Nso language
Nso is the Grassfields language of the Nso people of western Cameroon. A few may remain in Nigeria. It has ten major noun classes. The ISO 639-3 code is lns. Nso is spoken by over 100,000 people.
Phonology
Consonants
- Stop sounds /b, t, d, k, ɡ/ may have affricated phonetic variants as when occurring before /ə/. Sounds /ɣ, m/ may have variants as when in the same position.
- Sounds /p/ and /h/ only occur in interjections, ideophones or loanwords.
- /p, t, k/ may also have aspirated allophones in word-initial positions.
- Prenasal fricative sounds /ᶬf, ⁿs, ᶮʃ/ may also have allophones as prenasal affricate sounds.
- Sounds /d͡ʒ, ʃ, k, ɡ, m, ŋ/ may be labialized as when before a vowel, and occurring only in the first syllable.
Vowels
- Vowels are lengthened as /iː, eː, əː, aː, oː, uː/.
- Sounds /ɛ, ɔ/ may also be heard as close-mid in free variation.
- Vowels /i, a, u/ are heard as when before /ʔ/ or nasal sounds.
Writing System
Nso uses an orthography based on the General Alphabet of [Cameroon Languages]. An orthography had initially been created before being modified to follow the recommendations of the AGLC.| a | b | c | d | e | ə | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | ŋ | o | p | r | s | t | u | v | w | y | z | ʼ |
Nso uses 23 digraphs and 7 trigraphs. Long vowels are indicating by doubling the vowel . Diphthongs are noted.
The high tone is indicated with the acute accent and the low tone with the grave accent on the vowel.
Phrases
- Thank you.
- You are welcome.
- What news?.
- No news or I am fine.
- Good morning.
- How did you sleep?
- Good afternoon.
- Good evening.
- Sleep well.
- Good bye until tomorrow.
- Sweet dreams.
- And to you.
- God bless you.
- Good luck.
- Safe journey.
- Give me.
- Where are you going?
- What is your name?
- My name is Lukong.
- Whose child are you?
- I am Lukong's child.
- Who is the traditional ruler of Nso?
- I am hungry.
- I am thirsty.
- I love you.
- Marry me.
- Where are you going?
- Forgive me
- I have a bag
- The grass is growing
- Shift it further away
- Who is this?
- Loving is good
Animal names
- : leopard
- : dog
- : monkey
- : elephant
- : lion
- : duiker
- : goat
- : sheep
- : buffalo
- : squirrel
- : serpent
- : cricket
- : spider
- : tarantula
- : hyena
- : chicken
- : he-goat
- : lizard
- : bat
Other nouns
- : sun
- : water
- : book
- : pineapple
- : house
- : roof
- : floor
- : door
- : chair
- : rug
- : cooking pot
- :
- : cup
- : basket
- : farm
- : firewood
- : pepper
- : spoon
- : junction
- : house of worship
- : vehicle
- : rice
- : roof
- : file
- : Irish potato
- : sweet potato
- : cocoyam
- : banana
- : meat
- : walking stick
- : mom
- : dad
- : sister
- : brother
- : relative
Adjectives
- : hot
- : cold
- : Heavy.
- : Dark.
- : White
- : Bitter.
- : Sweet
- nyaaŋ: Calm