Gonja language
| Gonja, Ngbanya, Ngbanyito | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Ghana |
| Region | Northern Ghana |
| Ethnicity | Gonja people |
Native speakers | 300,000 (2013)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | gjn |
| Glottolog | gonj1241 |
The Gonja language, properly called Ngbanya or Ngbanyito,[2] is a North Guang language spoken by an estimated 230,000 people, almost all of whom are of the Gonja ethnic group of northern Ghana. Related to Guang languages in the south of Ghana, it is spoken by about a third of the population in the northern region. The Brong-Ahafo and Volta regions lie to the south of the Gonja-speaking area, while Dagombas, Mamprussis and Walas are to the north.[3][4] Its dialects are Gonja and Choruba.
Alphabet
[edit]Vowels used are: a,e,i,o,ɔ,u,ɛ. Consonants include: ch [tʃ], ŋm, ny, gb, kp, sh [ʃ].
Pronouns
[edit]Personal pronouns as subject of the sentence:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | ma | anye |
| 2nd person | fo | fo, minye |
| 3rd person | e, mu | bumu, baa |
Names
[edit]| Common Usage | Full name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Achaŋso | Achaŋso ni ba bi dari | It's because of something that one is being respected |
| Achulo | Achulo | — |
| Afiso | Bomine ewo afiso | Man proposes and God disposes |
| Allela | Allelamato | Good deeds do not go wasted |
| Amabaŋye | Amabaŋye | You can't open one's heart to say what's inside |
| Amankwa | Amankwa | — |
| Amate | Ebore b'agbembi matie | God's paths don't close |
| Amo elema | Amo elema | They make me OR that's who I am |
| Amoma OR Allela | Allela e-moma | Its goodness or kindness that killed me |
| Aso wura | Aso wura | Property owner |
| Ataawa | Ataawa | Female twins |
| Awale | Awale | Its good |
| Awaare | Awaare | — |
| Awalekiye | Awalekiye | Praise when its good |
| Awo n'nchɛ | Awo nchɛ ni ba nyɛnye | — |
| Awo n'nka nne | Awo n'nka nne | Everything is everywhere –both good and bad |
| Awo omoto OR Brakumu | Awo omoto OR Brakumu | Everyone has (or brings) their luck |
| Awoshe | Awoshe | Everything has a fault, good or bad |
| Awoshie | Awoshie | it's (become) cool, peaceful, under control, etc. |
| Badow | Badow | — |
| Bakoaso | Bakoaso | — |
| Banemu ɛyɛ | Banemu eye ne mbia nu | Elders have said and children have heard |
| Bangben | Bangben | They will be tired OR they'll try (but fail) |
| Benyepo ɛyɛ | Benyepo ɛyɛ | It is those who know you who have said (only your friend knows your secret) |
| Bi awur'bi | Bi awur'bi | Be careful with what u do |
| Bin'ka | Bi mon ka | Don't trust completely |
| Bonyaŋso | Bonyaŋso | Respectful |
| Booma | Boomaso nnana | — |
| Borɛ | Borɛ | Rain |
| Borɛ chie | Borɛ chie | — |
| Borɛ ena sa | Borɛ ena sa | Its God who gives |
| Borɛ enye | Borɛ enye | — |
| Borɛ enyi-enchi | Borɛ enyi-enchi | — |
| Borɛ esa | Borɛ esa | God's gift |
| Borɛ masa alowe | Ebore masa alowe | God doesn't give completely (no one is created perfect) |
| Borɛ walae | Borɛ walae | God is Good |
| Borɛ wɔ | Borɛ wɔ | God's own |
| Borɛ wu | Borɛ wu | God has seen |
| B'sha anye | B'sha anye | They like us |
| Chepura | Chepura | — |
| Daa mato | Daa mato | Character cannot be changed / thrown away |
| Dambatu | K ful dey se na ne anye ba to | We came to meet the moon |
| Dari | Dari | Twins (unisex, i.e. can be used by females or males) |
| Dariche | Dariche | — |
| Dokilebi | Dokilebi | Literally you've sown a bad seed; Figurative - you reap what you sow |
| Ebanyepo | Ebanyepo | — |
| Ebo ɛyɛ | Ebo ɛyɛ | It's the room that has said |
| Edonbonɛ | Edonbonɛ | What has the enemy done? (The enemy might think they are punishing you but God has blessed u already) |
| Edonkufo | Edonkufo | Your enemy is not far |
| Ekomato | E ko ma to | No one is useless |
| Ekone oto | Eko ne oto piye nba to fo | It's happened to someone before you |
| Ekoso | Eko-so ni ba nyeti e-ko | Because of someone that we have patience for another |
| Ekumpo | Ekumpo | The Protector |
| Ekunfo | Ebore ekunfo | God the Protector |
| Elempo | Elempo | God the Mighty / the Strong One |
| Esapɔ | Esapɔ | God the Giver |
| Esa ewɔ lanto / Esa ewoeboto | Esa ewɔ lanto / Esa ewoeboto | — |
| Etimpo | Ebore e-na eten awura keshekama | God is able to do everything / God is able / The Able One |
| Ewanyɛ | Esa nɛ nyɛ, mo e na wora | He who is blessed, much is expected |
| Ewale | Ebore wale | God is Good |
| Ewonyɛ | Ewo nye ma wo | — |
| Ewunio | Ewura mo nio | Chief's mother / Queen Mother |
| Ewuntomah | Ewura mo to mah | Chief's name sake |
| Ewura | Ewura | Chief |
| Eyri modon | Eyri modon ela kulɔ | The body's enemy is sickness; Man has no enemy except disease |
| Foto | Foto | Blessed |
| Gbeadese | Kashinteng desay ne efe la ekilti | The truth is always quite |
| Gyem che | Gyem che | — |
| Gyɛma alela | Gye maashen a le la | Talk well of me |
| Jinapor | Ji ne apor bomu so | Win, and overcome them |
| Gyeowo | Gyeowo | God's cobra aims far |
| Kakore | Ebore ben nkore, ban lan n'gben | God's drums; they'll drum until they get tired |
| Kanagboŋ | Kanagboŋ | Big family |
| Kanamo | Kanamo | Which family / clan? |
| Kananmaluwe | Kananmaluwe | The family doesn't end |
| Kasha | Kasha | Love |
| Keche e-basa | Keche e-basa | It pains to be a lady |
| Kenyiti | Kenyiti | Patience |
| Keshie eko | Men ki shie eko | I don't hate anyone |
| K'fantaŋ | Ebore be k'fantaŋ | God's Leaf |
| Kginginfra | K'gin gyan fra boɔ ebo fuloŋ | A wretched house is better than none |
| Koji | Bakra ko ne k'naŋ e sha fo | Be wealthy and family would like you |
| Kowuribi | Ko wuuri bi | small chief |
| Kramoase | Kramoase | — |
| Kurabaso | Kurabaso | — |
| Kurayerito | Kurayerito | Be energetic |
| Lempoche | Lempoche | Abled woman |
| Lomashie | Lowu ma shen ne ba sa be gye bo mo komo | Death doesn't allow us to enjoy ourselves |
| Longefiye | Longefiye | Make yours well / Mind your own business |
| Longesai | Longe nsa a-nye | Make it well for us |
| Maaman | Maaman | — |
| Mankpa | Mankpa | Twins (females) |
| Mankre | Mankre | When a woman gets pregnant before her menses (either before the first menses, or in between pregnancies) |
| Mantenso | Mantenso | I'll not forget |
| Mapoche | Mapoche | I don't boost |
| Masa-agben | Ebore masa agben | God doesn't tire giving |
| Masape | Ebore masa n k pe | God doesn't give completely (no one is created perfectly) |
| Matuamo | Matuamo | I wouldn't be bothered |
| Nefa | Nefa | Blessing |
| Njo amonchɛ | Njo amonchɛ | I'm waiting for that day |
| Nkpamafo | Nkpa ma fo ne an gye a mo | Life is not sufficient |
| Nndefeso | Ebore de feso | God is watching (protecting) you |
| Ntoba | Nn tutu ba | My father has come (reincarnation) |
| Obosu | Obosu | — |
| Okonfo | Ebore/enemu be kum fo | God protects you |
| Owoshie | Owoshie | Its cool, calm, peaceful, over etc. |
| Pumaya | Edon pu fa ya to | Your enemy is not far, they are right "under your legs" |
| Safo | Ebore sa fo | God has given you (God has blessed you) |
| Samafon | Samafon | Don't worry |
| Shuŋ nkpa | Shuŋ nkpa | Cry (pray) for long life |
| Techira | Techira | — |
| Titi aka | Fo bi titi e-ka | — |
| Yɔmba | Yɔmba | Go and come (reincarnation) |
References
[edit]- ^ Gonja, Ngbanya, Ngbanyito at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- ^ Mary E. Kropp Dakubu (ed.), The Languages of Ghana, page 77
- ^ Language Guide (Gonja Version). Bureau of Ghana Languages, Accra, 1977-1988.
- ^ Kropp Dakubu, M.E. (editor), The Languages of Ghana. Kegan Paul International, London, for the International African Institute. 1988.
- Colin Painter, Gonja: a phonological and grammatical study, Indiana University, 1970
External links
[edit]- ComparaLex, database with Gonja word list