Nyaka language

Nyaka (Nyaka: ñaka or yaka [ˈɲaka~ˈjaka]), also known as Yaka, or Jala-jala is a Nyamu-based pidgin language spoken internationally as a lingua franca throughout the eastern and central Nkungu area. The language contends with its originator Nyamu as one of the most widely spoken languages within the eastern Nkungu area. Speakers of the language tend to regard Nyaka as either a language seperate from Nyamu, a Nyamu dialect, or – especially among Kwukwu populations – Nyamu itself. The language is also viewed as a "poor man's language" within eastern Nkungu society, being spoken by mostly uneducated people, tradesmen, and merchants. Unlike Nyamu, Nyaka has no official recognition in any of the countries it is spoken in.

Nyaka
Ñaka, Yaka
Pronunciation	[ˈɲaka~ˈjaka]
Native to	eastern Nkungu, Khobeh, Afa
Language family	Juru Bossoid Nyamu Nyaka

Varieties

Though Nyaka acts as a bridge between the different peoples of eastern and central Nkungu, Nyaka has many varieties belonging to each of the groups that speak it. These varieties often use words or syntax from, or pronunciation emulating, the local languages of an area. For example, Northern Nyaka and its subvarieties use words loaned from Hlong and Gara, while Southern Nyaka draws its loanwords from Nganka, Dzuma, or Afa Nyamu. The three main Nyaka varieties are Northern Nyaka (also known as Khobeh Nyaka), Southern Nyaka (also known as Afa Nyaka), and Kwukwu Nyaka. Each of these main varieties have several subvarieties differing among countries, ethnic groups, districts, and cities. Due to the diversity of Nyaka varieties, certain lects are not mutually intelligible with others.

Differences in Nyaka varieties

	English	Standard Nyamu	Northern Nyaka	Southern Nyaka
Text	[The] man does not want to go to Kashinkhor	Ña Kàṣiŋkhɔfa bali	Ña Kàṣiŋkɔ/Kàṣiklɔ ba nsɔ̀ nda	Ña Ṣikkɔ ba nsɔ̀ nzì / Ña Ṣikkɔ ba mù nzì
IPA		/ɲá kàɕíŋˈkʰɔ́fá ˈbálí/	/ɲá kàˈɕíŋkɔ́ - kàˈɕíklɔ́ bá ⁿsɔ̀ ⁿdá/	/ɲá~ɟʲá ɕíkːɔ́ bá ⁿsɔ̀ ⁿzì/ /ɲá~ɟʲá ɕíkːɔ́ bá mù ⁿzì/
Gloss		man Kashinkhor go-DES.NEG	man Kashinkhor go DES NEG(man Kashinkhor go want without)	man Kashinkhor go DES NEG(man Kashinkhor go want NEG* / man Kashinkhor go love NEG)
Text	Candada ate fish with his uncle	Candada ùda buwuwu kùla jūma	Candada bwɔkɔ kùla ndiza ùdu jū bata	Caddada bubu kù là gbà ùru akpà
IPA		/t͡ɕándádá ˈùdá búˈwúwú ˈkùlá ˈd͡ʑuː́má/	/t͡ɕándádá ˈbwɔ́kɔ́ kùlá ⁿdízá ˈùdú ˈ d͡ʑuː́ ˈbátá/	/t͡ɕándádá ˈbúbú kù là g͡bà ˈùɾú ák͡pà/
Gloss		Candada fish-SG.ACC uncle-SG.INSTC 3S-GEN eat-PST	Candada uncle 3S-GEN together fish eat PST**	Candada uncle 3S PST*** take fish eat

*The Southern Nyaka negative nzì is from the Gaanin Dzuma negative particle nzì (from the standard Dzuma ndìì)

**The Northern Nyaka past tense particle bata is from the past tense form of the Nyamu verb ba ('to go')

***The Southern Nyaka past tense particle là is loaned from the Dzuma past tense particle là

Current status and society

Nyaka is one of the most widely spoken languages in eastern Nkungu, contending with Nyamu. While the Nyamu language became widespread due to the cultural influence of Khobeh within the eastern Nkungu sphere, Nyaka's popularity is largely due to its simplicity and its association with being a language for the public. Although being a widespread language, the many groups and areas wherein Nyaka is spoken all have differing ways in which they use and view the language. Within predominantly Nyamu communities, Nyaka is hidden and often solely a spoken language used among intimate individuals, i.e family and friends. The use of Nyaka in situations calling for respect or formality is oftentimes considered disrespectful. Among non-Nyamu communities, however, Nyaka is openly used as a lingua franca regardless of situation and is often interspersed in speech with the local language(s) of the community. Nyaka has no written literature as it is rarely ever written.