Gonja language

Gonja
Spoken in	Ghana
Region	Northern Ghana
Ethnicity	Gonja people
Native speakers	230,000  (2004)
Language family	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Kwa Potou–Tano Tano Guang Gonja
Language codes
ISO 639-3	gjn

The Gonja language is a Kwa language spoken by an estimated 230,000 people, almost all of whom are of the Gonja ethnic group of northern Ghana. Related to Guang languages in the south of Ghana, it is spoken by about a third of the population in the northern region. The Brong-Ahafo and Volta regions lie to the south of the Gonja-speaking area, while Dagombas, Mamprussis and Walas are to the north.^[1][2] Its dialects are Gonja and Choruba.

Character

Vowels used are: a,e,i,o,ɔ,u,ɛ. Consonants include: ch [tʃ], ŋm, ny, gb, kp, sh [ʃ]. Personal pronouns as subject of the sentence: ma (I); fo (you, singular); e, mu (he, she); anye (we); fo, minye (you, plural); bumu, baa (they). A few key words are sufficient to show that the language is totally different from Akan on one hand, and Dagomba on the other: china (to sit); kpa (to throw); kachɛ (day); kufol (month); ebi (son); kuso (ear); enɔ (hand); dɔktɛ ("linguist", interpreter) ^[3]

External links

• Ethnologue entry

References

1. ^ Language Guide (Gonja Version). Bureau of Ghana Languages, Accra, 1977-1988.
2. ^ Kropp Dakubu, M.E. (editor), The Languages of Ghana. Kegan Paul International, London, for the International African Institute. 1988.
3. ^ Language Guide, as above.