Konkomba language
| Konkomba | |
|---|---|
| Likpakpaln | |
| Region | Ghana, Togo |
|
Native speakers
|
900,000 (2003–2012) |
|
Latin (Konkomba alphabet) Konkomba Braille |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | |
| Glottolog | konk1269 |
| People | Bikpakpaam |
|---|---|
| Language | Likpakpaln |
The Konkomba language (Likpakpaln) is a type of Gurma language spoken in Ghana and Togo.
The Konkomba language, known natively as Likpakpaln, is spoken by the Konkomba people, who are also known as the Bikpakpaam. The Konkomba language has several dialects, including, but not limited to, Lichabol, Ligbeln, Likoonli, Limonkpeln and Linafeel.
The dialects of Konkomba emerged because different families and groups settled together and adopted unique pronunciation and vocabulary patterns, forming what could be called uniform dialect groupings. For example, "map geek" in (in the Lichabol dialect), "may LAK Iya" (in the Limonkpeln dialect), and "many men" (in the Likoon dialect) all mean "I don't like that". This type of variation can be heard in Likpakpaln, depending on the geographic area or what clan is dominant in a particular settlement. However, Lichabol dialect is the written variety. Other Bikpakpaam dialects classifications include Linankpel (Nankpantiib), Likpalil (Bikpalib), Linandeln (Binandim), Lisagmaln (Sagmantiib), and Linalol (Binalob).
A reasonable amount of Likpakpaln literature exists. This literature includes primers for teaching, a dictionary, storybooks, and folk tales. There is also a full translation of the Bible in Likpakpaln, created through the work of GILLBT and GIL, Mary Steele, and RILADEP (formerly KOLADEP, Konkomba Literacy and Development Project). Work on the Likpakpaln Bible translation was started by Mary Steele in 1962 when she arrived to work with the Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Likpakpaln is coded in ISO 639-3 as xon. Likpakpaln is a genetic affiliate of the Niger-Congo phylum. Taking a cue from Naden, one can derive the genetic root of Likpakpaln as represented below:
Niger Congo → Proto-Gur → Central Gur → Oti Volta → Gurma → Likpakpaln.
Within the Gurma linguistic circle, the closest languages to Likpakpaln are Bimoba (spoken by the Bimoba people) and Bassari (spoken by the Bassari people).
Likpakpaln is a Subject–verb–object language.
A, B, CH, D, E, F, G, GB, I, J, K, KP, L, M, N, NY, Ŋ, ŊM, O, Ɔ, P, R, S, T, U, W, Y.
a, b, ch, d, e, f, g, gb, i, j, k, kp, l, m, n, ny, ŋ, ŋm, o, ɔ, p, r, s, t, u, w, y.
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