Lugbara language
Lugbara, or Lugbarati, is the language of the Lugbara people. It is spoken in the West Nile region in northwestern Uganda, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Orientale Province with a little extension to the South Sudan as the Zande or Azande people.[2]
Classification and dialects edit
The Aringa language, also known as Low Lugbara, is closely related, and sometimes considered a dialect of Lugbara. In fact, among the Lugbara of Uganda, it is one of the five clans (Ayivu clan, Vurra clan, Terego clan, Maracha clan, and Aringa clan).[3] Some scholars classify the Lugbara language itself as a dialect of the Ma'di language, though this is not generally accepted.[4] An SIL survey report concluded that the Okollo, Ogoko, and Rigbo dialects, called "Southern Ma'di", should be classified as dialects of Lugbara.
Phonology edit
Vowels edit
- /ɛ, ɔ/ can also be heard as [e, o] as a result of vowel harmony.
- /a/ can have an allophone of [ʌ] when after sounds /k, ɡ/.[5]
Consonants edit
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| Labial | Dental | Alveolar | Postalv./ Palatal | Velar | Labial- velar | Glottal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plain | trilled | ||||||||
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | (ŋ) | |||||
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiceless | p | t | tʳ | t͡s | (t͡ʃ) | k | k͡p | ʔ |
| voiced | b | d | dʳ | d͡z | (d͡ʒ) | ɡ | ɡ͡b | ||
| prenasal | ᵐb | ⁿd | ⁿdʳ | ᵑɡ | ᵑᵐɡ͡b | ||||
| implosive | ɓ | ɗ | |||||||
| Fricative | voiceless | f | s | h | |||||
| voiced | v | z | |||||||
| prenasal | ᶬv | ⁿz | |||||||
| Trill | r | ||||||||
| Tap | (ɺ) | ||||||||
| Approximant | lateral | l | |||||||
| plain | j | w | |||||||
| preglottal | ʔj | ʔw | |||||||
- /l/ can be heard as a lateral flap [ɺ] within dialectal variation.[6]
- /t͡s, d͡z/ are heard as [t͡ʃ, d͡ʒ] within dialectal variation.
- /tʳ, dʳ/ can also be heard as retroflex [ʈɽ, ɖɽ] within free variation.
- /ʔj/ can also be heard as an implosive [ʄ] and /ⁿz/ can be heard as [ⁿd͡z], within free variation.
- A labial affricate [p͡f] may occur within dialectal variation, [ŋ] only rarely occurs among different dialects.
Orthography edit
Lugbara was first written by Christian missionaries in 1918, based on the Ayivu dialect. In 2000, a conference was held in the city of Arua in northwestern Uganda regarding the creation of a standardised international orthography for Lugbara.[7]
In education edit
In 1992, the Government of Uganda designated it as one of five "languages of wider communication" to be used as the medium of instruction in primary education; however, unlike the other four such languages, it was never actually used in schools.[7] More recently it was included in the curriculum for some secondary schools in the West Nile region, including St. Joseph's College Ombaci and Muni Girls Secondary School, both in Arua District.[citation needed]
Pronunciation guide edit
Lugbara phrases are spoken in several dialects (clan-wise) but the Muni (Ayivu) version, from which many of the explanations below are based, is the one approved for teaching in schools. The language has diphthong clusters and other noteworthy phonetics including the following:
aa as in bat, for example embataa
c as in church, for example candiru (which is also spelt Chandiru)
dj as in jilt, for example odji, the ‘d’ is silent
ee as in emblem, for example andree
gb as in bend, for example gbe, the ‘g’ is silent. Gb in Lugbara does not have an equivalent in English. What stands out in these Sudanic languages is the special manner in which 'kp, gb, 'd, 'b, 'y, 'w are pronounced.
i as in inn, for example di-i
oa as in oar, for example adroa
oo as in old, for example ocoo, less often oo as in food, for example ‘doo
uu as in chew, for example cuu
z as in jean after n, for example onzi. Otherwise, most times remains z as in zebra, for example Ozu and when the first letter of a word.
Vocabulary edit
The Lugbara alphabet has 28 letters minus ‘q’ and ‘x’ (Alamakanda in Aringa language), which means 24 like in English and four unique ones namely: ‘b like in ‘bua, ‘d like in ‘dia, ‘w like in ‘wara and ‘y like in ‘yeta. Letters are pronounced as follows: Ah, Bha, Ba, Cha, Dha, Da, Eh, Fa, Ga, Ha, Ie, Ja, Ka, La, Ma, Na, Oh, Pa, Ra, Sa, Ta, Uuw, Va, Wha, Wa, Yha, Ya, and Za. Also in the vocabulary, there are several words that have varied meanings when pronounced differently, for instance oli can mean air, wind (also oliriko), whistle, cut or roll.
Numbers edit
| Number | Translation |
|---|---|
| 0. | Toko/ ogbo |
| 1. | Alu |
| 2. | Iri |
| 3. | Na |
| 4. | Su |
| 5. | Towi/ tawu |
| 6. | Azia |
| 7. | Aziri |
| 8. | Aro |
| 9. | Oromi |
| 10. | Mudri/ modri |
| 11. | Mudri drini alu |
| 12. | Mudri drini iri |
| 13. | Mudri drini na |
| 20. | Kali iri |
| 21. | Kali iri drini alu |
| 22. | Kali iri drini iri |
| 23. | Kali iri drini na |
| 30. | Kali na |
| 40. | Kali su |
| 100. | Turu alu |
| 500. | Turu towi |
| 900. | Turu oromi |
| 1,000. | Alifu alu |
| 1M. | Milioni alu |
Greetings and other phrases edit
| Lugbara | English |
|---|---|
| Mi ifu ngoni? | How did you wake up?/ Good morning! |
| [Mi] ngoni? | How [are you]? |
| [Ma] muke! | [I'm] fine! |
| Ma azoru! | I'm sick! |
| Mi aa ngoni? | How did you stay? |
| Ayiko ni ma fu! | Happiness is killing me!/ I'm happy! |
| Abiri ni ma fu(fu)! | Hunger is killing me!/ I'm hungry! |
| otuu si? | What time is it? |
| otuu alu o’bitisi. | 7:00 a.M. [To tell time, you mention the number on the opposite side of the clock. Otuu iri is 8 O’clock, otuu na is 9 O’clock, etc.] |
| otuu mudri drini alu ondresi | 5:00 p.m. |
| Mi efi! | Come in! |
| Ife mani yi! | Give me water! |
| Kirikiri! | Please! |
| Ada! | True! |
| Inzo! | Lies! |
| Iko ma aza! | Help me! |
| Ine! | See! |
| Mi a'bua ozi si? | How much do you sell bananas? |
| Ajeni si? | How much [is the price]? |
| Ale Obangulu! | I want mashed whiteants! |
| Ma mu Gili Gili-a ngoni? | How do I get to Gili Gili? |
| Arojo ngua? | Where is the drugshop/clinic/hospital? |
| Mi ru a'di-i? | What is your name? |
| Ma ru Yoweli-i! | I'm called Joel! |
| Awa’di fo! | Thanks! |
| Ale mi! | I love you!/I need you!/I want you! |
| Ma enga Ediofe-a. | I'm from Ediofe. |
| Ma mu kanisa-a. | I'm going to church. |
| Mi ma agi! | You are my friend! |
| Ma mu Ariwara-a ngoni? | How do I get to Ariwara? |
| Masikiti ngua? | Where is the mosque? |
| Mi ma ji Ragemu-a ra? | Can you take me to Ragem? |
| Iji ma Ringili-a! | Take me to Ringili! |
| 'Ba mucele ozi ngua? | Where is rice sold? |
| Aje/ andru/ drusi/ drozi | Yesterday/ today/ tomorrow/ the day after tomorrow |
| Ila muke! | Sleep well! |
| Ale ra! | I do want! [The word 'ra' after a verb denotes positivity.] |
| Ale ku! | I don't want! [The word 'ku' after a verb denotes negativity.] |
Relationships edit
Grandfather (a’bi,a'bipi)
Grandmother (dede, e’di,e'dapi)
Grandson (mvia)
Granddaughter (zia)
Father (ati, ata)
Mother (andri, andre, ayia)
Husband (agupi)
Wife (oku)
Son (agupiamva, mvi)
Daughter (zamva, zi)
Brother (adrii)
Sister (amvii)
Uncles (atapuru (singular -paternal) atapuruka (plural - paternal), [maternal - adroyi (singular), maternal (plural) - adropi]
Aunts (andrapuruka - plural: paternal and in some cases maternal), (andrapuru: singular), awupi - (singular: maternal aunt), awupika - (plural: maternal aunts)
Cousin (atapurumva)
Cousin brother (atapuruka anzi); also adrii, adripika
Cousin sister (atapuruka ezopi); also amvii, amvupika
NB: Strictly speaking, the word cousin is alien in Lugbara culture. Cousins are brothers and sisters.
Nephews (adro anzi) - maternal nephews
Nieces (adro ezoanzi, ezaapi) - maternal nieces
Father-in-law (anya)
Mother-in-law (edra)
Brother-in-law (otuo)
Sister-in-law (onyere)
Days of the week edit
1 week (Sabatu alu, sabiti alu)
A day is called O’du in Lugbara.
Sunday (Sabatu, sabiti, yinga, yumula)
Monday (O’du alu)
Tuesday (O’du iri)
Wednesday (O’du na)
Thursday (O’du su)
Friday (O’du towi)
Saturday (O’du azia)
Calendar edit
The simplest way to refer to months (Mba in Lugbara) is to use numbers, for example January is Mba Alu, February is Mba Iri, May is Mba Towi and so on. But below is the other Latinized (and seasonal) way of mentioning them.
Januari/January (Oco ‘dupa sere)
Feburili/February (Kulini)
Marici/march (Zengulu)
Aprili/April (Ayi – Wet season)
Mayi/May (Mayi)
Juni/June (Emveki)
Julayi/July (Irri)
Agoslo/August (Iripaku)
Sebitemba/September (Lokopere)
Okitoba/October (Abibi)
Novemba/November (Waa)
Desemba/December (Anyu fi kuma)
Common signs edit
| Lugbara | English |
|---|---|
| Agupi | Men |
| Oku | Women |
Colours edit
Eka (Ika by Terego) (red)
Imve (white)
Imve silili, imve whilili, imve sisirili (very pure white)
Ini (black)
Inibiricici, inicici, inikukuru (very dark)
Emvesi-enisi (black and white)
Foro [foro] (gray)
Foroto (grayish)
Food edit
| Lugbara | English |
|---|---|
| Mucele | (Rice) |
| Funo/ Funyo | (Groundnuts) |
| Gbanda/ Ola | (Cassava) |
| Osu | (Beans, Kaiko in Terego dialect) |
| Buruso/ Burusu | (Guinea peas) |
| Kaka | (Maize) |
| Ago | (Pumpkin) |
| Anyu | (Simsim) |
| Ondu | (Sorghum) |
| Maku | (Potatoes) |
| [M]ayu[ni] | (Yams) |
| Onya | (White ants) |
| Ope | (Guinea fowl) |
| Au | (Chicken) |
| Eza | (Meat) |
| Ti eza | (Cow Meat) |
| E’bi | (Fish) |
| Kawa | (Coffee) |
| Majani | (Tea) |
| I'di | (Porridge) |
| Kpete | (Beer) |
| Nyanya | (Tomatoes) |
| Cikiri/ Osu nyiri | (Chick peas) |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Lugbara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Southern Ma'di at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) - ^ Gordon, Raymond (2005). "Lugbara language". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
- ^ Boone, Douglas; Watson, Richard (1999). "Moru–Ma'di Survey Report" (PDF). SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 1999-001.
- ^ Blackings, Mairi; Nigel Fabb (2003). A Grammar of Ma'di. Mouton de Gruyter. p. 1. ISBN 3-11-017940-7.
- ^ Alo, Anguandia (2014). Lugbarati Phonology and Orthography Standardization. Editions du Soleil Levant.
- ^ Crazzolara, Pasquale J. (1960). A study of the Logbara (Ma'di) language: grammar and vocabulary. London & New York: Oxford University Press.
- ^ a b Da Fonseca, N. . UNESCO. Archived from the original on 2011-05-21.
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Further reading edit
- Ongua Iga, Paul (1999). A Simplified Lugbara-English Dictionary. Fountain Publishers. ISBN 9970-02-105-2.