Language Quiz 28 January 202427 January 2024 By Simon Here’s a recording in a mystery language. http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/blog/quiz280124.mp3 Do you know, or can you guess, the language?
I agree with Emanuel vis-à-vis being sub-Saharan from the timbre of the voice but not necessarily Bantu. Maybe something Berber but another sound makes me think it is from Central or South America. Reply
No, not necessarily Bantu, although I do associate what sounds to me like a ‘syllabic’ /m/-prefix in this recording with Bantu languages. Reply
The language is indeed Kabiye (Kabɩyɛ), a Southern Gur spoken in Togo, Benin and Ghana. The recording comes from YouTube Reply
My first impression is that of a sub-Saharan language.
I agree with Emanuel vis-à-vis being sub-Saharan from the timbre of the voice but not necessarily Bantu. Maybe something Berber but another sound makes me think it is from Central or South America.
No, not necessarily Bantu, although I do associate what sounds to me like a ‘syllabic’ /m/-prefix in this recording with Bantu languages.
Here’s a clue – it’s a Gur language spoken mainly in Togo.
Is it perhaps Kabiye?
The language is indeed Kabiye (Kabɩyɛ), a Southern Gur spoken in Togo, Benin and Ghana.
The recording comes from YouTube