Oroko language

Last updated
Oroko
Balondo
Native to Cameroon
RegionSouthwest and Kribi
Native speakers
(110,000 cited 2000) [1]
Dialects
  • Kundu
  • Lue
  • Mbonge
  • Ekombe
  • Londo ba Nanga
  • Londo ba Diko
  • Ngolo
  • Bima
  • Tanga or Batanga
  • Koko
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3 bdu
Glottolog orok1266
A.101 (ex-A.11,12) [2]

Oroko, also Bakundu-Balue or Balundu-Bima, is a Sawa Bantu dialect cluster spoken in Cameroon.

Contents

Varieties are Kundu/Nkundu (Lokundu, Bakundu), Lue (Lolue, Balue), Mbonge, Ekombe, Londo (Londo ba Nanga; cf. Londo), Londo ba Diko, Ngolo (Longolo; cf. Ngolo dialect), Bima, Tanga (Lotanga, Batanga), and Koko (Lokoko, Bakoko: distinct from Bakoko language). Maho (2009) treats these as ten distinct languages.

Phonology

Consonants

Bilabial Labio-
dental
Alveolar Post-alv./
Palatal
Velar Labial-
velar
plain lab.
Nasal mnɲŋ
Plosive/
Affricate
voiceless ptt͡ʃk [a] k͡p
voiced bdd͡ʒɡʷ
prenasal ᵐbⁿdᶮd͡ʒᵑɡᵑɡʷ [b] ᵑᵐɡ͡b
Fricative voiceless ɸ [c] fs
voiced/pren. β [d] ᶬf, ᶬv [e]
prenasal ⁿf [f] , ⁿv [g]
Liquid l ~ r
Approximant jw
  1. is heard in the dialects of Londo, Lokundu, Longolo, Lokoko, Lotanga.
  2. is heard in the Lotanga dialect.
  3. is a realization of /f/ across dialects.
  4. is a realization of /b/ across dialects.
  5. is heard in the Longolo dialect.
  6. is heard in the Lokoko dialect.
  7. is heard in the Bima and Londo dialects.

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close iu
Close-mid eo
Open-mid ɛɔ
Open a

Writing system

Oroko alphabet [4]
abcɗeɛfijkkpmmbnndngngbnjnyŋoɔstuwy

References

  1. Oroko at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. Friesen, Dan T. (2002). Oroko orthography development: Linguistic and sociolinguistic factors. University of North Dakota.
  4. Oroko Language Development Committee (OLDC) (November 2004). ABC wa Oroko - The Oroko alphabet chart. OLDC.