Nyamwezi is a major Bantu language of central Tanzania. It forms a dialect continuum with Sukuma, but is more distinct from it.
Konongo and Ruwila are sometimes considered dialects.
Phonology
Consonants BilabialLabio-dentalAlveolarPost-alveolarPalatalVelarGlottalPlosiveplainp bt dɟk ɡprenasalᵐbⁿdᶮɟᵑɡAffricateplainc͡ʃprenasalᶮc͡ʃFricativeplainβf vs zʃhprenasalᶬf ᶬvⁿs ⁿzᶮʃNasalm̥ mn̥ nɲ̊ ɲŋ̊ ŋApproximantljw
Prenasalized voiceless stops [ᵐp ⁿt] may also frequently occur, as a result of loan words. Nasal sounds /m ŋ/ may also occur as labialized [mʷ ŋʷ].
Vowels FrontCentralBackHighi iː u uːɪ ɪːʊ ʊːMidɛ ɛːɔ ɔːLowa aː
Tones Tones present in Nyamwezi are high /v́/, low /v̀/, and rising /v̌/.
Sample text
Banhu bose bubyalagwa biyagalulile, n'ikujo haki zilenganelile. Banhu bose bina masala na wiganiki, hu kuyomba ihayilwe bitogwe giti bana ba mbyazi bumo.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
References