Konkomba language

Konkomba language (Likpakpaanl) is a Gurma language spoken in Ghana and Togo. In Ghana, Konkomba people mainly dwell in Northern, Brong Ahafo, Volta, Greater Accra and Eastern Regions. Saboba, Chereponi and Nanumba Districts, Kushiegu and Karaga districts, Zabzugu and Tatale-Sanguli districts in the Northern Region and the Nkwanta North and South Districts in the Volta Region are a few examples of administrative districts where Bikpakpaam are seen in huge populations. Other key towns of Bikpakpaam in Ghana are Atebubu, Kintampo, Techiman and Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region. According to the Act 280 of the Anatomy act of Ghana, the Konkomba people (known as Bikpakpaam) are the second largest ethnic group in the Northern Region of Ghana. The 2010 census data indicates that Bikpakpaam in Ghana number 823,000 and applying the intercensal growth rate would give us a population of more than one million now. Saboba (Chabob) in the Northern Region of Ghana is the capital town of all Bikpakpaam in Ghana. Bikpakpaam are also found in the republic of Togo, a sister West African country to Ghana. In Togo Bikpakpaam reside mainly in the Kara, Central and Plateaux Regions. Guerin Kouka (a.k.a. Nanguem Do, the capital of Dankpen district) in the Kara Region is the capital town of Bikpakpaam in Togo. In Schwartz's (2005) account, Bikpakpaam number about 50,100 in Togo. The 2011 census in Togo indicates however that the total population of Bikpakpaam in Dankpen district alone was 122,209. The most closely related language to Konkomba is Basare language and all its variants. Most people who speak Konkomba can speak or understand Basare language and vice versa. Due to the similarities of these two languages, the people from both usually dwell at the same location. Other languages that share similarities with Likpakpaanl include: Bimoba language and Tchamba language.

The native Bikpakpaam speak of their traditional area as Kikpakpaan meaning the homeland of Bikpakpaam. This area lies within the territory that has at various times been known as the "Voltaic Region", the "Volta Basin/Oti Plains" or the Eastern Corridors" Tait. The Konkomba language has several dialects grouped into 5 main categories Lichabol, Ligbeln, Likoonli, Limonkpeln and Linafeel. At a point in time, different families settled together and formed what could be called a uniform dialect grouping, adopting common pronunciation and vocabulary different from the other clans’ conventions. For example, Maageekina, being Lichabol, maalakiya being Limokpeln, maayeman being Likoon, etc. – all conveying the same meaning ‘I don’t like that’. This type of variation can be heard in Likpakpaanl, depending on what area one finds himself or what clan is dominant in a particular settlement. However, Lichabol dialect is the written variety.

Likpakpaanl has a reasonable amount of literature produced in it. These include primers for teaching, a word dictionary, storybooks, and folk tales, just to mention a few. There is also a full translation of the Holy Bible in Likpakpaanl (thanks to GILLBT and GIL, Mary Steele and RILADEP formerly KOLADEP (Konkomba Literacy and Development Project). ‘Scripture in Use’ has also been made available as a translated version of ‘Jesus’ Passion Movie’ in Likpakpaanl. Work on Likpakpaanl Bible translation was started by Mary Steele in1962 when she arrived to work with the Wycliffe Bible Translators.

In Bikpakpaam dominant areas, the people have instituted or established their own chieftains who serve as overlords of the settlements. For instance, the Saboba area has the Uchabob-bor as the overlord. Bikpakpaam strongly believe in solidarity, determination and hard-work. Until the turn of the 21st century, their primary occupation was farming and animal husbandry. In occupational terms, Bikpakpaam are mainly subsistence farmers and rearers of animals such as poultry, small ruminants and cattle. This, probably, explains their scattered settlement across the West African sub-region. Indeed, Maasole intimates that Bikpakpaam have always been on the move, in search for fertile farmlands.

Most Konkombas are actively in education today. A recent research projects that Konkombas will become a dominant force in politics, health, education and the civil society by 2025. Likpakpaanl is an SVO language. Likpakpaanl is coded (ISO 639-3 xon). Likpakpaanl is a genetic affiliate of the Niger-Congo phylum. Taking a cue from Naden, one can derive the genetic root of Likpakpaanl as represented below:

Niger Congo → Proto-Gur → Central Gur → Oti Volta → Gurma → Likpakpaanl.

Within the Gurma linguistic circle, the closest languages to Likpakpaanl are Moore ‘Bimoba’ (spoken by the Bimoba people), Bassare (spoken by the Bassare people).

Likpakpaanl Letters of the Alphabet

a. Alphabet

i. Capital letters

A, B, CH, D, E, F, G, GB, I, J, K, KP, L, M, N, NY, Ŋ, ŊM, O, Ɔ, P, R, S, T, U, W, Y.

ii. Small letters

a, b, ch, d, e, f, g, gb, i, j, k, kp, l, m, n, ny, ŋ, ŋm, o, ɔ, p, r, s, t, u, w, y.

b. Spelling and Orthography The orthography follows that which is used in the literature currently in print in Likpakpaanl. Under the current convention, long and short vowels are distinguished by the use of single and double letters respectively. (e.g. a, aa). Tone is not marked, but where two words contrast only in tone and the context is unlikely to indicate a distinction in meaning, an /h/ is added after the vowel in one of the words (e.g. upii - woman, upiih - sheep).

There are certain variations, which may occur in the same speaker's speech. For example, sometimes a speaker may use the /r/ sound and sometimes the /l/ sound. Also, there may be variations between one speaker and another within the same village (e.g. some use the plural tiib and some teeb). This is, however, at the phonological level and does not, in any way, affect semantic interpretation.

c. Vowels

The vowels are: a, e, i, o, ɔ, u.

d. Sounds (Adapted and modified from ‘Konkomba oral proficiency learning work book’ compiled by Peace Corps, Togo, 2010 hosted by www.livelingua.com).

Letters and sounds are organized as shown below:

letter (similar sound in English) e.g. Likpakpaanl word containing similar sound (meaning of the word in English).

a (as in father) e.g.: n-na (my mother) b (as in boy) e.g. ubo (a child) ch (as in church) e.g. chapiln (forgive) d (as in dog) e.g. da (buy) e (eight) e.g. kpe (add) f (as in fish) e.g. falaa (suffering) g (as in go) e.g. gaa (take) gb (there is no similar sound in English) e.g. gbi (dig) h (as in hat) e.g. haali (even) I (as in feet) e.g. ipii (sheep) j (as in Jack) e.g. kijuk (knife) k (as in kitchen) e.g. kiyiik (calabash) kp (there is no similar sound in English) e.g. uninkpil (elder/chief/boss) l (as in lady) e.g. lafee (health) m (as in man) e.g. limual (a river) n (as in net) e.g. linuul (Yam) ŋ ( as in sing e.g. ŋaan (cook/boil) ŋm (there is no similar sound in English, the closest however is the sound of a kiss, gmmmmaaaaaaaa) e.g. ŋmɔ (Chew) ny (there is no similar sound in English but there is a similar sound in French as in igname (yam)) e.g. nya (go out/get out) O (as in no) e.g. lijol (mountain/plateau/highland) ɔ (as in paw/log/ball/pawpaw) e.g. mɔk (show/teach) p (as in pick) e.g. paacham (up/above/on top) r (as in rock) e.g. ipaar (benefit/profit) s (as in sit) e.g. kisaak (a farm) t (as in tip) e.g. litakpaal (a stone/rock) u (as in loop) e.g. likuul (a hoe/a tape/CD/DVD) w (as in wish) e.g. Uwumbɔr (God) y (as in eye) e.g. liyimbil (a name).

Sample Konkomba writing extracted from the Holy Bible and the translated English version:

“Yesu aah kan kinipaak ngbaan na, le u jon ligongoln paab, le ki kal. Le waadidiliib kuun u chee. Le u waar umɔb ki bui bi ke: Binib bi nyi ke bi ye bigiim Uwumbɔr wɔb na, waanyoor bi bi pu. Bima le yeh Uwumbɔr aanaan. Binib bi kpa mpombiin baatunwanbir pu na, Uwumbɔr aanyoor bi bi pu; u ga sɔŋ bisui. Binib bi sunn bibaa taab na, Uwumbɔr aanyoor bi bi pu. Bima le ga li yeh dulnyaa wee. Binib bi aanimbil man ke bi li ye bininyaam na, Uwumbɔr aanyoor bi bi pu. Binimbil ga gbiin. Binib bi kpa linimbaasaln na, Uwumbɔr aanyoor bi bi pu. U mu ga san bi kinimbaak. Binib bi dii Uwumbɔr ni bisui mɔmɔk na, waanyoor bi bi pu. Bima le ga kan uma Uwumbɔr. Binib bi par kijaak na, Uwumbɔr aanyoor bi bi pu. U ga len ke bi ye waabim. Binib bi ji falaa Uwumbɔr aasan aadiim pu na, waanyoor bi bi pu. Bima le yeh uma Uwumbɔr aanaan.” Matiu 5:1-10 XONB http://bible.com/1150/mat.5.1-10.xonb

“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:1-10 NKJV http://bible.com/114/mat.5.1-10.nkjv