# Central Teke language

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Teke language of Congo

Central Teke Native to Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo Native speakers (45,000 Ngungwel cited 1988)[1] 20,000 Boo (2000)[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Southern Bantoid Bantu (Zone B) Teke (B.70) Central Teke Dialects Ngungwel Mpu (Mpumpu) Boo (Eboo) Ndzindziu Language codes ISO 639-3 Variously: ngz – Ngungwel ebo – Boo nzu – Nzikou Glottolog ngun1278 Guthrie code B.72,74[2]

**Central Teke** is a member of the [Teke languages](/source/Teke_languages) [dialect continuum](/source/Dialect_continuum) of the Congolese plateau. Central Teke dialects are Ngungwel and Mpu (Mpumpum), Boo (Boma, *Eboo* – *cf.* [Boma language](/source/Boma_language)), and Nzikou (Njyunjyu/Ndzindziu).[3] They are spoken in the [Malebo Pool](/source/Malebo_Pool) region of the Republic of Congo, with an unknown number of Boo speakers in DRC.

## Phonology

### Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal Plosive voiceless p t k voiced b d ɡ prenasal vl. ᵐp ⁿt ᵑk prenasal vd. ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ Affricate voiceless p͡f t͡s voiced b͡v d͡z prenasal vl. ᵐp͡f ⁿt͡s prenasal vd. ᵐb͡v ⁿd͡z Fricative f s ʃ h Nasal m n ɲ ŋ Lateral l Approximant ɥ j w

- /h/ is only heard in the Nzikou dialect.

### Vowels

Front Central Back Close i ĩ u ũ ɪ ɪ̃ ʊ ʊ̃ Close-mid e o Open-mid ɛ ɛ̃ ɔ ɔ̃ Open a ã

- /u/ when preceding a palatal /j/ is heard as [ʉ], and when preceding a /w/ is heard as [y].[4]

## Grammar

In Teke-Eboo, verbs agree with their [subject](/source/Subject_(grammar)), and also take markers for [tense](/source/Grammatical_tense) and [aspect](/source/Grammatical_aspect). This marking is distributed across the forms of the subject marker, and the final vowel that the verb takes, along with changes to the [tone](/source/Tone_(linguistics)) of the verb. There are two [past tenses](/source/Past_tense), a recent past, used for events within the past day, and a general past. There is also a [future tense](/source/Future_tense). The future tense and the two past tenses use the same segmental agreement prefixes, but they differ in tone, both on the prefix itself, and on the tonal melody they apply to the verb stem, which also interacts with the verb stem's underlying lexical tone. Verbs in the consecutive, or narrative present (which can be considered unmarked for tense) take segmentally different subject prefixes. There are also past tense and future tense marking auxiliaries, which do not agree with the subject, and are optional, preceding the fully inflected verb.[5]

These examples demonstrate the tonal contrasts in verb forms marking the recent past, general past, and future. Additionally, the final vowel is raised to *i* in the past [perfective](/source/Perfective_aspect). This also shows a change in [noun class](/source/Noun_class) of the object, to mark a contrast in [number](/source/Grammatical_number), a typical feature of [Bantu languages](/source/Bantu_languages).

Ndyɛ́

3S

[á-dzw-i

[3S.[REC](/source/Recent_past_tense)-kill-[PFV](/source/Perfective_aspect)

/

/

ǎ-dzw-i᷈

3S.[PST](/source/Past_tense)-kill-[PFV](/source/Perfective_aspect)

/

/

â-dzw-á]

3S.[FUT](/source/Future_tense)-kill-FV]

[ntaali

[C1.snake

/

/

a-ntaali].

C2-snake]

Ndyɛ́ [á-dzw-i / ǎ-dzw-i᷈ / â-dzw-á] [ntaali / a-ntaali].

3S [3S.REC-kill-PFV / 3S.PST-kill-PFV / 3S.FUT-kill-FV] [C1.snake / C2-snake]

"He [killed(recently) / killed / will kill] the [snake / snakes]."[6]

The verb in this example is marked for aspect with the prefix *ma-*. In the past tense, most verbs take a [close vowel](/source/Close_vowel) as their final vowel, but the presence of an aspect marker blocks this.[7]

Taará

C1.dad

á-ma-fur-a

C1.[PST](/source/Past_tense)-ALREADY-pay-FV

lí-kɔ́ɔlɔ.

C5-school

Taará á-ma-fur-a lí-kɔ́ɔlɔ.

C1.dad C1.PST-ALREADY-pay-FV C5-school

"Dad has already paid for schooling."[8]

C1:Class 1 ALREADY:Already FV:Final vowel C5:Class 5 C2: Class 2

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-e25_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-e25_1-1) [Ngungwel](https://www.ethnologue.com/25/language/ngz) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (25th ed., 2022) [Boo](https://www.ethnologue.com/25/language/ebo) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (25th ed., 2022) [Nzikou](https://www.ethnologue.com/25/language/nzu) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (25th ed., 2022)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-0)** Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. [New Updated Guthrie List Online](https://web.archive.org/web/20180203191542/http://goto.glocalnet.net/mahopapers/nuglonline.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hammarström (2015) Ethnologue 16/17/18th editions: a comprehensive review: online appendices

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Raharimanantsoa, Ruth (2012). *Aspects of phonology in Eboo-Nzikou*. Göteborgs Universitet.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Raharimanantsoa, Ruth (20 June 2017). [*THE PROSODY OF TENSE MARKING IN TEKE-EBOO. A Bantu B70 language of Congo-Brazzaville*](https://gupea.ub.gu.se/items/8a395e9a-7201-4988-80b3-b1f0cf441f35). Department of Languages and Literatures, Gothenburg University.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERaharimanantsoa201728-9,_36,_39,_46,_48_6-0)** [Raharimanantsoa 2017](#CITEREFRaharimanantsoa2017), p. 28-9, 36, 39, 46, 48.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERaharimanantsoa201720-1_7-0)** [Raharimanantsoa 2017](#CITEREFRaharimanantsoa2017), p. 20-1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTERaharimanantsoa201720_8-0)** [Raharimanantsoa 2017](#CITEREFRaharimanantsoa2017), p. 20.

v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) (by Guthrie classification) Zone A A10 A11[101] Londo A12[101] Barue A13 Balong A14 Bonkeng A15 Mbo [A141 Bafo A151 Nkongho A20 A21 Bomboko A22 Baakpe A23 Su A24 Duala A25 Oli A26 Pongo A27 Mulimba [A221 Bubia A231 Kole A30 A31a North Bobe A31b Southwest Bobe A31c Southeast Bobe A32a Banoo A32b Bapoko A33a Yasa A33b Kombe A34 Benga A40 A41 Lombi A42 Bankon A43a Mbene A43b North Kogo A43c South Kogo A44 Banen A45 Nyokon A46 Mandi [A441 Aling'a A461 Bonek A462 Yambeta A50 A51 Fa’ A52 Kaalong A53 Kpa A54 Ngayaba [A501 Hijuk A60 A61[601] Ngoro A62 Yambasa A63 Mangisa A64[601] Bacenga A65 Bati [A621 Baca A622 Gunu A623 Mbule A70 A71 Eton A72a Ewondo A72b Mvele A72c Bakja A72d Yangafek A73a Bëbëlë A73b Gbïgbïl A74 Bulu A75 Fang [A751 South-West Fang A80 A81 Mvumbo A82 So A83 Makaa A84 Njem A85a Konabem A85b Bekwil A86a Medjime A86b Mpompo A86c Mpiemo A87 Bomwali [A801 Gyele A802 Ukwedjo A803 Shiwe A831 Byep A832 Bekol A841 Bajue A842 Koonzime A90 A91 Kwakum A92a Pol A92b Pomo A93 Kako Zone B B10 B11a Mpongwe B11b Rongo B11c Galwa B11d Dyumba B11e Nkomi B20 B21 Sekiyani B22a West Kele B22b Ngom B22c Bubi B23 Mbangwe B24 Wumbvu B25 Kota [B201 Ndasa B202 Sighu B203 Sama B204 Ndambomo B205 Metombola B221 Molengue B251 Shake B252 Mahongwe B30 B31 Tsogo B32 Kande [B301 Viya B302 Himbaka B303 Bongwe B304 Pinzi B305 Vove B40 B41 Sira B42 Sangu B43 Punu B44 Lumbu [B401 Bwisi B402 Varama B403 Vungu B404 Ngubi B411 Bwali B50 B51 Duma B52 Nzebi B53 Tsaangi [B501 Wanzi B502 Mwele B503 Vili B60 B61 Mbete B62 Mbaama B63 Nduumo [B602 Kaning'i B603 Yangho (spurious) B70 B71a Tege-Kali B71b Njiningi B72a Ngungwele B72b Mpumpu B73a Tsaayi B73b Laali B73c Yaa B73d Kwe B74a Ndzindziu B74b Boma B75 Bali B76a Musieno B76b Ngee B77a Kukwa B77b Fumu B78 Wuumu [B701 Tsitsege B80 B81 Tiene B82 Boma B83 Mfinu B84a[84] Mpuon B84b[84] Mpuun B85a Mbiem B85b East Yans B85c Yeei B85d Ntsuo B85e Mpur B86 Di B87[84] Mbuun [B821 Mpe B822 Nunu B861 Ngul (Ngwi) B862 Lwel B863 Mpiin B864 West Ngongo B865 Nzadi Italics indicate extinct languages. Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left. The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them. Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Central Teke language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Teke_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Teke_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.