang.

Phonology

Consonants [2]

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Labial-velar Glottal
Stop voiceless p t k kp ʔ
voiced b d ɡ gb
implosive ɓ ɗ
Fricative voiceless f s h
voiced v z
Nasal plain m n ŋ
glottalized ˀm ˀn ˀŋ
Flap/Trill ⱱ̟ r
Approximant plain l j w
glottalized ˀj ˀw

Vowels

Oral vowels
Front Central Back
shortlongshortlongshortlong
High i iː u uː
Mid e eː o oː
Low a aː

/e, o/ are heard as [ɛ, ɔ] when in closed syllables.

Nasal vowels
Front Central Back
shortlongshortlongshortlong
High ĩ ĩː ũ ũː
Low ã ãː

Glottalized

Oral vowels
Front Central Back
High iˀ uˀ
Mid eˀ oˀ
Low aˀ
Nasal vowels
Front Central Back
High ĩˀ ũˀ
Low ãˀ

Pharyngealized

Oral vowels
Front Central Back
Mid eˤ oˤ
Low aˤ
Nasal vowels
Front Central Back
High ĩˤ ũˤ
Low ãˤ

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References

  1. ↑ Mangbai at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ↑ Anonby, Erik John (2008). "Phonology and Morphology of Mambay (Niger-Congo, Adamawa)". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
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