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" among the eastern Nkungu upper class, 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 |
History
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.
| 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 nzìÑa 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