Manjak
AltnameManjáku
StatesGuinea-Bissau, Senegal, and the Gambia
EthnicityManjack
Date2021–2022
Refe27
Dia 1Bok
Dia 2Ulekes
Dia 3Ucur
Dia 4Ulund
Dia 5Uyu
Dia 6Unuab
Dia 7Uteer
Dia 8Uyool
Dia 9Uyanga
Dia 10Undin
Dia 11Ubuey
Dia 12Uguejan
Dia 13Utimats
Dia 14Uroongaan
FamilycolorNiger-Congo
Fam 2Atlantic–Congo
Fam 3Senegambian
Fam 4Bak
Fam 5Manjaku–Papel
ScriptLatin
Iso 3mfv
Glottomand1419
GlottorefnameMandjak

Manjak or Manjack (French: Manjak, Manjaque; Portuguese: Manjaco) or Njak is a Bak language of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. The language is also known as Kanyop.

In 2006, the total number of speakers was estimated at 315,300, including 184,000 in Guinea-Bissau, 105,000 in Senegal and 26,300 in The Gambia.

Dialects

The Manjak dialects below are distinct enough that some might be considered separate languages.[citation needed]

  • Bok (Babok, Sarar, Teixeira Pinto, Tsaam)
  • Likes-Utsia (Baraa, Kalkus)
  • Cur (Churo)
  • Lund
  • Yu (Pecixe, Siis, Pulhilh)
  • Unhate (Binhante, Bissau)

The Manjak dialects listed by Wilson (2007) are[1]

  • Canchungo (kancuŋuʔ) – central dialect
  • Baboque (babɔk) (formerly Teixeira Pinto) – eastern dialect
  • Churo (cuur) – northern dialect
  • Pecixe (locally called pəhlihl; otherwise pəsiis), on an island to the south
  • Calequisse (kaləkiis), to the west of Canchungo

Phonology

Consonants

LabialAlveolarPost-
alveolar
(Alveolo-)
palatal
Velar
Nasalmnɲŋ
Plosive/
Affricate
voicelessptt̠͡ɹ̠̊˔t͡ɕk
voicedbdd͡ʑɡ
prenasal vl.ᵐpⁿtⁿt̠͡ɹ̠̊˔ᶮt͡ɕᵑk
prenasal vd.ᵐbⁿdᶮd͡ʑᵑɡ
Fricativevoicelessfs(ɕ)
voiced(ʑ)
Laterall
Approximantwj
  • Sounds [ɕ, ʑ] are heard in free-fluctuation with affricates /t͡ɕ, d͡ʑ/ in all positions except following nasals.
  • Sounds /b, d, ɡ/ may also be lenited as [β, ɾ, ɣ] when in intervocalic or word-final positions. /d/ can also be heard as a trill [r] in free variation with [ɾ] when in word-final positions.

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Closeiu
Close-midɪ ~ eəʊ ~ o
Open-midɛɐɔ
Opena

Only vowels /u/ and /a/ may also have lengthened equivalents; /uː/ and /aː/.

  • Sounds /ɪ, ʊ/ may also range to more mid sounds [e, o] in free variation.
  • /ɐ/ may have a central allophone as [ʌ̈].
Diphthongs
FrontBack
Close-midiəuə
Open-midiɐuɐ
  • Sounds /iə, uə/ may have some fluctuation with lengthened sounds [eː, oː].[2]

Writing system

The official spelling system for Manjak established by the Senegalese government is regulated by Decree No. 2005-983 of 21 October 2005.

Manjak alphabet (Senegal)
ABCDEËFGHIJKLMNÑŊOPRSŜT[illegible]UWYZ
abcdeëfghijklmnñŋoprsŝt[illegible]uwyz

References

  1. ^ Wilson, William André Auquier. 2007. Guinea Languages of the Atlantic group: description and internal classification. (Schriften zur Afrikanistik, 12.) Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.
  2. ^ Karlik, Jan (1972). A Manjako grammar with special reference to the nominal group. University of London.

Further reading