Isanzu is a Bantu language spoken by the Isanzu people south of Lake Eyasi in Tanzania.
The position of Isanzu within the Bantu family is uncertain. It is rather distinct in certain features from other Bantu languages of the area, such as Nyaturu, but is quite close in others. One easily recognizable feature is /h/ in words where neighboring languages have /s/ or /tʃ/, as in the name Isanzu ~ Ihanzu, a feature it shares with Iramba, and a reason it is commonly classified with Iramba.
Phonology
| Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | p b | t d | k g | ||
| Affricate | dz | dʒ | |||
| Fricative | f | s | ʃ | x | h |
| Nasal | m̥ m | n̥ n | ɲ | ŋ̊ ŋ | |
| Approximant | w | r, l | j |
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i iː | u uː | |
| Mid-high | e eː | o oː | |
| Mid-low | ɛ ɛː | ɔ ɔː | |
| Low | a aː |
Additionally, Isanzu distinguishes between high tone and low tone.[3]
References
- ^ "Isanzu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
- ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
- ^ a b c Beletskiy, Stanislav; Diyammi, Mark Paul (2019). "A Phonological and Morphological Sketch of Isanzu Lect (Bantu, Tanzania)". Journal of Siberian Federal University: Humanities & Social Sciences. 12: 4–19.