Bukusu dialect

Dialect of the Masaba language

Bukusu

Lubukusu
Native to| Kenya
Ethnicity| Bukusu

Native speakers

| 1.4 million (2009 census)[1]

Language family

Niger–Congo?

* Atlantic–Congo
* Volta-Congo
* Benue–Congo
* Bantoid
* Southern Bantoid
* Bantu
* Northeast Bantu
* Great Lakes Bantu
* Masaba–Luhya
* Masaba[2]
* Bukusu

Language codes
ISO 639-3| `bxk`
Glottolog| `buku1249`

Guthrie code

| `JE.31c`[3]

Bukusu is a dialect of the Masaba language spoken by the Bukusu tribe of the Luhya people of western Kenya. It is one of several ethnically Luhya dialects; however, it is more closely related to the Gisu dialect of Masaaba in eastern Uganda (and to the other Luhya dialect of Tachoni) than it is to other languages spoken by the Luhya.[2]

## Phonology

[edit]

p |  | tʃ | k

|
|
|

(b) | (d) | (dʒ) | (ɡ)
f | s |  | x
β |  |  |
m | n | ɲ | ŋ
| l r | j | w

Several consonants undergo fortition after nasal consonants: [β, w → b, j → dʒ, l, r → d]; Mutonyi (2000) postulates that Bukusu has no phonemic voiced plosives.[4]

## Variations

[edit]

The language has three main variations:

* The dialect spoken north of Kimilili area, with its heaviest influence being noted in the region around Kitale
* The dialect spoken west of Webuye town, with its purest form being in the region around, and to the west of, Bungoma
* The dialect spoken east of Webuye town, extending into Kakamega and Lugari districts.

Of these, the language spoken around Kitale town is usually considered the purest form - this is because the other two dialects are significantly influenced by other dialects of the Luhya languages.

### Influences

[edit]

The Bukusu tribe lives in Bungoma district, which borders Uganda to the west and Kakamega district of Kenya to the east. Across the border in Uganda live the Masaba and the Gisu, both closely related to the Bukusu by a shared language and a common culture. Intermarriage between the Bukusu and these Ugandan tribes is very common and is, in fact, encouraged by the respective communities. As a result, many Bukusu have close relatives among the Gisu and Masaaba, and vice versa.

During the Ugandan civil wars of the 1970s, many of the Gisu and Masaba left Uganda for Kenya, mainly to live with Bukusu relatives around the Bungoma area. After the wars ended, a large number did not return to Uganda, having already started new lives in Kenya. Their large dispersal among the Bukusu in that area has had a discernible influence on the Bukusu language in the Bungoma region. Native speakers of the language will easily identify someone from the area based on their speech. Of particular note is the substitution of R with L, so that, for example, the verb 'khuufwara' (xuufwara) - to wear [clothes] is now pronounced 'khuufwala', as it is in the Gisu and Masaaba languages.

The dialect spoken east of Webuye town is influenced by the neighbouring Kabras and Tachoni dialects of the Luhya language. This is particularly noticeable in the changes in noun prefixes: in the original Bukusu language, for example, the term 'something' would be rendered as 'siSindu'. In the Kabras language, the term is rendered as 'eShindu'. The Bukusu east of Webuye town will usually say 'eSindu', thus adopting the prefix of the Kabras language while retaining the Bukusu root word 'Sindu' (as opposed to the Kabras root word, 'Shindu').

Because it borders the nilotic Kalenjin languages of the Pokot, Nandi and Sebei to the north, east and west, the Bukusu language spoken in Kitale area has largely retained its original form, save for a number of loan words from those languages. It is markedly different from the other dialects discussed above, to the extent that it takes a while for a native speaker of one of the other two dialects to adopt it as their daily speech.

## See also

[edit]

* Luhya languages

## Bibliography

[edit]

* De Blois, Kornelis Frans (1975) 'Bukusu generative phonology and aspects of Bantu structure' (Annales de MRAC, no. 85). Tervuren: Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale.
* Nasiombe Mutonyi (2000) Aspects of Bukusu Morphology and Phonology

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bukusu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
2. ^ a b Maho (2009)
3. ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
4. ^ Jeff Mielke, 2008. The emergence of distinctive features, p 141–142

* v
* t
* e

Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) (by Guthrie classification)

Zone E|

| [J]E10|

* [J]E11 Nyoro
* [J]E12 Tooro
* [J]E13 Nyankore
* [J]E14 Ciga
* [J]E15 Ganda
* [J]E16 Soga
* [J]E17 Gwere
* [J]E18 Nyala
* [JE101 Gungu
* JE102 Talinga-Bwisi
* JE103 Ruli
* JE121 Hema

|

[J]E20|

* [J]E21 Nyambo
* [J]E22 Ziba
* [J]E23 Dzindza
* [J]E24 Kerebe
* [J]E25 Jita
* [JE221 Rashi
* JE251 Kwaya
* JE252 Kara
* JE253 Ruri

[J]E30|

* [J]E31a Gisu
* [J]E31b Kisu
* [J]E31c Bukusu
* [J]E32a Hanga
* [J]E32b Tsotso
* [J]E33 Nyore
* [J]E34 Saamia
* [J]E35 Nyuli
* [JE341 Xaayo
* JE342 Marachi
* JE343 Songa

[J]E40|

* [J]E41 Logooli
* [J]E42 Gusii
* [J]E43 Koria
* [J]E44 Zanaki
* [J]E45 Nata
* E46 Sonjo
* [JE401 Nguruimi
* JE402 Ikizu
* JE403 Suba/Suba-Simbiti
* JE404 Shashi
* JE405 Kabwa
* JE406 Singa
* JE407 Ware
* JE411 Idaxo
* JE412 Isuxa
* JE413 Tiriki
* JE431 Simbiti
* JE432 Hacha
* JE433 Surwa
* JE434 Sweta

E50|

* E51 Kikuyu
* E52 Embu
* E53 Meru
* E54 Saraka
* E55 Kamba
* E56 Daiso
* [E531 Mwimbi-Muthambi
* E541 Cuka

E60|

* E61[621a] Rwo
* E62a[621b,622a] Hai
* E62b[622c] Wunjo
* E62c[623] Rombo
* E63 Rusa
* E64 Kahe
* E65 Gweno

E70|

* E71 Pokomo
* E72a Gyriama
* E72b Kauma
* E72c Conyi
* E72d Duruma
* E72e Rabai
* E73 Digo
* E74a Dabida
* E74b[741] Sagala
* [E701 Elwana
* E731 Segeju
* E732 Degere
* E74 Taita

Zone F|

| F10|

* F11 Tongwe
* F12 Bende

|

[J]F20|

* [J]F21 Sukuma
* [J]F22 Nyamwezi
* [J]F23 Sumbwa
* [J]F24 Kimbu
* [J]F25 Bungu

F30|

* F31 Nilamba
* F32 Remi
* F33 Langi
* F34 Mbugwe

Zone G|

| G10|

* G11 Gogo
* G12 Kaguru

|

G20|

* G21 Tubeta
* G22 Asu
* G23 Shambala
* G24 Bondei
* [G221 Mbugu

G30|

* G31 Zigula
* G32 Ngwele
* G33 Zaramo
* G34 Ngulu
* G35 Ruguru
* G36 Kami
* G37 Kutu
* G38 Vidunda
* G39 Sagala
* [G301 Doe
* G311 Mushungulu

G40|

* G41 Tikuu
* G42a Amu
* G42b Mvita
* G42c Mrima
* G42d Unguja
* G43a Phemba
* G43b Tumbatu
* G43c Hadimu
* G44a Ngazija
* G44b Njuani
* [G402 Makwe
* G403 Mwani
* G404 Sidi
* G411 Socotra Swahili
* G412 Mwiini

G50|

* G51 Pogolo
* G52 Ndamba

G60|

* G61 Sango
* G62 Hehe
* G63 Bena
* G64 Pangwa
* G65 Kinga
* G66 Wanji
* G67 Kisi
* [G651 Magoma

Zone H|

| H10|

* H11 Beembe
* H12 Vili
* H13 Kunyi
* H14 Ndingi
* H15 Mboka
* H16a South Kongo
* H16b Central Kongo
* H16c Yombe
* H16d Fiote
* H16e Bwende
* H16f Laadi
* H16g East Kongo
* H16h Southeast Kongo
* [H111 Hangala
* H112 Kamba-Doondo
* H131 Suundi

|

H20|

* H21a Kimbundu
* H21b Mbamba
* H22 Sama
* H23 Bolo
* H24 Songo

H30|

* H31 Yaka
* H32 Suku
* H33 [L12b] Hungu
* H34 Mbangala
* H35 Sinji
* [H321 Soonde

H40|

* H41 Mbala
* H42 Hunganna

* Italics indicate extinct languages.
* Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left.

* The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them.

Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)

* v
* t
* e

Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) (by Guthrie classification)

Zone J*|

| [J]D40|

* [J]D41 Konzo
* [J]D42 Ndandi
* [J]D43 Nyanga

|

[J]D50|

* [J]D51 Hunde
* [J]D52 Haavu
* [J]D53 Nyabungu
* [J]D54 Bembe
* [J]D55 Buyi
* [J]D56 Kabwari
* [JD501 Nyindu
* [J]JD502 Yaka
* [J]JD531 Tembo

[J]D60|

* [J]D61 Ruanda
* [J]D62 Rundi
* [J]D63 Fuliiro
* [J]D64 Subi
* [J]D65 Hangaza
* [J]D66 Ha
* [J]D67 Vinza
* [JD631 Vira

[J]E10|

* [J]E11 Nyoro
* [J]E12 Tooro
* [J]E13 Nyankore
* [J]E14 Ciga
* [J]E15 Ganda
* [J]E16 Soga
* [J]E17 Gwere
* [J]E18 Nyala
* [JE101 Gungu
* JE102 Talinga-Bwisi
* JE103 Ruli
* JE121 Hema

[J]E20|

* [J]E21 Nyambo
* [J]E22 Ziba
* [J]E23 Dzindza
* [J]E24 Kerebe
* [J]E25 Jita
* [JE221 Rashi
* JE251 Kwaya
* JE252 Kara
* JE253 Ruri

[J]E30|

* [J]E31a Gisu
* [J]E31b Kisu
* [J]E31c Bukusu
* [J]E32a Hanga
* [J]E32b Tsotso
* [J]E33 Nyore
* [J]E34 Saamia
* [J]E35 Nyuli
* [JE341 Xaayo
* JE342 Marachi
* JE343 Songa

[J]E40|

* [J]E41 Logooli
* [J]E42 Gusii
* [J]E43 Koria
* [J]E44 Zanaki
* [J]E45 Nata
* E46 Sonjo
* [JE401 Nguruimi
* JE402 Ikizu
* JE403 Suba/Suba-Simbiti
* JE404 Shashi
* JE405 Kabwa
* JE406 Singa
* JE407 Ware
* JE411 Idaxo
* JE412 Isuxa
* JE413 Tiriki
* JE431 Simbiti
* JE432 Hacha
* JE433 Surwa
* JE434 Sweta

[J]F20|

* [J]F21 Sukuma
* [J]F22 Nyamwezi
* [J]F23 Sumbwa
* [J]F24 Kimbu
* [J]F25 Bungu

Zone K|

| K10|

* K11 Chokwe
* K12a Luimbi
* K12b Nyemba
* K13 Lucazi
* K14 Lwena
* K15 Mbunda
* K16 Nyengo
* K17 Mbwela
* K18 Nkangala

|

K20|

* K21 Lozi

K30|

* K31 Luyana
* K32 Mbowe
* K33 Kwangali
* K34 Mashi
* K35 Simaa
* K36 Sanjo
* K37 Kwangwa
* [K321 Mbume
* K322 Liyuwa
* K332 Manyo
* K333 Mbukushu
* K334 Mbogedu
* K351 Mulonga
* K352 Mwenyi
* K353 Koma
* K354 Imilangu
* K371 Kwandi

K40|

* K41 Totela
* K42 Subiya
* [K402 Fwe
* K411 Totela of Namibia

Zone L|

| L10|

* L11 Pende
* L12 Samba & Holu
* L13 Kwese
* [L101 Sonde

|

L20|

* L21 Kete
* L22 Binji
* Mbagani
* L23 Songe
* L24 Luna
* [L201 Budya
* L202 Yazi
* L221 Lwalwa
* L231 Binji

L30|

* L31a Luba-Kasai
* L31b Lulua
* L32 Kanyoka
* L33 Luba-Katanga
* L34 Hemba
* L35 Sanga
* [L301 Kebwe
* L331 Zeela

L40|

* L41 Kaonde

L50|

* L51 Salampasu
* L52 Lunda
* L53 Ruund
* [L511 Luntu

L60|

* L61 Mbwera
* L62 Nkoya
* [L601 Kolwe
* L602 Lushangi
* L603 Shasha

Zone M|

| M10|

* M11 Pimbwe
* M12 Rungwa
* M13 Fipa
* M14 Rungu
* M15 Mambwe
* [M131 Kuulwe

|

M20|

* M21 Wanda
* M22 Mwanga
* M23 Nyiha
* M24 Malila
* M25 Safwa
* M26 Iwa
* M27 Tambo
* [M201 Lambya
* M202 Sukwa

M30|

* M31 Nyakyusa
* [M301 Ndali
* M302 Penja

M40|

* M41 Taabwa
* M42 Bemba
* [M401 Bwile
* M402 Aushi

M50|

* M51 Biisa
* M52 Lala
* M53 Swaka
* M54 Lamba
* M55 Seba
* [M521 Ambo
* M522 Luano
* M541 Lima
* M542 Temba

M60|

* M61 Lenje
* M62 Soli
* M63 Ila
* M64 Tonga
* [M611 Lukanga Twa
* M631 Sala
* M632 Lundwe
* M633 Kafue Twa

* Italics indicate extinct languages.
* Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left.

* The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them.

Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M)
Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)

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