Shemya (tàar ʃàmɲà) is the language of the Sinyar people. It is a Central Sudanic language spoken in Chad and formerly in Darfur, Sudan. It is variously spelled Shamya, Shamyan, Shemya, Sinya, and known as Symiarta, Taar Shamyan, Zimirra.
Sinyar | |
---|---|
Shemya | |
Native to | Chad |
Ethnicity | Sinyar |
Native speakers | 33,000 (2023)[1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | sys |
Glottolog | siny1243 |
The language is spoken in Goz Beïda, Chad and Foro Boranga, Sudan. There are two level tones and downstepped low tones. Word order is SVO.[2][3]
Dimmendaal leaves it as a language isolate, whereas Blench groups it with Formona.[4]
Doornbos records 18 Sinyar clans. The Kijaar clan, located close to the Kujargé, likely intermarried with the Kujargé.[5]
Sinyar appears to have a Bongo–Bagirmi superstratum and a non-Bongo–Bagirmi substratum. Some lexical items in Sinyar have cognates in Bongo–Bagirmi languages (particularly the neighboring Yulu-Gula group), while others do not.[6]
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Sinyar numerals from Boyeldieu (2013):[7]
1 | kàllà |
2 | róò |
3 | mùʈʈà |
4 | ùssà |
5 | mòy |
6 | mìccà |
7 | mòorsò |
8 | màartà |
9 | mànɖéy |
10 | ʈìyà |
Sinyar pronouns:[6]
Gloss | Sinyar |
---|---|
1S | màalé, (màá) |
2S | ìllé |
3S | nàalé, (nàá) |
1P.du | cìngé |
1P.ex? | cìyé |
1P.in | cèesá |
2P? | sìngé; sèesá |
3P | nìngé |