Karon language explained

Karon
States:Senegal, Gambia
Region:Southwest Senegal coast
Speakers:15,000
Date:2007
Ref:e18
Familycolor:Niger-Congo
Fam2:Atlantic–Congo
Fam3:Bak
Fam4:Jola
Fam5:Jola Proper
Fam6:Karon–Mlomp
Iso3:krx
Glotto:karo1294
Glottorefname:Karon
Person:alɔɔn
Language:kägup kɔlɔɔnay
Root:Kalɔɔn

The Karon or Kalɔɔn[1] language is an endangered language of Senegal and Gambia. It belongs to the Bak branch of the Niger–Congo language family, and is particularly closely related to the Mlomp language.

Karon is spoken in a coastal area north of the mouth of the Casamance River. A person is called alɔɔn in the language, and speakers refer to their own language as kägup kɔlɔɔnay.[1]

Phonology

Consonants

LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottal
Stopvoicelessptkʔ
prenasalᵐpⁿtᶮtʃᵑk
Nasalplainmnɲ
tenseɲː
Fricativefsh
Laterall
Approximantwj

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
oralnasaloralnasaloralnasal
Closei iːĩu uːũ
Mide eːo oːõ
Opena aːã
Advanced tongue root is marked with an acute accent /á/.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Wilson, William André Auquier. 2007. Guinea Languages of the Atlantic group: description and internal classification. (Schriften zur Afrikanistik, 12.) Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.
  2. Book: Sambou, Pierre. Phonologie et elements de grammaire du jóola karon. 2002.