Abidji (also known as Abiji and Ambidji) is a language of uncertain classification within the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family. It is spoken in the Ivory Coast.
It has two dialects: "enyembe" and "ogbru". These dialects' names are used by the members of these Abidji-speaking ethnic groups to refer to themselves. The name Ambidji was given to the language by these groups' neighbors.
Villages
Abidji is spoken in these villages:
Writing system
Abidji is written with a Latin alphabet, using the graphemes of the practical writing for the languages of the Ivory Coast. The letter upsilon ⟨Ʊ, ʊ⟩ is often replaced with the V with hook ⟨Ʋ, ʋ⟩.
The nasal vowels are written with ⟨n⟩ (⟨m⟩ before ⟨p⟩ and ⟨b⟩): ⟨an, en, ɛn, in, on, ɔn, un, ʊn ou ʋn, ɩn⟩.
Phonology
Consonants
Vowels
All vowels except /e/ have contrastive nasal forms.
Tones
Abidji has phonemic tones, described as high /˦/ and low /˨/.
References
External links
- Abidji basic lexicon at the Global Lexicostatistical Database
- Listen to a sample of Abidji from Global Recordings Network
- World Atlas of Language Structures information on Abidji
