Kare language (Adamawa)

Kare has the following consonantal phonemes:{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=64}}

It has the following vowel phonemes:{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=75}}

There is a phonological contrast between high and low tone (e.g. {{lang|kbn|sá}} {{gloss|say}} vs. {{lang|kbn|sà}} {{gloss|laugh}}), and a rarer phonetic mid tone whose phonological status is not established. Only monosyllabic words may bear rising or falling tone.{{sfn|Lim|1997|pp=73-80}}

The basic word order of Kare is subject–verb–object:

{{interlinear

| lang = kbn

| number = e.g.|kɛ́ hòrò húrù|3SG eat manioc|'he ate manioc'.{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=155}}

}}

Negation is handled with the sentence-final particle {{Lang|kbn|yá}} {{gloss|not}};{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=158}} when negated, the locative copula {{lang|kbn|yè}} {{gloss|be (in a place)}} is replaced by {{lang|kbn|tí}}, and the equative copula {{lang|kbn|ɓá}} {{gloss|be (equivalent to)}} by {{lang|kbn|tí ɓá}}.

Verbal nouns are formed by raising the last syllable's tone and adding a suffix -Cà, where C = l or r after an oral vowel, n after a nasal vowel, and is empty after a consonant: {{lang|kbn|fà}} {{gloss|deny}} > {{lang|kbn|fárà}} {{gloss|denial}}, {{lang|kbn|sɛ̀l}} {{gloss|untie}} > {{lang|kbn|sɛ́là}} {{gloss|untying}}.{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=151}}

Kare has no grammatical gender. Its personal pronouns are as follows:{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=154}}

To these may be added {{lang|kbn|hánà}} {{gloss|each other, other}}.

There is a closed class of morphologically invariant adjectives (e.g. {{lang|kbn|fé}} {{gloss|new}}, {{lang|kbn|sɛ́ŋɛ́}} {{gloss|red}}), which typically precede the noun but may also follow it to indicate a permanent quality, or may be used as nouns in their own right.{{sfn|Lim|1997|pp=154-155}} Determiners ({{lang|kbn|hánà}} {{gloss|other}}, {{lang|kbn|kɛ́}} {{gloss|the}}, {{lang|kbn|yɛ̀í}} {{gloss|this}}, {{lang|kbn|yɔ̀ɔ́}} {{gloss|that}}, {{lang|kbn|nɛ̄}} {{gloss|that yonder}}) follow the noun, and are followed by the plural marker {{lang|kbn|rì}}:

{{interlinear

| lang = kbn

| number = e.g.|nzù kɛ́ rí pí|person DEF PL also|'the people too'{{sfn|Lim|1997|pp=166-170}}

}}

Numerals and quantifiers come at the end, following the (optional) plural marker:

{{interlinear|lang=kbn|number=e.g.|nzù ndíɓí|person five|'five people'}}

{{interlinear|lang=kbn|number=e.g.|nzù rì sérè|person PL two|'two people'{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=154-155}}}}

Direct genitives are formed by juxtaposition

{{interlinear|lang=kbn|number=e.g.|sã̀ũ̀ lìà|root story|'the story's basis'{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=174}}}}

analytic genitives use the particle {{lang|kbn|ʔà}}

{{interlinear|lang=kbn|number=e.g.|vùn ʔà bá|house GEN father|'the father's house'{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=180}}}}

Relative clauses are formed with a demonstrative followed (not always immediately) by the relative marker {{lang|kbn|ɗá}}

{{interlinear|lang=kbn|number=e.g.|nzù yɛ̀í ɗá rí mí léóɗáà|person this REL rob me yesterday|'the person who robbed me yesterday'}}

All adpositions in Kare precede their complement. There are four primary (pure) prepositions: {{lang|kbn|kà}} {{gloss|with (instrumental)}}, {{lang|kbn|té}} {{gloss|with (comitative)}}, {{lang|kbn|ʔá}} {{gloss|in}}, {{lang|kbn|báŋ}} {{gloss|like}},{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=198}}

{{interlinear|lang=kbn|number=e.g.|kɛ́ ɡí té bá nɛ̄|3SG come with father 3SG.POSS|'he came with his father'}}

Alongside these there are a number of secondary postpositions transparently derived from nouns (often body parts), e.g. {{lang|kbn|tûl}} {{gloss|head}} > {{lang|kbn|túl}} {{gloss|on top of}}.{{sfn|Lim|1997|p=200}}

{{Reflist|20em}}

• {{cite book

|first=François |last=Lim

|title=Description linguistique du Kare (phonologie-syntaxe)

|publisher=Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle

|location=Paris

|year=1997

}}

• Roger Blench, 2004. [http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/AU/Adamawa%20language%20list.pdf List of Adamawa languages] (ms)

{{Adamawa languages}}

{{Languages of Cameroon}}

Category:Languages of the Central African Republic

Category:Languages of Cameroon

Category:Mbum languages