Bissa language
Bissa, Bisan, Bissanno ), is a Mande ethnic group of south-central Burkina Faso, northeastern Ghana and the northernmost tip of Togo. Their language, Bissa, is a Mande language that is related to, but not the same as, a cluster of languages in the old Borgu Kingdom area of Northeast Benin and Northwest Nigeria, including Busa, Boko, and Kyenga. An alternate name for the Bissa is Busansi which is used by the Mossi people and Kusasi people or Busanga.
Names
The name is usually spelled Bissa. It can also be spelled Bisa, and the name in the Mossi language is Busansi or Busanga ; This should not be confused with the Bisa language of Zambia or the Busa language of Nigeria and Benin.Geographic distribution
In Burkina Faso, Bissa is spoken in Boulgou, Koulpélogo, and Kouritenga Provinces of the Centre-Est Region, in Bazaga and Zoundwéogo Provinces of the Centre–Sud Region, and in the Boudry Department of Ganzargou Province of the Plateau-Central Region.In Ghana, Bissa is spoken in Bawku Municipal District, some other parts five districts in Bawku traditional area in the Upper East Region and also some parts in the North East Region.
In Togo, Bissa is spoken in Tône Prefecture of the Savanes Region. There are also some Bissa speakers in Ivory Coast.
Classification
Bissa language is the most populous of the Mande languages of Ghana and Togo. It is part of the Eastern Mande group, which also includes several other languages spoken across the Volta River and the Borgu Kingdom, including Boko, Busa, Samo, and Bokobaru.Dialects
Bissa has four dialects:- Barka or Baraka
- Gormine or Gourmyne closely related to the Barka and mostly speaking in YARGATENGA or YARGATALA
- Lebre or Zeba
- Leere
To the East the Bissa people speak Barka/Baraka. To The West people speak Lebre/Zeba. To the North the Lere dialect is used. To the South, there is no specifics dialect.
Writing system
High tone is marked with an acute accent and low tone is marked with a grave accent. The following is the alphabet of the Lere and Lebir dialects of Bissa:| A | B | C | D | E | Ǝ | Ɛ | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | Ny | Ŋ | O | Ɔ | P | R | S | T | U | Ʋ | V | W | Y | Z | |
| a | b | c | d | e | ǝ | ɛ | f | g | h | i | ɩ | j | k | l | m | n | ny | ŋ | o | ɔ | p | r | s | t | u | ʋ | v | w | y | z |
The following is the alphabet of the Barka dialect of Bissa:
| A | B | D | E | Ɛ | Ǝ | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | N | Ɲ | Ŋ | O | Ɔ | P | R | S | T | U | Ʋ | W | Y | Z | |
| a | b | d | e | ɛ | ə | f | g | h | i | ɩ | k | l | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | o | ɔ | p | r | s | t | u | ʋ | w | y | z |
Lebre or Lere phrases
- Good morning: Domireh ki
- Good afternoon: Sundareh ki
- Good evening/night: Yirbaa ki
- Thank you: Barka
- Good: Minga
- Come: Bur
- Go: Ta
- You're welcome: An barka boi
- I love you: ''Moi wam''
The Busa and Boko peoples of Benin and Nigeria
The Busa and Boko peoples, two subgroups of the Bissa people, live in Northwestern Nigeria and Northern Benin near Borgu in the Nigerian States of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara and in the Beninese Departments of Alibori and Borgou.They speak Busa (also known as Bisã) and Boko (also known as Boo). This peoples are referred to as Bussawa in Hausa.