Minyanka (also known as Mamara, Miniyanka, Minya, Mianka, Minianka, or Tupiire) is a northern Senufo language spoken by about 750,000 people in southeastern Mali. It is closely related to Supyire. Minyanka is one of the national languages of Mali.
Phonology
Consonants LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarLabio-velarPharyn-gealGlottalplainlab.pal.plainpal.Nasal Plosivevoiceless voiced prenasal Fricativevoiceless ()voiced () ()Rhotic Approximant
A pharyngeal fricative [ʕ] is also typically heard when in between vowels, or as an allophone of /ɡ/ when in intervocalic position. Glottal sounds [h, ɦ] are only heard in the Bla dialect, instead of labio-velar sounds /k͡p, ɡ͡b, ŋ͡m/. Sounds /k, ɡ/ can also be heard as fricatives [x, ɣ] when in intervocalic positions.
Vowels FrontCentralBackClose Close-mid Open-mid Open
/u/ can also be heard as [y] when in the position of /j/. /o/ can also be heard as [œ] when before a glottal /ʔ/.
See also Senufo language
References
Further reading Dombrowsky-Hahn, Klaudia (ed. by Miehe, Gudrun; Reineke, Brigitte; Roncador, Manfred von) (1999) Phénomènes de contact entre les langues Minyanka et Bambara (Sud du Mali). Köln: Rüdiger Köppe. Prost, André (1964) Contributrion à l'étude des langues Voltaiques. Dakar: Institut Francophone de l'Afrique Noire.
External links Minyanka-French-Bambara-English Dictionary to view online or download, from the Association for the Promotion of the Mamara language, Koutiala, Mali. Resources in Mamara from SIL Mali PanAfrican L10n page on Suppire/Minianka