Lusoga Language Handbook. An Introduction to Lusoga Orthography

40 Pages·2012·1.082 MB·

by  Cornelius Wambi Gulere

Lusoga Language Handbook
An Introduction to Lusoga Orthography

Cornelius Wambi Gulere
An Introduction to Lusoga Orthography

Copyright © 2007 Cornelius Wambi Gulere
First Edition 2009
Revised edition 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior
written permission of the publisher or, in case of photocopying or other
reprographic copying, a license from the author at

Mpolyabigere RC – RICED Center Ltd.
Plot 84 Ivukula Road,
P.O Box 116, Busembatia, Uganda

ISBN 9970-718-10-X
EAN 9789970718108

paperback

Prepared for publication
by Cornelius Wambi Gulere

E-mail: [email protected]
Introduction

The traditional hereditary leadership of Busoga

In the pre-colonial past, Busoga comprised of nine chiefdoms as shown in the
table below. Each chieftaincy had its own leadership and unique linguistic
expressions in daily communication. This meant that what is known today as
the Lusoga language is a union of dialects spoken in nine sister states.

Of all chiefdoms, Busiki was a unique one because it had two chiefdoms
within the chiefdom. Bukono, a dominion of Babiito clan is an independent
chiefdom within Busiki. The titular chief, Kisiki, who is not a royal Mubiito or
Mulangira by clan, but a Mwise Igaga, conquered and took dominion of this
area. Unlike other chiefs who dominered their subjects, Kisiki allowed Nkono
to continue ruling in Bukono within Busiki chiefdom as an independent state.
Chiefdom Chief Language / Dialect
Budiope Ludiope/Lupakoyo
Bugabula Gabula Lugabula / Lutenga
Bugweri Menha Lugweri / Lutenga
Bukhooli Wakooli Lukhooli / Lutenga
Bukono Nkono Lukono / Lupakoyo
Bulamoogi Ziboondo Lulamoogi /Lupakoyo
Bunha Nanhumba /Luba Lunhole / Lupakoyo
Busiki Kisiki Lusiginyi/ Lupakoyo
Butembe Ntembe Lutembe / Lutenga
Buzaaya Luzaaya/Lutenga
Luuka Tabingwa Luluuka / Lutenga

How did Lutenga and Lupakoyo dialects come about?

Indeed, a close examination of Lusoga language expressions in different
parts of Busoga reveals that the Lusoga language has many variations.
However, two major dialects, namely, Lupakoyo and Lutenga can be
recognized. A story is told that during the reign of Waako I, the northerners
dominated by the Balamoogi were refered to as the ones in power hence
the term mpa koyo meaning ‘it is for that one’. This was said by those of the
south who did not speak the language of the Balamoogi or those who ‘ate
sharp spears’ meaning sharp spear fighters. In turn, the Balamoogi who
decried the laziness of their southern relatives named them ‘batenga’
because they were always sitting at home carrying children instead of
working. They could have been afraid of work and war but not producing
and nurturing children.

The Lupakoyo as it has been known derives from Lulamoogi, Lusiki, Lunyole,
Lukono Ludyope and Lugwere; while Lutenga derives from Lugabula, Lukooli,
Lutembe, Lunhole and Lukigulu. In the Nyanza (Lake Victoria and Kyoga)
areas, the Lukenhe language is used and it falls in the category of Lupakoyo.
I have put together in this workbook, Lupakoyo, Lutenga and common
English vocabulary to enable you the reader to develop mutual intelligibility
using these simple word structures in everyday life.

I have critically evaluated the existing Lusoga language orthographies and
made practical suggestions for improvements. The handbook is an attempt
to accurately depict what the lusoga language obtains in everyday life. I
have particularly addressed the practical need for Accuracy, Consistency,
Transmission and Simplicity (ACTS).

The Lusoga lexis for ‘dictionary’

When I published the Ibwanio: Lusoga English disctionary (2009), I was
questioned how I came up with this name. As it is the common practise in
naming rites, the Basoga usually go by the season of the time or the people’s
desired wish expressed in the object which is being named. Naming
commissions the article or person being named to do that which is desired by
the naming party.

The eibwanio is a tool for spreading the use of Lusoga. That is why I have
used: spoken word – kibono; see – bona; cover – bwania; diction – ibona;
and ink –bwino to coin the term ibwanio. Ibono would have meant big word,
ibwona would have meant scene and ibwano would be writ. I therefore felt
that the modified form of verb writ ending in –io would appropriately
describe what Nabirye, (2009) and Kayaga, et. al., (2008) called “eiwanika”
or granary and “eibiikiro” or store respectivley.

Let the ibwanio become a visionary journey of spreading the word to every
corner of Busoga, Uganda and beyond us. A platform for continuous learning
that puts an end to the language shame. Let it become the forum for forging
unity between the Basoga and her neighbours so that Busoga can be at
peace as our anthem demands.

A practical orthography of Lusoga

Lusoga uses 51 letters from A a to Z z known as nhukuta in Lutenga and
nyukuta in Lupakoyo. In this handbook I have given examples of how these
51 letters are used to form simple word sounds (ebigambo), sentences
(enhilili) and paragraphs (ebibono). Please note that letters are known as
nhukuta/nyukuta and numbers nhuguta/nyuguta. This is consistent with
Runyoro, Luganda, Lugwere and Lunyoli that are akin to Lusoga. The roots
‘kuta’ and ‘guta’ refer to the verb ‘put’ or ‘place’[ta] and ‘quantity’ or
‘amount’ respectively. We talk of ‘kita’, ‘kata’, ‘guta’, ‘gita’, ‘bita’, ‘luta’ to
measure or tell distance and weights in figures. Letter words on the other
hand are ‘put’ [ta] together to form words.
Yega okughandiika – learn how to write
1. A a
2. B b
3. Bw bw
4. By by
5. C c
6. D d
7. Dh dh
8. E e
9. F f
10. G g
11. Gh gh
12. ŋ ŋ
13. Gw gw
14. H h
15. I i
16. J j
17. Gy gy
18. K k
19. Kw kw
20. Ky ky
21. L l
22. M m
23. Mb mb
24. Mp mp
25. Mw mw
26. N n
27. Nd nd
28. Ndw ndw
29. Nf nf
30. Nh nh
31. Nhw nhw
32. Nw nw
33. Nk nk
34. Nkw nkw
35. O o
36. P p
37. Th th
38. R r
39. S s
40. Shy shy
41. Sy sy
42. T t
43. Tw tw
44. Ty ty
45. U u
46. V v
47. W w
48. Y y
49. Z z
50. Zw zw
51. zy zy
The vowel sounds

Lusoga language uses 25 vowel sounds known as endhatuza (T) or enjatulya
(K). When a vowel sound is added to a consonant a syllable [enkenga] is
formed.
A E I O U
Ana Eibege Inidi Obo Usuku

a e i o u
asala ente ibili omo uzu

aa ae ai ao au
baana baenda alaisa kao mau
bayenda baisi kawo mawu

ea ee ei eo eu
beagaza beene beidhusa beogeza beunia
beyagaza beyogeza bewunia

ia ie ii io iu
kiama aibie liiso kioga kiusu
kyama aibye kyoga kiwusu

oa oe oi oo ou
oasa oenda oidhi kooma oula
owasa oyenda owula

ua ue ui uo uu
muana muezi muibi muogo muunhu
mwana mwezi mwibi mwogo

A a

Abaana bana banaaba.
Ababiri bantú omulala kisolo.
Abali ghano balwanira ebifo.
Adheemye
Adhuuna
Afiire
Afuudha
Afuusa
Aghakula enume ti ghakula ndala.
Aghatono ghe toolwa na maanhi.
Agheera
Agya
Agya embi agya ewuwe.
aa

Aba bbaabba Musagho basaghula balwaire ba mitwe.
Abaali
Abaana bale baali bali agho nga Lubaale abali ku mutwe.
Abaana bana baanaaba nga bana ibwe bababona.
Abaana imwe dhili saagha ina.
Abbaala
Abuuza buti saagha dhili imeka?
Agalaamiriire
Akaadha
Akaali
Akaana
Akaana kaakana kakoona Kono ku mukono.
Alaadha
E e

Ebwa teleka gho masuntumalire ga inha yo.
Eibala
Eibula
Eira
Eisa
Ekibira kiika.
Ekighaluko ti kinhaga byenda.
Ekiita kiita matyama.
Ekinaaba ekintu embwa tesama.
Ekira
Embego
Emberi ekuba emikwano.
Embiighi
Embbooli ekula kikata.
Embboosa
Embuga
Embulu
Embuulirire tefa yonayoona.
Embuzi emanhika ku mwene yo nga efiire.
Embwa
Emmere teiguta mulala.
Endogoyi
Enguuli teita nguli Muguli yafa ira.
Enkende ye eirumba ntono.
Enkereghe etakula mu kiina.
Enkoko eba ya mwana.
Era
Ere
Ei

Eibaale
Eibaale ku lusozi liyilingita ne mpegho.
Eibbongo
Eibibiro
Eibiikiro ly bulo liidwire.
Eibiikiro lya Kayaga limpe ghano.
Eibwanio lino lighubania.
Eibwanio lya Gulere lindeetere.
Eigaali
Eigaali lino izibu lya kusilingisa.
Eighanga lyaife lino likaali kweghanga bikalamu.
Eighulire Kodheyo lyagya gha?
Eigwanika lizira mu firiigi.
Eikokootazi libiika amagi abiri.
Eiloboozi lye lisaakaire lwa lukogholo.
Eilumba lilumye Irumba lya muluma.
Eimotoka
Eisa eisa balyagaana ku mugaire lisaaba.
Eisala lye nswa bwe liziba; tosima kiswa kyonakyoona.
Eisira tulita ku biseera bya kugholaku.
Eisisi, eikoli, eighaagha ne eilenha binhonhi bya kyeghuunio
Eisisi lituuma butuume oti lulenga.
Eisomero lye ebitabo elyo inene.
Eisota einene balyeta zilyamire.
Eisubi mu likuze nimiro.
Eitaala
Eitaala lizimye nga tukaalya.
Eitaka lye ibumba likola ensugha engumu.
Eitako lili kunnuma bwe lisiigha.
Eitelekero lya sente liliku absilukale.
Eitendekero lyaife likuze.
Eitondo
Eitondo lya maadhi liboziiz ghano.
Eitondolo
Eiwanika lya Nabirye lyetegereze.
Eiwanika lyange liilyo kozesa ku.
Eiyegero lya Igeyero lilimu abeegesa abakenkufu.
Eiyengo mu nhandha litaamye.
Eiyiga lye nte lili oti muti; aghasongovu ghafumita.
I i

Iba tanhenda nga akwendeza ngonero.
Ibaale
Ibaasi
Ibaati
Ibago
Ibibiro
Idaala
Idha tubone okwola mize.
Idha tulye aye idhukira kye wankola.
Idilio
Idinisa
Iduuka
Ife
Ifiliigyi
Igaali liba lilyo nga oliguze mwene.
Iganduula
Igere
Ighulire
Igi
Igilaasi
Igye
Ikalina
Ikatala
Ikeberezo
Ikeesi
Ikomo
Ikoola
Ikooti
Ikoti
Ikutiya
Ilaadiyo
Iliido
Ilogo
Ilongo
Iloole
Ilya
Imotoka
Ipaapaali
Ipeeni
Ipeesa
Ipikipiki
Isaababi tabula kye bamuloodhamu.
Isaadhaibi balimanhira ku mutala.
Isaanhalaze
Isaati
O o

Obuntu
Obusiru
Obuto buleetera omwana okubonabona.
Obutwa
Oiza omusango ku buko otaiziiza ku isengero.
Okule obone; atyo owo lumoto bwe yakoba.
Omugole omukanhu omugula yatoloka.
Omwoyo omwaghule ogwoza na ighooyo.
Osobola okuta obusungu mu nsugha?
Owa akasubusubu taiba mugalabe.
Owo mutwe omunene omulekera mbaali.
Owo muze taguleka yo ka.

U u

Buli mbuli elya bya yo.
Buugi mungi mu bungi.
Duma
Fuluma
Fulumya obutungulu bukale.
Fulungu
Fuma
Fumba
Fuuta
Ghugulala
Ghungula
Gula
Guma
Kifulugunhu takusigula.
Kuma
Kuuluza mu bulagala.
Wuumya
Yughuza
Yuguumya ensi oti musisi.
Yundha
Yuuguumya
Yuza
Zuula