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