Xamtanga language

language
name=Xamtanga
nativename=ˈχamtaŋa
familycolor=Afro-Asiatic
states=Ethiopia
region=North Amhara Region
speakers=143,369
fam1=Afro-Asiatic
fam2=Cushitic
fam3=Central
iso2=cus|iso3=xan

Xamtanga or Khamtanga is a Central Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia by the Xamir people.

ound system

Vowels

The central vowels IPA|/ɨ ə a/ have fronted and backed allophones, depending on the adjacent consonant(s).

Consonants

*IPA|/h/ is found only word-initial in loanwords, and may be glottal IPA| [h] or pharyngeal IPA| [ħ] .
*IPA|/t/ is alveolar before the vowel IPA|/i/, dental otherwise.
*IPA|/q/ can be ejective IPA| [qʼ] , and in some cases the ejectives appear to be in free variation with the voiceless plosives.

Phonological processes

Gemination

In positions other than word-initial, Xamtanga contrasts geminate and non-geminate consonants. With most consonants, the difference between a geminate and a non-geminate is simply one of length, but the cases of IPA|/b t q/ are more complex. When not word-initial, non-geminate IPA|/b/ is realized as a bilabial IPA| [β] or labiodental fricative IPA| [v] , and IPA|/t/ and IPA|/q/ are realized as affricates: IPA| [tθ qχ] . Their geminate equivalents may be realized as prolonged IPA| [bː tː qː] , or can simply be short IPA| [b t q] .

In word-initial position, geminate consonants do not occur, and /b t q/ are realized as plosives.

Bibliography

*cite journal|author=D.L. Appleyard|title=A Grammatical Sketch of Khamtanga—I|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London|year=1987|volume=Vol. 50 | issue=2 | pages=241–266
*cite journal|author=D.L. Appleyard|title=A Grammatical Sketch of Khamtanga—II|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London|year=1987|volume=Vol. 50 | issue=3 | pages=470–507
* Appleyard, David L. (1988) "A Definite Article in Xamtanga", "African Languages and Cultures" 1/1, pp. 15-24.
*Appleyard, David L. (2006) "A Comparative Dictionary of the Agaw Languages" (Kuschitische Sprachstudien — Cushitic Language Studies Band 24). Köln: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag.

External links

* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=xan Xamtanga in Ethnologue]