Wamey

Wamey
Konyagi
Native toGuinea, Senegal
Native speakers
38,000 (2014-2015)
Language codes
ISO 639-3cou
Glottologwame1240
ELPWamey
Approximate location where Wamey is spoken
Approximate location where Wamey is spoken
Location within Africa
Coordinates: 12°33′N 13°11′W / 12.550°N 13.183°W / 12.550; -13.183

Wamey (W̃èỹ, Wey, Mey), or Konyagi (Conhague, Coniagui, Koniagui, Koñagi), is a Senegambian language of Senegal and Guinea spoken by the Konyagui people.

Phonology

Consonants

Wamey consonants
Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar
plainlabial
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ ŋʷ
Plosive oral voiceless p t c k kʷ
voiced b d ɟ g gʷ
prenasal voiceless ᵐp ⁿt ᶮc ᵑk ᵑkʷ
voiced ᵐb ⁿd ᶮɟ ᵑg
Implosive ɓ ɗ ʄ
Fricative voiceless ɸ s x xʷ
voiced β
Approximant oral l j w
nasalized l̃ j̃ w̃
Trill plain r
retracted (?) r̠̙

Vowels

Wamey vowels
FrontCentralBack
Close i u
Mid ɛ ə ɔ
Open æ a

Tone

Wamey can be said to exhibit tone-driven epenthesis, a rare phenomenon. This analysis is supported by the fact that certain syllable structures are in complementary distribution.

ToneRoots with surface [CVCə]Roots with surface [CVC]
H *CV́Cə́[cǽw̃] 'urinating'
L *CV̀Cə̀[cæ̀w̃] 'hiding'
HL *CV́Cə̀[cæ̂w̃] 'domestic animal'
LH [ᵑkæ̀w̃ə́] 'dance'*CV̌C

References

  1. ↑ Ethnologue (2018). "Wamey". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2018-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  2. 1 2 Santos 1977.
  3. ↑ Rolle 2025.

Bibliography