Ikoma-Nata-Isenye

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A language of Tanzania

ISO 639-3
ntk
Alternate Names
Kiikoma
Population

36,000 (2005 SIL).

Location

Mara Region, Serengeti district, Gurumeti division.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kuria (E.45)
Dialects

Ikoma (Kiikoma), Isenye (Isenyi, Issenye, Kiisenye, Kiissenye Ikisenyi), Nata (Kinata, Kinatta, Natta). Lexical similarity: 81% with Zanaki [zak], 73% with Ngoreme [ngq], 68% with Kuria [kuj], 44% with Gusii [guz]. Dialect similarity: Ikoma 85% with Isenye and 89% with Nata; Isenye and Nata share 88%.

Typology

7 vowel system

Language Use

Strong Swahili [swh] use among Nata dialect speakers. Many Nata children learn Swahili as L1. All domains, if no speakers of other languages are present. All ages.

Language Development
Bible portions: 2009–2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ikoma-Nata-Isenye
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Ikoma, Nata and Isenye are 3 different ethnic groups. They consider their 3 speech varieties different, but similar enough to use the same written material. Nata seems more endangered with many children speaking more Swahili [swh] than Nata. Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.