Grebo language

Last updated
Grebo
Kréébo (Grebo)
Native to Liberia
Native speakers
(390,000 cited 2001) [1]
possibly a few Southern Grebo in Ivory Coast, plus refugees
Niger–Congo?
Language codes
ISO 639-2 grb
ISO 639-3 grb – inclusive code
Individual codes:
grj  –  Southern (including Jabo)
grv  – Central
gbo  – Northern
gec  – Gboloo
gry  – Barclayville
oub  –  Glio-Ubi
Glottolog greb1256

Grebo is a Kru language of Liberia. All of the Grebo languages are referred to as Grebo, though in Ivory Coast, Krumen is the usual name. The Grebo people live in the extreme south-west of Liberia, both on the coast and inland, between the rivers Cavally and Cess. [2]

Contents

As in the other Kru languages, tone is extremely important. For instance, né with a high (or high-mid) tone is the first-person pronoun "I", while nè with a low tone is the singular form of "you". [3]

Phonology

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Labio-
velar 		Glottal
plainlab.
Nasal voiced m n ɲ ŋ ŋʷ ŋ͡m
voiceless m̥ n̥
Plosive voiceless p t c k k͡p
voiced b d ɟ ɡ ɡ͡b
Fricative f s h
Approximant voiced w l j
voiceless w̥ l̥

Vowels

Oral vowels
Front Central Back
plain ret. plain ret.
Close i u
Close-mid e e̠ o o̠
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Open a
Nasal vowels
Front Central Back
Close ĩ ũ
Close-mid ẽ õ
Open-mid ɛ̃ ɔ̃
Open ã

Vowels /e̠, o̠/ are considered as retracted or "muffled" vowels according to source. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Barclayville Grebo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ↑ Gordon Innes, A Grebo - English Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, 1967
  3. ↑ Gordon Innes, as above. A dictionary was compiled from previous dictionaries and the speech of Assistant 1955-1957 at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, Mr. J.Y.Dennis
  4. ↑ Innes, Gordon (1966). An Introduction to Grebo. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.


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