Kenswei_Nsei_language

Nsei language

Nsei language

Grassfields Bantu language of Cameroon

Kenswei Nsei (Kensense), also Nsei or Mesing (Bamessing), is a Grassfields Bantu language of Cameroon.

Quick Facts Native to, Native speakers ...

Phonology

Consonants

More information Labial, Alveolar ...
  1. /ɣ/ becomes [ɰ] before back vowels.
  2. [j] is in free variation with [ʒ].

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
  1. /ɨ̝/ becomes [ɨ] before /ŋ/.
  2. /e/ becomes [ɪ] in short open syllables.
  3. /ə/ becomes [ɵ] before a pause when friction is present.
  4. /o/ becomes [ʊ] before a pause when friction is present.
  5. /ä/ becomes [ɒ] before [w].

Tone

Nsei has both lexical and grammatical tone. There are at least two level tones (high, low, and possibly mid) and two contour tones (falling and rising).[3]

References

  1. [1]
    Nsei at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. [2]
    DeVries 2008.
  3. [3]
    DeVries 2008, pp. 17–18.

Further reading

  • Akeriweh (2000). A step towards the standardisation of Kə̀nswéynséy: (a grassfield bantu language (MA thesis). Yaoundé: Université de Yaoundé I.
  • DeVries, Aaron (2008). Kenswey Nsey (Bamessing): A Phonological Sketch (PDF). Yaoundé: SIL Cameroun. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2023.
  • Lonbeck, Janelle (2013). The Noun Phrase in Kenswei Nsei (Bamessing) (PDF). Yaoundé: SIL Cameroon. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2023.
  • Lonfo, Bertrand (2007). Morphologie nominale du kensweynse (MA thesis). Université de Yaoundé I.


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