Bissa language
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Bissa (or Bisa (singular), Bisan, Bissanno (plural)), is a Mande ethnic group of south-central Burkina Faso, northeastern Ghana and the northernmost tip of Togo. Their language, Bissa,[1] is a Mande language that is related to, but not the same as, a cluster of languages in the old Borgu Kingdom area of Northeast Benin and Northwest Nigeria, including Busa, Boko, and Kyenga. An alternate name for the Bissa is Busansi which is used by the Mossi people and Kusasi people or Busanga.
Names
The name is usually spelled Bissa. It can also be spelled Bisa, and the name in the Mossi language is Busansi (Singular) or Busanga (Plural); This should not be confused with the Bisa language of Zambia or the Busa language of Nigeria and Benin.
Geographic distribution
In Burkina Faso, Bissa is spoken in Boulgou, Koulpélogo, and Kouritenga Provinces of the Centre-Est Region, in Bazaga and Zoundwéogo Provinces of the Centre–Sud Region (Garango, Gomboussougou, Zabré, and Tenkodogo Cities), and in the Boudry Department of Ganzargou Province of the Plateau-Central Region.
In Ghana, Bissa is spoken in Bawku Municipal District, some other parts five districts in Bawku traditional area in the Upper East Region and also some parts in the North East Region.
In Togo, Bissa is spoken in Tône Prefecture of the Savanes Region. There are also some Bissa speakers in Ivory Coast.
Classification
Bissa language is the most populous of the Mande languages of Ghana and Togo. It is part of the Eastern Mande group, which also includes several other languages spoken across the Volta River and the Borgu Kingdom, including Boko, Busa, Samo, and Bokobaru.
Dialects
Bissa has four dialects:
- Barka or Baraka (also known as Eastern Bissa)
- Gormine or Gourmyne closely related to the Barka and mostly speaking in YARGATENGA or YARGATALA
- Lebre or Zeba (also known as Western Bissa)
- Leere (also known as Northern Bissa)
The most widely spoken dialects of Bissa are Barka and Lebre.
To the East the Bissa people speak Barka/Baraka. To The West people speak Lebre/Zeba. To the North the Lere dialect is used. To the South, there is no specifics dialect.
Phonology
Vowels
Consonants
Writing system
High tone is marked with an acute accent and low tone is marked with a grave accent. The following is the alphabet of the Lere and Lebir dialects of Bissa:
| A | B | C | D | E | Ǝ | Ɛ | F | G | H | I | Script error: No such module "IPA". | J | K | L | M | N | Ny | Ŋ | O | Ɔ | P | R | S | T | U | Ʋ | V | W | Y | Z |
| a | b | c | d | e | ǝ | ɛ | f | g | h | i | ɩ | j | k | l | m | n | ny | ŋ | o | ɔ | p | r | s | t | u | ʋ | v | w | y | z |
The following is the alphabet of the Barka dialect of Bissa:
| A | B | D | E | Ɛ | Ǝ | F | G | H | I | Script error: No such module "IPA". | K | L | M | N | Ɲ | Ŋ | O | Ɔ | P | R | S | T | U | Ʋ | W | Y | Z |
| a | b | d | e | ɛ | ə | f | g | h | i | ɩ | k | l | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | o | ɔ | p | r | s | t | u | ʋ | w | y | z |
Comparison of dialects
| Phrase | Leere | Barka/Gourmyne | Lebre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Domireh ki | Idomleki | |
| come | bur | iahh | Eyaham |
| water | pi | hi | |
| food | forbile | hobile |
Lebre or Lere phrases
- Good morning: Domireh ki (Response: Domireh zain)
- Good afternoon: Sundareh ki (Response: Sundareh zain)
- Good evening/night: Yirbaa ki (Response: Yirbaa zain)
- Thank you: Barka
- Good: Minga
- Come: Bur
- Go: Ta
- You're welcome: An barka boi
- I love you: Moi wam
The Busa and Boko peoples of Benin and Nigeria
The Busa and Boko peoples, two subgroups of the Bissa people, live in Northwestern Nigeria and Northern Benin near Borgu in the Nigerian States of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara (mostly Bokobaru subgroup) and in the Beninese Departments of Alibori and Borgou.
They speak Busa (also known as Bisã) and Boko (also known as Boo). This peoples are referred to as Bussawa in Hausa.
See also
References
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Sources
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