Manjak language
Manjak or Manjack or Njak is a Bak language of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. The language is also known as Kanyop.
In 2006, the total number of speakers was estimated at 315,300, including 184,000 in Guinea-Bissau, 105,000 in Senegal and 26,300 in The Gambia.
Dialects
The Manjak dialects below are distinct enough that some might be considered separate languages.- Bok
- Likes-Utsia
- Cur
- Lund
- Yu
- Unhate
- Canchungo – central dialect
- Baboque – eastern dialect
- Churo – northern dialect
- Pecixe, on an island to the south
- Calequisse, to the west of Canchungo
Phonology
Consonants
- Sounds are heard in free-fluctuation with affricates in all positions except following nasals.
- Sounds may also be lenited as when in intervocalic or word-final positions. can also be heard as a trill in free variation with when in word-final positions.
Vowels
Only vowels and may also have lengthened equivalents; and.| Front | Back | |
| Close-mid | ||
| Open-mid |
- Sounds may have some fluctuation with lengthened sounds.
Writing system
The official spelling system for Manjak established by the Senegalese government is regulated by Decree No. 2005-983 of 21 October 2005.| A | B | C | D | E | Ë | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | Ñ | Ŋ | O | P | R | S | Ŝ | T | U | W | Y | Z | |
| a | b | c | d | e | ë | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | ñ | ŋ | o | p | r | s | ŝ | t | u | w | y | z |