Kipsigis language
{{short description|Kenyan language}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Kipsigis
|states=Kenya
|ethnicity=Kipsigis
|speakers={{sigfig|1.916|2}} million
|date=2009 census
|ref=e18
|familycolor=Nilo-Saharan
|fam2=Eastern Sudanic
|fam3=Nilotic
|fam4=Southern Nilotic
|fam5=Kalenjin
|fam6=Nandi–Markweta
|iso3=sgc
|glotto=kips1239
|glottorefname=Kipsigis
}}
Kipsigis (or Kipsikii, Kipsikiis) is part of the Kenyan Kalenjin dialect cluster,{{ref|nandi}} It is spoken mainly in Kericho and Bomet counties in Kenya. The Kipsigis people are the most numerous tribe of the Kalenjin in Kenya, accounting for 60% of all Kalenjin speakers. Kipsigis is closely related to Nandi, Keiyo (Keyo, Elgeyo), South Tugen (Tuken), and Cherangany.
The Kipsigis territory is bordered to the south and southeast by the Maasai. To the west, Gusii (a Bantu language) is spoken. To the north-east, other Kalenjin people are found, mainly the Nandi. East from the Kipsigis, in the Mau forests, live some Okiek speaking tribes.
Phonology
= Consonants =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! |
| Nasal
|m |n |ɲ |ŋ |
|---|
| Stop
|p |t |(c) |k |
| Affricate
| | |tʃ | |
| Fricative
| |s | | |
| Rhotic
| |r | | |
| Lateral
| |l | | |
| Approximant
| | |j |w |
- {{ipa|/r/}} can be heard as either a trill {{ipa|[r]}} or a tap {{ipa|[ɾ]}}.
- {{ipa|/tʃ/}} may also be realized as a palatal stop {{ipa|[c]}}.
- {{ipa|/k/}} may also have a voiced allophone {{ipa|[ɡ]}}, as well as become spirantized as a voiced fricative {{ipa|[ɣ]}}.{{Cite book |last=Kouneli |first=Maria |title=The Syntax of Number and Modification: An Investigation of the Kipsigis DP |publisher=New York University |year=2019}}
= Vowels =
= Double vowels =
Usually, the pronunciation of a double vowel does not mean a repetition of that vowel sound but rather an elongation of that particular vowel sound. An exception to that generalization shows up with the double ee.
Normally, the elongated vowel sounds follow the Latin vowel sounds. A few examples are given in the table below
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Vowel !As Kipsigis !As in English |
| aa
|{{lang|sgc|Kaap}} |mama, mark, margin, sharp |
| ii
|{{lang|sgc|Asiis}} |piece, peace, freeze, sneeze |
| oo
|{{lang|sgc|igoondiit}} {{lang|sgc|roopta}} |gone robe |
| uu
|{{lang|sgc|piyuut}} |root, boot |
The sound of the double ee may vary in pronunciation. For example:
| class="wikitable"
|+ !As in Kipsigis !As in English |
| {{lang|sgc|akweet}} 'flock'
|wet |
| {{lang|sgc|beek}} 'water'
|bake |
| {{lang|sgc|meet}} 'death'
|for this word, there are two sounds, as in lay-ette |
See also
{{Incubator|code= sgc}}
Notes
- {{note|nandi}} See Kalenjin languages and Nandi–Markweta languages for a clarification of the Nandi/Kalenjin nomenclature.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Languages of Kenya}}
{{Eastern Sudanic languages}}
{{Authority control}}
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