Lega language

Bantu language spoken in DR Congo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lega language

Lega is a Bantu language, or dialect cluster, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are two major varieties, Shabunda Lega, Mwenga Lega. Mwenga Lega, with about 10% of speakers, finds Shabunda difficult to understand.[citation needed]

Quick Facts Native to, Ethnicity ...
Lega
Native toDR Congo
EthnicityLega
Native speakers
(450,000 cited 1982–2000)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
lea  Shabunda Lega
lgm  Mwenga Lega
khx  Kanu
ktf  Kwami
Glottologlega1253
D.25,251[2]
ELPKanu
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A speaker of the Lega language, also called Kilega

Variant spellings of 'Lega' are Rega, Leka, Ileka, Kilega, Kirega. Shabunda is also known as Igonzabale, and Mwenga as Shile or Ishile. Gengele is reported to be a Shabunda-based creole.

According to Ethnologue, Bembe is part of the same dialect continuum. Nyindu is a dialect of Shi that has been heavily influenced by Lega.

Phonology

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
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Consonants

More information Labial, Alveolar ...
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Plosive voiceless p t k
voiced b d (ɟ) g
Fricative voiceless (f) s ʃ
voiced v z
Trill r
Lateral l
Approximant j w
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  • [ɟ] can also be heard in the consonant sequence /ɡj/.[3]
  • /f/ can be heard from loanwords.[4]

References

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