Sena language

In this article, we will explore the topic of Sena language in depth, analyzing its origins, evolution, impact and possible future prospects. Sena language has been the subject of interest and debate throughout history, influencing various aspects of society, culture and politics. Throughout the next sections, we will delve into its meaning, its implications and its relevance in the current context, shedding light on the various facets that make up this phenomenon. Additionally, we will examine different approaches and opinions to offer a comprehensive and balanced view, providing the reader with a broader and deeper understanding of Sena language.
Sena
Native toMozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe
EthnicitySena
Native speakers
2,869,000 (2017–2020)
Dialects
  • Rue (Barwe)
  • Podzo
Official status
Official language in
 Zimbabwe (as 'Chibarwe')
Recognised minority
language in
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
seh – Mozambiquean Sena
swk – Malawian Sena
bwg – Barwe
Glottolognucl1396  Nuclear Sena
mala1475  Malawi Sena
barw1243  Barwe
N.44,441 (N.45,46)
Linguasphere99-AUS-xi; also 99-AUS-xj (Chi-Rue), 99-AUS-xk (Gombe), 99-AUS-xl (Sangwe), & 99-AUS-xm (Chi-Podzo)
A speaker of Barwe, a dialect of the Sena language. Portuguese is also spoken in this video.

Sena is a Bantu language spoken in the four provinces of central Mozambique (Zambezi valley): Tete, Sofala, Zambezia and Manica. There were an estimated 900,000 native Sena speakers in Mozambique in 1997, with at least 1.5 million if including those who speak it as a second language. It is one of the Nyasa languages.

Sena is spoken in several dialects, of which Rue (also called Barwe or Cibalke) and Podzo are divergent. The Sena of Malawi may be a distinct language. Barwe (Chibarwe) has official recognition in Zimbabwe.

Some remarks on Sena tenses can be found in Funnell (2004), Barnes & Funnell (2005) and in Kiso (2012).

Phonology

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open a

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palato-
alveolar 		Palatal Velar Glottal
plain lab.
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Stop voiceless p t k
aspirated pʰ tʰ kʰ
voiced b d ɡ
implosive ɓ ɗ (ɗʲ)
Affricate voiceless p͡f t͡s p͡s t͡ʃ
voiced b͡v d͡z b͡z d͡ʒ
aspirated t͡ʃʰ
Fricative voiceless f s sʷ ʃ h
voiced v z zʷ ʒ
Approximant l j w
Trill r
  • Labialized sounds /sʷ, zʷ/ can also be heard as retroflex among different speakers.
  • /ɗ/ is heard as palatalized when followed by a /j/.
  • The following sounds occur as prenasalized when after a homorganic nasal; , .

References

  1. ^ Mozambiquean Sena at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
    Malawian Sena at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
    Barwe at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. ^ Funnell, Barry J. (2004)."A Contrastive Analysis of Two Varieties of Sena". MA dissertation, University of South Africa; (Introduction)
  4. ^ Barnes, Lawrie; Funnell, Barry (2005) "Exploring the cross-border standardisation of Chisena". Language Matters: Studies in the Languages of Africa. Vol. 36.
  5. ^ Kiso, Andrea (2012), "Tense and Aspect in Chichewa, Citumbuka, and Cisena". Ph.D. Thesis. Stockholm University.
  6. ^ Ngunga, Armindo; Faquir, Osvaldo G. (2012). Padronização da Ortografia de Línguas Moçambicanas: Relatório do III Seminário. Maputo.
  7. ^ Kishindo, Pascal J.; Lipenga, Allan L. (2007). Parlons Cisena: langue et culture du Mozambique. Paris: L'Harmattan.
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia