Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Yansi language

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Native to
  
DR Congo

Native speakers
  
100,000 (1997) plus 13,000 Ntsuo (2002)

Language family
  
Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Bantu (Zone B) some Yaka (H.30) some Boma–Dzing (B.80) Yansi

Dialects
  
Yans proper Mbiem Yeei Tsong Mpur

ISO 639-3
  
Either: yns – Yansi soo – Songo (Tsong)

Glottolog
  
yans1239  (Yansi) song1299  (Songo)

Yans (Yanzi) is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

There are six language varieties Guthrie classified as Bantu B.85 (Yans). According to Nurse (2003), most belong with the Yaka language, though one or two are assigned to Boma–Dzing languages (ex-Yanzi), though he does not say which. Maho (2009) notes that the Tsong variety of Yansi is Ethnologue's unclassified "Songo" language, and so may be the one that does not belong with the rest. Ehret (2009), however, retains most varieties in B.80, and only classifies "Yanz Kimatu" as Yaka. The six Guthrie varieties are:

  • B.85A Mbiem, West Yansi
  • B.85B East Yans
  • B.85C Yeei
  • B.85D Tsong (Itsong, Nsong, Ntsuo, "Songo")
  • B.85E Mpur (Mput)
  • B.85F Tsambaan

    • References

    Yansi language Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA