Xamtanga language


Xamtanga is a Central Cushitic language spoken in Ethiopia by the Xamir people.

Sound system

Vowels

The central vowels have fronted and backed allophones, depending on the adjacent consonant.

Consonants

Gemination

In positions other than word-initial, Xamtanga contrasts geminate and non-geminate consonants. With most consonants, the difference between a geminate and a non-geminate is simply one of length, but the cases of are more complex. When not word-initial, non-geminate is realized as a bilabial or labiodental fricative, and and are realized as affricates:. Their geminate equivalents may be realized as prolonged, or can simply be short.
In word-initial position, geminate consonants do not occur, and /b t q/ are realized as plosives.