Yaka, also spelled Iaca and Iyaka, is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. There are two dialects, Yaka proper, which comprises 99% of speakers, and Ngoongo (distinguish West Ngongo language). The alleged varieties Pelende and Lonzo are political rather than ethnolinguistic entities.Hammarström (2015) Ethnologue 16/17/18th editions: a comprehensive review: online appendices
Phonology
Consonants LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottalNasal Plosivevoiceless aspirated prenasal voiced Affricatevoiceless prenasal Fricativevoiceless voiced Approximant
The following consonants when preceding /w/ may also be labialized; /tʷ, kʷ, bʷ, ᵐbʷ, ⁿd͡zʷ, ᵑɡʷ, fʷ, sʷ, hʷ, vʷ, mʷ, nʷ, lʷ/. The following consonants when preceding /j/ may also be palatalized; /tʲ, kʲ, bʲ, dʲ, t͡sʲ, sʲ, hʲ, zʲ, mʲ, nʲ/.
Vowels FrontCentralBackClose Mid Open
References