Punu language
Punu | |
---|---|
Yipunu | |
Native to | Republic of Congo |
Region | Central Africa |
Ethnicity | Punu |
Native speakers | 166,000 (2007)[1] |
? | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | puu |
Glottolog | punu1239 |
B.43 [2] |
Yipunu also known as Yisira is a
ethnic groups, the largest of the four major ethnic groups in Gabon. Yipunu has about 120 thousand native speakers, mainly from the southern Region, including 8 thousand speakers in southern French Congo. It is classified as B.43 in the Guthrie classification.Phonology
Consonants
Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plosive | voiceless | p | t
|
k | |
voiced | b | d
|
(ɡ) | ||
prenasal vl. | ᵐp | ⁿt | ᵑk | ||
prenasal vd. | ᵐb | ⁿd | ᵑɡ | ||
Affricate | t͡s | d͡ʒ | |||
Fricative | voiceless | f | s | ||
voiced | β | ɣ | |||
prenasal | ᶬf | ⁿz | |||
Nasal | m | n
|
ɲ | ||
Rhotic | r
|
||||
Lateral | l
|
||||
Approximant | w | j |
- /ɣ/ can also be heard as [ɡ] in free variation.[3]
- /ᶬf, ⁿz/ can also be heard as voiceless [ᶬv, ⁿs] in free variation.[4]
Vowels
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
Close | i iː | u uː | |
Mid | e eː | o oː | |
Open | a aː |
- Vowels /a, e, o, eː, oː/ may also range to [ə, ɛ, ɔ, ɛː, ɔː].[5]
- /i/ before sounds /u, w/ may be heard as an approximant [ɥ].[4]
Lexicon
Below is a lexicon from the "Parlons Yipunu", collected by Mabik-ma-Kombil.[6]
A = he/she
Agunyi = where?
Agunenyi = who is it?
Agon = over there
Agunu = here (to here)
Amumu = in there
Amune = over there
Ani = who, which one?
Anàne = it's like that, that's it
Avene = there
Avave = here
Avenyi/Avè = where
Ba = they
Babàke = cut quickly
Babàse = fill quickly
Babile = to burn
Babule = flambé (an animal)
Bagule = find
Bagunu = to resemble
Bagusunu = find a resemblance
Bale = to ventilate, to clear away
Bali = day
Balile = shine
Bambige = to tighten
Bande = start
Bande = bottom
Bandebulongu = South
Bandekubu = lower abdomen
Bandige = to bend
Bandimine = to cover
Banganga = rootworkers
Banyigebibogu = May to June
Banze = turn on
Bare = to mount, to climb
Base = fill
Batile = to engulf, to swallow
Bé = forked tongue
Bebeli = very close to
Bèfule = to chip
Bège = carry, bring
Bèkule = initiate
Bele = to be sick
Beli = near, close to
Beluse = to heal
Bembe = touch
Bémbige = to rock, to console
Bèngusunu = going to meet a third party
Beruse = to bring down
Bète = to overthrow
Bètse = watching over a sick person
Biale = to be promoted
Bibeji = 2
Bige = to predict misfortune
Bike = miss, absent
Bikumbu = despicable behavior
Bikumbu = news
Bileli = a cry to implore
Bilongu = remedies, medicine
Bindige = lock
Bine = 4
Binge = pursue
Bingulu = bad habits
Birambi = suspicion
Biranu = 5
Birieri/Bitatu = 3
Bisiamunu = 6
Bisiemu = potions
Biswasu = speed
Bituti = dirty water
Bitoli = problems
Bivatile = stubbornness
Boke = kill
Bokise = losing a parent
Bole = pick up
Bonge = to take
Boti = good
Botse = to wet, soak
Bubitu = gums
Budige = to block, to obstruct a path
Budilu = iron
Budungu = to divine
Buji = honey
Buge = heal
Bukanyi = wickedness
Bukéti = skill
Bukongu = power
Bukulu = tradition
Bule = to break
Bulagu = madness
Bumbe = to shape
Bumbe = to kiss
Bundesti = babysitting
Bundumbe = authority, power, wealth
Bure = to give birth
Burele = hunting
Buse = refuse
Busine = wealth
Butambe = Earth
Buvèdi = teasing
Buvuandi = beauty
Bwage = throw
Bwagene = to lament in a group
Bwali = evil, disease
Bwange = to weave
Bwatu = canoe
Bwèjise = to make beautiful or good
Bwèle = to add
Bwile = to bathe
Dabule = withdraw
Dage = steal, theft
Dedi = similarly
Dédile = to obey
Dèkise = to pour drop by drop
Devise = nod of the head
Dibabe = mute
Dibage = knife
Dibaku = misstep
Dibale = man, male
Dibàle = umbrella
Dibàndu = beginning
Dibandu = game trap
Dibange = play
Dibagu = fever
Dibanzi = temple, place of initiatory worship
Dibéji = annoyance, mockery
Dibèri = drop (of water, blood, rain)
Dibi = bad deed
Dibufu = ash
Dibule = to open
Dibume = projectile
Dibundu = assembly
Difube = bulb
Difubu = hem
Difutu = old plantation
Difuitse = moss
Dige = kaolin, a clay mineral
Digale = coal
Digeru = actions of a baby
Digebu = wink
Digengi = abundance
Digobe = respect
Digogu = clay
Digosu = beverage mixed with breast milk
Diguki = heap
Digumbi = ship
Dijodigeyi = November to December
Dijodineni = January to February
Dikabu = part
Dikibise = teasing, annoyance
Dikimbe = initiatory badge
Dikongu = spear
Dikube = forge, blacksmith
Dikuku = bark
Dikule = to measure
Dikumbi = plane, rocket
Dikunde = dove
Dikundu = sorcery
Dikutu = pole
Dilàbuge = stopper
Dilambe = dance
Dilangi = drunkenness
Dilènze = insolence
Dilàgu = crazy
Dile = win, succeed
Dilongi = advice
Dilute = hole
Dimanyi = stone, pebble, rock
Dimbe = to hit
Dimbu = village
Dimengidiwisi = twilight
Dimi = pregnancy
Dimungi/Dungembi = fog
Dingènde = shriveled thing or person
Dingènze = truth, true thing
Dingibe = palm wine
Dingundu = hip
Dingungu = distinctive noise
Dinyiki = fly
Dingongu = metal box
Dinonge = friendship
Dinu = tooth
Dipaku = branch fork
Dipalulu = exit
Dipapi = bird's wing
Dirambe = swamp, marsh
Dirangi = booty cheek
Dironde = concubine
Dirugeme = sweat
Disabu = landing stage
Disale = dew
Disambeke = shoulder
Disambi = razor
Disàngu = lung
Disite = knot of a rope
Disiere = epilepsy
Disonge = adultery
Disu = eye
Ditage = tadpole
Ditase = thought
Ditebugulu'diwisi = dawn
Ditéji = saliva
Ditèngu = returning
Ditodi = stain
Ditsange = tear
Ditsatselangi = audacity
Ditsutse = crest of a bird
Ditu = leech
Dituji = ear
Ditumbe = fight
Divare = good harvest
Divase = twin
Divembili = gust of wind with rain
Divènde = baldness
Divesi = flank, beside, on one side
Divilu = shaved head
Divesu = hate
Divite = war, fight
Divule = city
Divumbu = boil
Divuvu = throat
Diwavi = jealousy
Diwanzi = high forest of branches
Diwèle = marriage
Diweme = disobedience
Diwèru = hour
Dobule = to remove
Dodise = to comment
Dodimine = to examine
Doke = to pick
Dokimine = observe from afar
Dokule = to pick
Donze = deepen
Dore = to dream
Dubabele = stuttering
Dubambe = rattan, a plant used to make furniture
Dubile = pit
Dubongu = raffia fabric
Dufu = death
Dufunu = price
Dugaji = leaf
Dugane = scabies pustule, type of disease or infestation
Dugange = trap barrier
Dugélu = gossip
Dugongi = eyelash
Dugoru = toad
Dugugeme = stuttering
Dugunge = flat rock slab
Dugungu = imprecatory insult
Duguve = animal tick
Duke = follow
Dukabonu = pangolin
Dukande = insomnia
Dukonduku/Dilobe = hook
Dukuji = flying squirrel
Dulombili = village square, courtyard
Dumbulu = green
Dumise = glorify, boast
Dumuge = jump, leap
Dumwènu = mirror
Dunangu = pride
Dunangu = talk in a loud, aggressive manner with little effect
Dungwène = chameleon
Dure = drink
Duru = spoon
Durundu = red fruit
Dusale = feather
Dusambu = prayer
Dusavu = tale, fable
Dusongu = point
Dusosu = splinter
Dusugi = hawk
Dusièndi = thorn
Dute = to shoot
Dutsi = sneeze
Dutsole = scissors
Duvèsi = cockroach
Dwale = nail, claw
Dwèngu = pot
Fife = to suck
Fike = drink by filtering the liquid between the teeth
Fube = mix
Fuge = cut hair
Fumu'Nzambi/Fumunzambi = God, supreme being
Funde = accuse, denounce
Funde = digging
Fundu = confabulation
Fure = to lie
Fute = pay, spit
Fwale = France
Fwate = go through the small bush
Fwèngilile = to slander, to accuse unjustly
Fwère = to draw, to pick up
Fwimbe = share unequally
Fwinyi = tighten by pulling
Fwiri = boredom, annoyance
Gabe = to share
Gabuge = to return
Gabuse = to give back
Gake = to bite
Galene = to dispute an object
Game = squeeze, wring
Gamuge = to shout
Gandise = to prohibit
Gànge = to catch, seize
Gange = fry, roast
Gari = in the middle of
Gariwisi = midnight
Gebule = to wink, to step
Getubulongu = West
Gobise = respect
Gobule = to spit out
Golile = to wash, to rub oil
Golule = to shell, to tear
Gome = fear, dread
Gombe = to scrape, scrape
Gonge = bypass
Gore = to warm up
Gorule = to scratch
Gubene = to hit
Gubule = dust, brush
Gudige = return
Gufise = to shorten
Gukulile = to imitate, to reproduce
Gulu = ancient, old
Gulu = to hear, to listen
Gumbe = moan, roar, growl
Gumbe = to cover, surround
Gumbesne = to kiss, to embrace
Gumuse = to dry
Ibalu = tree bark
Ibambe = white man
Ibadu = clan
Ibedu = sick
Ibinde = bad luck
Ibindi = corpse, remains
Ibonge = turtle
Ibotsi = rot
Iburu = parent
Ibusi = sister
Idibutsu = lid
Idube = net
Idume = danger
Idumbitsi = shadow
Idumi = thunderclap
Idumuimfule = tornado
Idune = hole, cavity, cavern
Idwaru = garment
Ifu = 9
Ifufu = crumb, poor
Ifulu = steam bath
Ifwale = French language
Ifwinzi = poultry crop
Igabe = punch
Igare = crate, trunk, suitcase
Igume = speech, word
Igumi/Digumi = 10
Igungule'tubi = flooding of a river
Ikadi = bridge
Ikaji = corpse
Ikambi = performer
Ikari = fall
Ikémbi = dwarf
Ikènzi = cricket
Ikibe = shortness of breath
Ikoku = bump
Ikoku = dance of rejoicing
Ikotige = penknife
Ikoyi = disabled, paraplegic
Ikuku = cooking
Ikumbu = fine
Ilange = elephant trunk
Ilèke = source, origin
Ileme = time, moment
Ilengi = child
Ilibe = oblivion, nothingness
Ilime = year
Ilimbe = mark
Ilindi = raft
Ilinge = cassock, robe
Ilingilingi = the center of the world
Ilombi = short story
Ilumbi = message
Ilumbu = day
Ilunge = earring
Image = supernatural event
Imomonyi = firefly
Imosi = 1
Inane = 8
Inde = will-o'-the-wisp
Ingange = church
Ingidi = small xylophone
Ingume = sterile
Inombu = troop, herd
Inyunyi = soul, spirit
Inunu = elder, old man
Ipèle = plate
Ipunge = bat
Ipupu = peeling
Irèle = size
Irèndi = piece of cloth
Irure = vial
Isage = cluster of fruits
Isalu = work, profession, task
Isambwali = 7
Isange = jug, jar
Isangomu = letter
Isindu = pollarded tree trunk
Isinge = grass
Isinzi = pointed stump
Isièmu = remedies
Isièngu = insult
Isièyi = sand
Isombule = way of wearing the loincloth
Isonyi = shame
Isupu = sheath
Isusube = bladder
Iswasu = cold
Iswisu = staring
Itale = smokehouse
Itande = market
Itengi = mask, shard, shell
Itsatse = caterpillar
Itsibe = deep water
Itsige = seat, bed
Itsubi = rainy season
Itumbe = image, engraving, statue
Itunzi = stupid
Itutu = bulrush torch
Ivaru = plant
Ivele = fast
Iviovi = hat, cap
Jabe = to know
Ji = to eat
Jibe = gluttony
Julunzambi/Julu'nzambi = sky
Kabu = anger
Kafi = paddle
Kage = grandfather, grandmother
Kaki = lightning
Kale = crab
Kambe = missing something
Kange = guinea fowl
Kangi = fire
Katsi = maternal uncle
Kédi = morning
Kégèngi = fresh
Kekigangi/Igangi = short dry season
Kekitsubi = short rainy season
Kèle = to wait
Kèlise = to keep
Kibe = to cover
Kibise = to annoy, to tease
Kile = to iron
Kingu = neck
Kobi = bag
Kobige = to hang
Kokolu = sorry
Kondini = in vain, uselessly
Kôngu = jar, clay jug
Kongu = river antelope
Kosi = effigy or statue of a deity
Kote = to enter
Kotise = to bring in
Kugumfu = dust
Kuke = to sow
Kumbu = motto, mantra
Kunge = copper
Kuñi = deprivation of meat
Kuru = armpit
Kute = to surround
Kuteme = to kneel
Kwalele = crosses
Kwé/Kwényi = how much?
Labe = see Lage = to sow
Lambe = to cook
Lambi = lamp
Lege = to spy
Lèle = rocking, caressing, raising a child
Lelévi = full, brim
Lélige = to take, to suspend
Lémbige = to console, to soothe
Lèmbule = apply oil on an abscess, caress
Lènde = to beg
Lènze = to despise
Lengule = examine contemplate
Leve = make an oath
Lile = to cry
Linge = traveling
Lobe = fish
Lobuge = to step over, to cross
Loge = bewitch, curse
Lubuge = to be clever, cunning, shrewd
Lúge = vomit
Luge = name
Lukule = to complete
Longe = teach, promise
Mabale = right
Mabufu = ashes
Madibe = deafness
Madudumbi = clouds
Madungu = hernia
Mafinyi = pus
Magetu = left
Magunde = century, millennium
Make = sap
Makengi = slime
Makibu = pledge
Makiele = dawn
Malamu = palm wine
Malémbi = hug
Malu = confluent, coming together of rivers
Malumbi = praise to the ancestors
Malungu = blood
Mambe = water
Mambi = shit
Mane = finish
Mange = snack
Mangele = dry season
Mapémi = threats
Marangi/Dirangi = booty
Masige = yesterday
Masuku = claps
Mate = to rise, to climb
Matsi = oil
Mbàlebulongu = East
Mbari = palm tree
Mbatsi = friend, comrade
Mbèle = wrong
Mbémbu = voice
Mbèngi = ravine, precipice
Mbingu = food
Mbugu = mouthful
Mbùnge = crab shell
Mbunge = smell
Mbwélili = star
Mengu = sharp
Mfubu = hippopotamus
Mfule = rain
Mfumbi = deceased
Mfunge = to wrap oneself in a loincloth
Mfwange = news of death
Milolu = cries of joy
Minzi = wolf-dog
Mobutsi = savior
Monyu = life
Moru = ring
Mubeji = 2nd
Mubiji = wave
Mubu = sea, ocean
Mudodu = balance
Mufu = 9th
Mufune = load
Mufundu = complaint
Mugamu = cry, howl
Mugumi = 10th
Mukate = skin
Mukolu = night
Mukongu = hill, mountain
Mukube = blacksmith
Mukùbe = beak
Mukubi = malevolence
Mukwati = machete
Mukwili = widower, widow
Mule = blessing
Mulingu = journey
Mulumi = husband
Mulutso = flame
Mumbèngu = small canoe
Mumbinge = stilt
Munaji = strophanthus poison
Munane = 8th
Munangasunge = praying mantis
Mundumbe = notable, renown
Mungongu = musical bow
Mungudi = tornado, whirlwind
Munombi = black man
Mupande = braid
Mupume = year
Muranu = 5th
Murèle = hunter
Murieru = 3rd
Murondu = eel
Musabu = insolence
Musambwali = 7th
Musamu = short story
Musande = umbrella
Musiamunu = 6th
Musini = eyebrow
Musiru = forest
Musoli = fallow field
Musolu = job, work
Musongu = disease
Musoñi = flesh, meat
Musuge = permission
Musulu = boiled
Musungu = sugar cane
Musièngi = large village
Mutu = person, human
Muvedi = scar is
Muvèmbe = albino
Muvige = slave
Muvumu = breathing
Muweli = month
Muyame = rainbow
Muyombu = perfume
Mwaji = brother-in-law
Mwane = child
Mwényi = visitor, stranger
Mwètse = moonlight
Mwine = 4th
Mwinzi = filth, dirt
Na = with
Nane = massage
Nangule = to lift
Ndami = comrade, friend
Ndagu = hut, house
Ndétsi = child's rocker
Ndige = bait
Ndike = small fish basket
Ndilu = limit, border
Nimbe = colour
Ndele = a song which signifies an exchange between the living and the ancestors
Ndunge = reason
Nemise = to hurt
Nènge = to learn
Nèngile = to call
Nesi = no
Ngande = courtyard, village square
Ngangakosi = rootworker who traps sorcerers
Ngange/Nganga = traditional healer
Ngènge = centipede
Ngo = panther, leopard
Ngomfi = harp
Ngombu = raffia
Ngondi = flower
Ngunge = bell
Ngusu = jealousy
Ngwangu = stick
Nongu = proverb, parable
Nwane = to borrow
Nyangu = Sun
Nza = then
Nzale = hunger
Nzile = path
Nzime = back
Nzobu = civet
Nzontsi = judge
Nzoruru = filth
Nzumbili = smoke
Nzwingiri = dragonfly
Page = resin
Pake = to square
Pale = exit
Pambuge = to wander
Pari = pristine forest
Pase = split
Patula = to tear off
Pembi = kaolin mineral
Penge = chin
Pèni = nudity
Pinde = black
Pinze = alone, loneliness
Pitse = to weigh
Pube = mat
Pugu = be patient
Punge = wind
Puni = murderer, thief who robs & kills in forests & mountains
Pupe = spray, sprinkle
Pupe = move
Puve = echo
Pwanyi = width, breadth
Pwasese = interval
Pwele = many
Pwiti = hole, crevice
Rabile = to burn and leave a wound, to bite
Rakule = to snatch
Range = read
Rangemine = to remember
Rarige = to sew
Régeme: tremble, shiver
Rine = flee, run away
Riri = red
Rombe = to search
Ronde = love
Riabe = to cut (dead wood)
Sabi = key
Sakulebibogu = March to April
Sale = to work
Sàle = choose
Sambile = to pray
Sàmbule = to present
Sanze = to drive out, to expel
Save = desire
Sàve = to tell, talk about, denounce
Sibe = to sharpen
Sige = to play an instrument
Sike = to stall
Simbe = to greet
Sindige = to send
Sindile = to push
Singisile = to congratulate
Sobene = to mix
Sole = clear
Sopene = exchange
Sube = to urinate
Sumbe = buy, pay
Sumbise = to sell
Sumune = to defy a prohibition
Sundile = suddenly
Sunduge = go down
Sungesene = to oppose, parallel
Suse = wash
Swèkige = to strangle
Sweme = to hide
Tabule = break, cut
Takule = start walking
Tale = count
Tali = block of stone
Tandige = to align
Tandubulongu = North
Tapele = insolence
Tase = to think
Tate = dad, father
Tate = to express pain
Tege = 1st
Time = dig
Timbuge = bend, be erect
Tinde = to send
Tsakule = to insult
Tsande = loincloth
Tsige = to bury
Tsimbu = to make a mistake
Tsindule = erase, wipe, dust
Tsingule = to say, to confess
Tsisige = evening, afternoon
Tsoke = to prick
Tsoli = bird
Tsone = week
Tsongi = needle
Tsugu = prison
Tsumbi = September to October
Tsune = to watch
Tsunde = to discuss
Tsungi/Ngonde = Moon
Tsungule = to hurt
Tsuve = calabash
Tuge = surety, pledge
Tumbe = flying fast
Tumune = attack, provoke
Tute = to accumulate, to amass
Va = there is
Vage = to do
Vale = far
Vale = to cut
Vande = spiritual artifacts
Vànde = to make mats, to braid
Vàne = to pay, to reimburse
Vare = to plant
Vate = to be stubborn
Vatsi = on the ground
Vagusu = in front
Vege = give
Veme = white, whiteness
Vend = lick
Vèngutse = except
Vère = to shoot a gun
Veve = split
Viluge = to bloom
Vine = to hate
Viri = very, intensity
Vive = wait
Vole = smoking
Vombulu = open
Vonde = ask
Vondinivondini = nonchalantly
Vonu = very thin
Vose = speak, say
Vove = to chat
Vule = to undress, become nude
Vume = to breathe
Vunge = zero, nothing
Vuse = to spread, to exhale
Wabe = to fish
Wabule = take food out of a pot
Wake = to receive
Wale = to extend
Walule = tell a dream
Wamuse = to help
Wanzemwanzu = village chief
Wèle = to marry
Wélige = try, compare
Wème = to disobey
Wimbile = to sing
Wisi = time
Wivule = to ask
Yabutsu = door
Yangele = thirst
Yanzule = filter, sieve
Yari = side
Yasi = slice
Yélu = measure
Yévi = basket
Yèse = luck
Yisasaku = July to August
Yotsi = cold
Yusile = heat
See also
References
- ^ Punu at Ethnologue (22nd ed., 2019)
- ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
- ^ Mabik-ma-Kombil, Roger (2001). Parlons yipunu: langue et culture des Punu du Gabon-Congo. Paris: L'Harmattan.
- ^ a b Kwenzi Mikala, Tangu Jérome (1980). Esquisse phonologique du punu. In Nsuka-Nkutsi, François (ed.), Eléments de description du punu: Lyon: Centre de Recherches Linguistiques et Sémiologiques (CRLS), Université Lumière (Lyon 2). pp. 7–18.
- ^ Tomba Diogo, Amevi Christine Cerena (2015). Etude d’un genre de la littérature orale : la devise (kûmbù) chez les Punu du Gabon. INALCO.
- ^ Yipunu Dictionary