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.
| Aiki | |
|---|---|
| Runga, Kibet | |
| Native to | Chad, Central African Republic |
| Region | Salamat, Vakaga |
Native speakers | (19,000 Kibet cited 1983)[1] 43,000 Runga (1993–1996)[1] |
Nilo-Saharan?
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:kie – Kibetrou – Runga |
| Glottolog | rung1257 |
 Locations of Runga and Kibet . | |
Possible dialects of Kibet are Dagal (Dagel, Daggal) and Muru (Murru, Muro, Mourro);[2] however, they are poorly known, and Blench (2012)[failed verification] lists them separately.
The Aiki area is flooded half the year.
Phonology
edit| 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.
| 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
edit- ^ a b Kibet at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
Runga at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- ^ a b c d 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).
