Baka language (South Sudan)

Baka
Native toSouth Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Native speakers
60,000 (2017)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3bdh
Glottologbaka1274

Baka (Tara Baka) is a Central Sudanic language of South Sudan, with the majority living in an area centered on Maridi, South Sudan, but also a couple thousand speakers in the DRC. It has consonants with trilled release such as /dr/ and /ɡ͡bʙ/.

A 2013 survey reported that the Baka were the largest ethnic group in Maridi County, South Sudan. They also live in Baka Boma, Tore Payam, Yei County, South Sudan.[2]

Phonology

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Alveopalatal Velar Labiovelar
Stop:
Voiceless p t c k kp
Voiced b d g gb
Prenasalized mb nd ŋg ŋmgb
Implosive ɓ ɗ 'y
Nasal: m n ɲ ŋ
Trill:
Voiceless tr kʙ̥
Voiced ʙ dr
Prenasalized ndr ŋmgʙ
Fricative:
Voiceless f s
Voiced v z
Prenasalized nv nz
Flap: ⱱ̟ r ř
Lateral: l
Semivowel: w y

Vowels

(-ATR)
Front Central Back
High ʟ ʊ
Low ɞ a ɔ

Neutral vowel: ɨ

(+ATR)
Front Central Back
High i u
Low e ə o

[3]

References

  1. ^ Baka at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ "Village Assessment Survey". International Organization for Migration South Sudan. 2013.
  3. ^ Parker, Kirk H. (1985). Occasional Papers in the Study of Sudanese Languages 4. Juba, Sudan: Summer Institute of Linguistics and Institute of Regional Languages and College of Education U. of Juba. pp. 63–85.