Lese language

Lese
Efé
Native to	Ituri forest
Native speakers	(70,000 cited 1991)[1]
Language family	Nilo-Saharan ? Central Sudanic Eastern Mangbutu–Lese Lese
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: les – Lese efe – Efe
Glottolog	lese1243  Lese efee1239  Efe

Lese is a

and share their language, which is occasionally known as Lissi or Efe.

Although Efe is given a separate ISO code, Bahuchet (2006) notes that it is not even a distinct dialect, though there is dialectical variation in the language of the Lese (Dese, Karo).^[2]

Lese is spoken in Mambasa Territory, Watsa Territory, and Irumu Territory.^[3]

Phonology

Consonants

		Labial	Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatal	Velar	Labial– velar	Labial- uvular	Glottal
Plosive	voiceless	p	t	ʈ		k	k͡p	q͡ɓ	ʔ
	voiced	b	d			ɡ	ɡ͡b
	implosive	ɓ	ɗ				ɠ͡ɓ
Fricative	voiceless	f	s						h
	voiced	v
Affricate	voiceless	p͡f			t͡ʃ
	voiced	b͡v			d͡ʒ
Nasal		m	n
Lateral			l
Rhotic			r
Approximant					j		w

• [q͡p] is an allophone of [q͡ɓ].^[4] In the Demolin 1999, the meaning of /q͡ɓ/ is unclear, but /q͡ɓ/ seems to be a voiceless labial–uvular stop with significant lowering and a strong release. More research is needed to determine the true nature of this sound.^[5]
• /r/ can also be heard as a tap sound [ɾ].^[6]

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i		u
Near-close	ɪ		ʊ
Close-mid	e		o
Open-mid	ɛ		ɔ
Open		a

• In rare cases, /ɛ/ can be heard in phonological opposition as a rounded [œ].^[7]

References

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