Bamunka, or Ngiemekohke (Ŋgieməkɔʼkə Bamunka pronunciation:[ˈŋgiěꜜmə́ˌkɔ̀ʔkə̌]) is a Grassfields Bantu language of Cameroon.

Phonology

Consonants

Consonants
LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarLabial-velarGlottal
Plosive/ AffricateVoiceless/t//t͡ʃ//k//k͡p//ʔ/
Voiced/b//d//d͡ʒ//g/
FricativeVoiceless/f//s//ʃ/
Voiced/v//ʒ//ɣ/
Nasal/m//n//ɲ//ŋ/
Approximant/l//j//w/
  • /b/ and /m/ are bilabial, whereas /f/ and /v/ are labiodental.
  • /ɲ/ and /j/ are palatal, whereas /t͡ʃ/, /d͡ʒ/, /ʃ/, and /ʒ/ are post-alveolar.

Vowels

Vowels
FrontCentralBack
Close/i//ɨ//u/
Mid-close/e//ə//o/
Mid-open/ɛ//ɔ/
Open/a/

Tones

In addition, Munka has five phonemic tones: three level tones (high, mid, and low) and two contour tones (rising, and falling).

Orthography

Ngeloh Takwe proposed this orthography in her post-graduate diploma dissertation in 2002.

Bamunka alphabet (2002)
Lettersabcdeɛəfghghɨjkkplmnnyŋoɔsshtuvwyzh
IPA/a//b//t͡ʃ//d//e//ɛ//ə//f//ɣ//g//ʔ//ɨ//d͡ʒ//k//k͡p//l//m//n//ɲ//ŋ//o//ɔ//s//ʃ//t//u//v//w//j//ʒ/

Further reading

  • Blackwell, Jonathan (2011). SIL (ed.). Proposed revision of Bamunka orthography revised 24 Feb 2011. Yaoundé.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Browne, Ciara (2010). . The ITB Journal. 11 (2). Institute of Technology Blanchardstown. doi:.
  • Schaub, Willi (1983). Report on socio-linguistic survey in Ndop Western Grassfields languages (Sociolinguistic survey of Babungo, Bamessing, Babessi, Bamunka). Yaoundé: SIL.
  • Sorsamo, Hannu (2006). An introduction to the phonology of Bamunka. Yaoundé: SIL.
  • Sorsamo, Hannu (2006). Bamunka Orthography Guide (Provisional). Yaoundé: SIL.
  • Sorsamo, Hannu (2006). Observations on the Bamunka phonology and orthography. Yaoundé: SIL.