Kunama language
The Kunama language has been included in the proposed Nilo-Saharan language family, though it is distantly related to the other languages, if at all. Kunama is spoken by the Kunama people of the Gash-Barka Region in western Eritrea and just across the Ethiopian border. The language has several dialects including: Barka, Marda, Aimara, Odasa, Tika, Lakatakura, Sokodasa, Takazze-Setit and Tigray. Ilit and Bitama are not mutually intelligible and so may be considered distinct languages.
In 1985 the Eritrean People's Liberation Front decided to use the Latin script for all non-Semitic languages in Eritrea, including the Kunama language. There have been some use of the Kunama language in publications. "The first Bible translation product in Kunama was the Gospel of Mark prepared by Andersson and published in 1906."
Phonology
Consonants
- is only of marginal status.
- are labialized as after back vowels.
- is heard as aspirated in syllable-initial position.
Vowels
- can be heard as when in unstressed syllable position.