Nso language
| Nsɔ | |
|---|---|
| Lamnsɔ’ | |
| Native to | Cameroon |
Native speakers | 240,000 in Cameroon (2005)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | lns |
| Glottolog | lamn1239 |
| Nsọ[2] | |
|---|---|
| People | Nsọ |
| Language | Lam-Nsọ’ |
Nso (Lamnso, Lamnsɔ’) is the Grassfields language of the Nso people of western Cameroon. A few may remain in Nigeria. It has ten major noun classes.[3] The ISO 639-3 code is lns.[4] Nso is spoken by over 100,000 people.[5]
Phrases
- Beri wo. Thank you.
- Wikijung. You are welcome.
- A sahka? What news? (Greeting).
- Sah ka yo dzə. No news (Reply) OR M bo sa. I am fine.
- yirannia. Good morning.
- A sahka mbuni. How did you sleep?
- Aresi nia. Good afternoon.
- yi ginia. Good evening.
- Buni kijung. Sleep well.
- A ber ni kibveshi. Good bye until tomorrow.
- Njemse jungsi. Sweet dreams.
- Wuna wosa. And to you.
- Nyuy sævi wo. God bless you (Greeting).
- Vishi vejungvi. Good luck.
- Ghan kijung. Safe journey.
- Fo mo. Give me.
- A du fe? Where are you going?
- Yir yee dzə la? What is your name?
- Yir yem dzə Luckong. My name is Luckong.
- A dzə wan la? Whose child are you?
- M dzə wan Lukong. I am Lukong's child.
- Fon Nso dze la? Who is the traditional ruler of Nso?
- Jing yar mo. I am hungry.
- Ki long ki yum mo. I am thirsty.
- M kong wo. I love you.
- Marir mo. Marry me.
Animal names
- baa: leopard
- jwi: dog
- kan: monkey
- kitam: elephant
- bvèreh: lion
- shishuiy: duiker
- bvey: goat
- njii: sheep
- nyaar: buffalo
- buhn: squirrel
- yo: serpent
- kinchiiy: cricket
- taa ngam: spider
- ngam: tarantula
- kuurra: hyena
- ngvev: chicken
- kibev: he-goat
- kibar: lizard
- kiliim: bat
Other nouns
- shuy: sun
- mindzev: water
- ngwa: book
- nanar: pineapple
- lav: house
- kitukelav: roof
- nsaalav: floor
- shulav: door
- ntah: chair
- gham: rug
- nton: cooking pot
- lang: bowl (typically a small bowl)
- bar: cup
- nkaa: basket
- sum: farm
- minkkah: firewood
- shishuur: pepper
- chinyuu: spoon
- mintanin: junction
- la' cu: house of worship (church)
- kitengteng: vehicle
- sang: rice
- kitukelav: roof
- saav: file
- tu': Irish potato
- mbulam: sweet potato
- kiku': cocoyam
- kingom: banana
- nyam: meat
- mbang: walking stick
- yiy: mom (mother)
- tar: dad (father)
- jemir: sister (relative)
- tamir: brother (relative)
- feer: relative (A general sense. Example: M dze feer wo: I am your relative)
Adjectives
- lum: hot
- rə : cold
- Dzer: Heavy.
- Sen: Dark.
- Fer: White
- Shi'ir: Bitter.
- Nyom: Sweet.
References
- ^ Nsɔ at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
- ^ Laura W. McGarrity and Robert Botne. "BETWEEN AGREEMENT AND CASE MARKING IN LAMNSO" (PDF).
- ^ "ISO 639 code sets". www.sil.org. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- ^ paul peek. "Lamnso". Flw.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
Bibliography
- McGarrity, Laura and Botne, Robert (2001). Between Agreement and Case Marking in Lamnso. IUWPL 3: Explorations in African Linguistics: From Lamnso' to Sesotho (2001), edited by Robert Botne and Rose Vondrasek, pp. 53–70. Bloomington, IN: Noun classes and categorization: Proceedings of a symposium on categorization and noun classification, Eugene, Oregon, October 1983. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins.
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