Nzema, also known as Nzima or Appolo, is a Central Tano language spoken by the Nzema people of southwestern Ghana and southeastern Ivory Coast. It is partially intelligible with Jwira-Pepesa and is closely related to Baoulé.

Being a Bia language, Nzema is one of the many Akan languages, and it has had considerable influence from other Akan languages, especially Twi and Fante. There are notable towns in Nzemaland such as Bonyere, Nkroful, Half Assini, Axim, Eikwe, Baku, Atuabo, Beyin, Essiama and Anokyi.

Phonology

Consonants

The following allophones are reported, among others. [p] is rare.

Nzema consonants[dubious – discuss][These are not the inventory of Nzema]
LabialLabiodentalDentalAlveolar(Alveolo-) PalatalVelarLabial-velarGlottal
plainlab.plainlab.pal.plainlab.plainlab.plainlab.
Nasalplainmnɲɲʷŋŋʷŋm
Plosive/ Affricatevoicelessptɕʷkkp~tpʔ
voicedbddʑʷɡɡb~db
Fricativevoicelessfsɕɕʷxh
voicedvzɣɦ
Trillr
Lateralplainl
nasalized
Approximantjɥw

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Closeiu
Near-closeɪʊ
Close-mideo
Open-midɛɔ
Near-openɐ
Opena

Of Nzema's ten vowels, eight may be nasalized: /ĩ/, /ɪ̃/, /ɛ̃/, /ɐ̃/, /ã/, /ũ/, /ʊ̃/ and /ɔ̃/.

Writing system

Nzema alphabet[full citation needed]
UppercaseABDƐEFGHIKLMNƆOPRSTUVWYZ
Lowercaseabdɛefghiklmnɔoprstuvwyz

External links