West Teke language

West Teke is a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of Congo and Gabon.

West Teke is a dialect continuum. The varieties are Tsaayi (Ge-Tsaya, Tyaye, Tsayi), Laali, Yaa (Yaka), and Tyee (Tee, Kwe). The dominant variety by far is Tsaayi.

Phonology

Consonants

• Sounds /kÍ¡p, ᵑkÍ¡p, ᵑɡ͡b/ are sometimes pronounced as labialized sounds [kÊ·, ᵑkÊ·, ᵑɡʷ].
• /É¡/ when preceding /w/ or /j/, may labialize or palatalize as [É¡Ê·, ɡʲ].
• /s/ may often be pronounced as [ʃ] when before /u/ or /w/.
• /j/ when preceding a /w/ or /u/, is pronounced as a labial-palatal [É¥].
• /tÍ¡s, ⁿtÍ¡s, dÍ¡z, ⁿdÍ¡z/ may also be pronounced as [t͡ʃ, ⁿt͡ʃ, d͡ʒ, ⁿd͡ʒ] when before /u/, /w/ or /j/.

Vowels

• Sounds /ɛ, ɔ/ may also be heard as more closed [e, o] in different positions.
• Vowel length is also distinctive.

References

External links

Dictionnaire Teke-Tyee