Nkore language

Nkore (also called Nkole, Nyankore, Nyankole, Orunyankore, Orunyankole, Runyankore and Runyankole) is a Bantu language spoken by the Nkore ("Banyankore") and Hima peoples of south-western Uganda in the former province of Ankole.[4]

"Hima people" redirects here. For the Congolese ethnic group, see Hema people. For Burundian ethnic group, see Tutsi.
See also: Nkore-Kiga language
Nkore
Runyankore
Native toUganda
Native speakers
3.4 million (2014 census)[1]
Standard forms
Dialects
  • Hima
Language codes
ISO 639-2nyn
ISO 639-3nyn
Glottolognyan1307[2]
JE.13[3]

Runyankole is mainly spoken in the Mbarara, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Kiruhura, Ibanda, Isingiro, and Rukungiri districts.

There is a brief description and teaching guide for this language, written by Charles V. Taylor in the 1950s, and an adequate dictionary in print. Whilst this language is spoken by almost all the Ugandans in the region, most also speak English, especially in the towns. (English is one of Uganda's two official languages, and the language taught in schools.)

Nkore is so similar to Kiga (84–94 percent lexical similarity[5]) that some argue they are dialects of the same language, a language called Nkore-Kiga by Taylor.[4]

Phonology

Runyankore has a five-vowel system: /a, e, i, o, u/.[6]

Consonants
Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Postalveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Stop voiceless p t k
voiced b d g
Affricate voiceless t͡ʃ
voiced d͡ʒ
Fricative voiceless f s ʃ
voiced v z ʒ
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Trill r

Basic greetings

The greeting Agandi, implying, "How are you?" but literally meaning "other news!", can be replied with Ni marungi, which literally means "good news!".

The proper greetings are Oraire ota? or Osiibire ota?, literally translated "How was your night?" and "How was your day?". "Good night" is Oraare gye and "Good day" is Osiibe gye.

Here are a few names one might use in a greeting:

  • Madam – Nyabo
  • Sir – Sebo
  • Child – omwana
  • Boy – omwojo
  • Girl – omwishiki

Food
  • Matooke or Bananas - Ebitokye
  • Maize Meal or corn bread – Obuhunga
  • Beans – Ebihimba
  • Meat – Enyama
  • Millet Bread – Oburo

Other words and phrases
  • No: Ngaaha (ing-gah-ha) or Apaana (ah-pah-nah)
  • Yes: Eego (egg-oh)
  • Thank you: Webare (Way-ba-re)
  • Thank you very much: Webare munonga (Way-ba-lay mu-non-ga)
  • You're welcome (literally: Thank you for appreciating): Webare kusiima (way-ba-re koo-see-mah)
  • I like/love you: Ninkukunda (nin-koo-coon-dah) or ninkukunda munonga (nin-koo-coon-dah moo-non-gah)
  • My name is ____: Eizina ryangye ninye ______ (ey-zeen-ah riya-gye ni-nye___) or ndi _____ (in-dee ______)
  • I am from _____: Ninduga_____ (nin-doog-ah_____)
  • It's how much shillings/money? Ni shiringi zingahi? (Knee shi-rin-gee zin-gah-hee) or ni sente zingahi?
  • Good morning. How are you?

Oraire ota (orei-rota) Replies: I'm fine Ndeire gye (ndei-re-jeh) or Ndyaho (indi-aho)

  • Good morning. Did you sleep well?

Oraire gye? (orei-reh-jeh) Reply: Yes, fine, okay Kare (Kar-eh)

  • Good afternoon. How are you spending your day?

Osiibire ota (o-see-bee-rota) Replies: Nsiibire gye (insi-bi-reje)

  • You are spending your day well?

Osiibire gye (Osi birejge) Replies: Yes- Eego (egg-oh) or nsiibire gye

  • Good afternoon. How has your day been?

Waasiiba ota (wasib-wota) Reply: Fine, good, I've spent it well – Naasiiba gye (nasi-baje)

  • Good night: Oralegye

[7][8]

See also

References
  1. Nkore at Ethnologue (22nd ed., 2019)
  2. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Nyankole". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  3. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  4. Poletto, Robert E. (1998). Topics in Runyankore Phonology (PDF). Linguistics Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Retrieved Dec 8, 2009.
  5. Lewis, Paul M. (ed.) (2009). "Ethnologue Report for Language Code: nyn". Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Texas, U.S.: SIL International. Retrieved 9 December 2009.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  6. Poletto, Robert E. "Topics in Runyankore Phonology". Ohio State University. Bell & Howell.
  7. "Kashoboorozi Y' Orunyankore Rukiga Dictionary".
  8. Standard English–Runyankore/Rukiga Dictionary – Mwene Mushanga, Ph.D. Banyankore Cultural Foundation, Mbarara, Uganda, 2004 English to Runyankole Easy Reading Handbook, Vincent Busulwa, 2000 Staff of Bishop Stuart Core Primary Teachers' College, Mbarara, Uganda
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