Aiki
Runga, Kibet
Native toChad, Central African Republic
RegionSalamat
Native speakers
(19,000 Kibet cited 1983)[1]
43,000 Runga (1993–1996)[1]
Dialects
  • Runga
  • Kibet
  • ? Dagal
  • ? Muru
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
kie – Kibet
rou – Runga
Glottologrung1257
Locations of Runga   and Kibet  .

Aiki is a Maban language of Chad. It consists of two dialects, Runga and Kibet, which are divergent enough to be considered separate languages. Kibet (Kibeit, Kibeet, Kabentang) is spoken in Chad, while Runga (Roungo) is split between Chad and the CAR. Ayki (Aykindang) is a name used in CAR.

Possible dialects of Kibet are Dagal (Dagel, Daggal) and Muru (Murru, Muro, Mourro);[2] however, they are poorly known, and Blench (2012) lists them separately.

The Aiki area is flooded half the year.

Phonology

Consonants[2]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Plosive p b t d c ɟ k g
Implosive ɓ ɗ
Prenasalized ᵐb ⁿd ᶮɟ ᵑg
Fricative s z (ʃ)
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Approximant w r, l j
  • /p/ can be realized as [f].
  • /ʃ/ is only found in Arabic loanwords.
Vowels[2]
Front Central Back
High i i u uː
Mid-high e eː (ə) o oː
Mid-low ɛ ɛː ɔ ɔː
Low a aː
  • [ə] only exists as an epenthetic vowel.

Additionally, the following diphthongs can be found: /ei/, /ɛi/, /ai/, /eu/, /əu/, /au/, /ou/.

There are two tones: high and low.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Kibet at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
    Runga at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. 1 2 3 4 Nougayrol, Pierre (1989). "La langue des Aiki dits Rounga (Tchad et République Centrafricaine): esquisse descriptive et lexique". Publications du Département Langues et parole en Afrique centrale. Paris: Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner pour la Laboratoire de Langues et Civilisations à Tradition Orale (LACITO).


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