Abé (also spelled Abbé, Abbey, Abi) is a language of uncertain classification within the Kwa branch of the Niger–Congo family. It is spoken in Ivory Coast.

Abé
RegionIvory Coast
EthnicityAbbé
Native speakers
300,000 (2017)[1]
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3aba
Glottologabee1242

The dialects of Abé are Tioffo, Morie, Abbey-Ve, and Kos.

In 1995 there were estimated to be 170,000 speakers, primarily in the Department of Agboville.

Phonology

edit

Consonants

edit
Abé Consonants[2]
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Labiovelar
Voiceless stops p t c k kp
Voiced stops b d ɟ gb
Voiceless fricatives f s j h w
Voiced fricatives v ɣ
Nasals m n ɲ
Laterals l
Trill r

Vowels

edit
Abé Vowels[2]
Front ATR Front RTR Central Back ATR Back ATR
High i ɪ u ʊ
Mid e ɛ o ɔ
Low a

Abé demonstrates a tendency towards vowel harmony, with regards to both placement (front vs. back) and +/-ATR. /a/ does not participate in this system.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Abé at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)  
  2. ^ a b c Kouadio Nguessan, Jérémie (1983). Herault, Georges (ed.). Atlas des langues kwa de Côte d'Ivoire (in French). Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: Agence de cooperation culturelle et technique. pp. 13–39.
edit