Tyap/Printable version

Tyap

The current, editable version of this book is available in Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection, at
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tyap

Permission is granted to copy, distribute, and/or modify this document under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

Zwunzwuo a̱lyem Tyap ※ Tyap alphabet

The Tyap alphabet (Zwunzwuo A̱lyem Tyap ji) formerly had 39 letters, as drafted by the Tyap Literacy Committee (TLC) during the early 1990s:

• Tyap alphabet: previous basic before 2018

Capital Letters

A A̱ B CH CHY D E F G GB GH GHW GHY H I I̱ J JHY K KH KP L M N NG NY O P R S SH SHY T TS U V W Y Z

Small letters

a a̱ b ch chy d e f g gb gh ghw ghy h i i̱ j jhy k kh kp l m n ng ny o p r s sh shy t ts u v w y z

Phonetic value

a ə b t͡ʃ t͡ʃʲ d e f g g͡b ɣ ɣʷ ɣʲ h i ɪ d͡ʒ ʒʲ k x k͡p l m n ŋ ɲ o p r s ʃ ʃʲ t t͡s u v w j d͡z

However, a current development as of 2018, has the Tyap Basic Alphabetical Chart reduced to 24, as follows:

• Tyap alphabet: new basic

Capital Letters

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W Y Z

Small letters

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p r s t u w y z

The letter "ch" would henceforth be represented by the symbol "c", without the "h". All others remain the same.

Phonetic value

a b c d e f g h i d͡ʒ k l m n o p r s t u v w j d͡z

Pronounce outrightly as :

ah bee chee dee eh fee gui he ih gee key lee me nee o pee ree see tee uh vee we ye dzee

• Some Tyap words associated with the alphabet

Letter	Name of letter	Corresponding sounds	as in
a	á	/a, ɑː/	hat, hot
b	bi	/b/	bush
c	ci	/tʃ/	chair
d	di	/d/	dance
e	é	/ɛ, eː/	pen
f	fi	/f/	file
g	gi	/g/	girl
h	hi	/h/	hiss
i	í	/ɪ, iː/	ill
j	ji	/dʒ/	jug
k	ki	/k/	king
l	li	/l/	louse
m	mi	/m/	man
n	ni	/n/	near
o	ó	/ɔ, oː/	hot, old
p	pí	/p/	peace
r	ri	/r/	rat
s	si	/s/	sun
t	ti	/t/	tank
u	ú	/u/	pull
w	wi	/w/	week
y	yi	/j/	yes
z	zi	/dz/	No English equivalent

<<Back to Home page

On to the next Lesson>>

Phonology

Fonoloji nTyap ※ Tyap phonology

A̱nwuat-yei ※ Intonation

Tyap is a tonal language with high, mid, low, mid-low, high-low and low-high ranges, but only one (the high tone indicated by the acute accent) is used for writing.

Tyap has no nasal vowel sounds. It, however, has nasal consonants sounds (m /m/, n /n/, and ng /ŋ/) which are also tonal.

Tyap also uses the underscore diacritic mark usually placed under vowels "a" and "i"; a̱ denotes the schwa sound /ǝ/ while i̱ denotes the shortened "i" sound /ɨ/.

A̱yaatsa̱ntsai ※ Vowels

The seven vowels of Tyap can be classified as either short or long monophthongs sounds.

Short Monophthongs

a a̱ e i i̱ o u

Long Monophthongs

a a̱a̱ ee ii i oo uu

The language has seven (or more) diphthongs: ai ei a̱i a̱u ea ia oi

A̱yaagha̱ghap ※ Consonants

Labialization, palatalization, and palate-labialization of consonant sounds are responsible for the many consonant sounds in the Tyap language, unlike in english.

The language has over 80 monographic and multigraphic labialized, palatalized, and palate-labialized consonant sounds, classified into fortis and lenis modifications.

---

<<Back to the previous lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Numbering system

We shall take the Tyap numbering system in terms of:

• Cardinal numbers
  • Cardinal sequence
• Ordinal numbers
• Frequency
  • Frequency sequence

Cardinal numbers

Fangnkyang di̱n Tyap: Nla̱mba

Small numbers

Number	Tyap	English
0	Sa̱khat, Gum, Piit	Zero
1	A̱nyiung/Nyiung/Jhyiung	One
2	A̱feang/Feang/Sweang	Two
3	A̱tat/Tat/Tsat	Three
4	A̱naai/Naai/Nyaai	Four
5	A̱fwuon/Fwuon/Tswuon	Five
6	A̱taa	Six
7	A̱natat	Seven
8	A̱ni̱nai	Eight
9	A̱kubunyiung	Nine
10	Swak	Ten
11	Swak ma̱ng a̱nyiung	Eleven
12	Swak ma̱ng a̱feang	Twelve
13	Swak ma̱ng a̱tat	Thirteen
14	Swak ma̱ng a̱naai	Fourteen
15	Swak ma̱ng a̱fwuon	Fifteen
16	Swak ma̱ng a̱taa	Sixteen
17	Swak ma̱ng a̱natat	Seventeen
18	Swak ma̱ng a̱ni̱nai	Eighteen
19	Swak ma̱ng a̱kubunyiung	Nineteen
20	Nswak nfeang	Twenty

In Tyap, there are three ways of naming numbers one to five. When to use which depends on the class the noun/adjective/pronoun being quantified belongs. Remember, Tyap has six classifiers (definite articles). Please see: here.

For words in Category A and C, use numbers a̱nyiung (1), a̱feang (2), a̱tat (3), a̱naai (4), a̱fwuon (5).

For example, nggwon a̱nyiung (one child), a̱ka̱kwon a̱feang (two trees)

For words in Category B,

in the "HU" Class, use numbers nyiung (1), feang (2), tat (3), naai (4), fwuon (5).

For example, kyikyo nyiung (one leaf), nkyang nfeang (two things). NB: In this class when a plural noun is used, the number receives a nasal prefix n-, especially when the singular form of that plural word belongs to same "HU" Class.

in the "JI" Class, use numbers jhyiung (1), sweang (2), tsat (3), nyaai (4), tswuon (5).

For example, tswa jhyiung (one nut), zam sweang (two boys). NB: In this class when a plural noun is used, the number does not receive any nasal prefix.

Knowing the above numbering from zero to 20, let's count in tens from 30 to 100.

30	Nswak ntat	Thirty
40	Nswak nnaai	Forty
50	Nswak nfwuon	Fifty
60	Nswak a̱taa	Sixty
70	Nswak a̱natat	Seventy
80	Nswak a̱ni̱nai	Eighty
90	Nswak a̱kubunyiung	Ninety
100	Cyi	One hundred

In counting other numbers in-between the tens, the format is <TENS> ma̱ng <UNITS>. Replace <UNITS> with a number between one and nine. Replace <TENS> with nswak nfeang, nswak ntat, nswak nnaai, nswak nfwuon, nswak a̱taa, nswak a̱natat, nswak a̱ni̱nai, or nswak a̱kubunyiung. For example, nswak nfeang ma̱ng a̱nyiung translates to twenty one. Your turn! Now practice how to count from zero to ninety-nine.

Large Numbers

Hundreds

Note that what could be termed as the "ancient" counting system used for 1-5 is usually used from 100 till infinity. 1 becomes jhyiung, and no more a̱nyiung. Same thing with the 2,3,4 and 5 placed immediately after cyi, the word for hundred.

100: Cyi

101: Cyi ma̱ng a̱nyiung

102: Cyi ma̱ng a̱feang

103: Cyi ma̱ng a̱tat

104: Cyi ma̱ng a̱naai

105: Cyi ma̱ng a̱fwuon

106: Cyi ma̱ng a̱taa

107: Cyi ma̱ng a̱natat

108: Cyi ma̱ng a̱ni̱nai

109: Cyi ma̱ng a̱kubunyiung

110: Cyi ma̱ng swak

120: Cyi ma̱ng nswak nfeang

130: Cyi ma̱ng nswak ntat

140: Cyi ma̱ng nswak nnaai

150: Cyi ma̱ng nswak nfwuon

160: Cyi ma̱ng nswak a̱taa

170: Cyi ma̱ng nswak a̱natat

180: Cyi ma̱ng nswak a̱ni̱nai

190: Cyi ma̱ng nswak a̱kubunyiung

200: Cyi sweang

300: Cyi tsat

400: Cyi nyaai

500: Cyi tswuon

600: Cyi a̱taa

700: Cyi a̱natat

800: Cyi a̱ni̱nai (or a̱ri̱nai)

900: Cyi a̱kubunyiung

999: Cyi a̱kubunyiung ma̱ng nswak a̱kubunyiung ma̱ng a̱kubunyiung

Thousands

Hayab (2016:66-67) in his research on Hyam, a related language to Tyap found out that the original word for number 10 is "kop"/kwop, and that the present word used for ten was the de facto word used for twelve or a dozen is "shwak" (in Hyam) or swak (in Tyap).

Due to the growing Hausa/English influence, undoubtedly before 1920 (because Thomas (1920:59) cited an example with Kagoro (Gworok) which, unlike its neighbours the Nungu, Ninzam, S. Mada and Mama, was not using as at then, the duodecimal system), the counting system has taken the shape of the Hausa/English decimal style and the word "kop/kwop" became almost extinct, while the "swak" took its place and misplaced its original meaning, which is twelve, to now mean ten.

With this in mind, when one considers the number "1,000" or cyi kwop jhyiung ("cyi kwop" is spelled one word), one can say that it literally means "hundred ten one" or "100 X 10 X 1".

Below are the modern Tyap Counting style in thousands:

1,000: Cyikwop

1,018: Cyikwop ma̱ng swak ma̱ng a̱ni̱nai

1,500: Cyikwop ma̱ng cyi tswuon

2,000: Cyikwop sweang

3,000: Cyikwop tsat

4,000: Cyikwop nyaai

5,000: Cyikwop tswuon

6,000: Cyikwop a̱taa

7,000: Cyikwop a̱natat

8,000: Cyikwop a̱ni̱nai

9,000: Cyikwop a̱kubunyiung

Tens of thousands

10,000: Cyikwop swak

20,000: Cyikwop nswak nfeang

30,000 : Cyikwop nswak ntat

40,000: Cyikwop nswak nnaai

50,000: Cyikwop nswak nfwuon

60,000: Cyikwop nswak a̱taa

70,000: Cyikwop nswak a̱natat

80,000: Cyikwop nswak a̱ni̱nai (or nswak a̱ri̱nai)

90,000: Cyikwop nswak a̱kubunyiung

Hundreds of thousands

100,000: Cyikwop cyi

200,000: Cyikwop cyi sweang

300,000: Cyikwop cyi tsat

400,000: Cyikwop cyi nyaai

500,000: Cyikwop cyi tswuon

600,000: Cyikwop cyi a̱taa

700,000: Cyikwop cyi a̱natat

800,000: Cyikwop cyi a̱ni̱nai

900,000: Cyikwop cyi a̱kubunyiung

Larger numbers

Millions

1,000,000: Milyon / Cyikwop cyikwop / Cyikwop a̱ka̱feang

2,000,000: Milyon a̱feang

3,000,000: Milyon a̱tat

4,000,000: Milyon a̱naai

5,000,000: Milyon a̱fwuon

6,000,000: Milyon a̱taa

7,000,000: Milyon a̱natat

8,000,000: Milyon a̱ni̱nai

9,000,000: Milyon a̱kubunyiung

Tens of millions

10,000,000 : Milyon swak

20,000,000: Milyon nswak nfeang

30,000,000: Milyon nswak ntat

40,000,000: Milyon nswak nnaai

50,000,000: Milyon nswak nfwuon

60,000,000: Milyon nswak a̱taa

70,000,000: Milyon nswak a̱natat

80,000,000: Milyon nswak a̱ni̱nai

90,000,000: Milyon nswak a̱kubunyiung

Hundreds of millions

100,000,000: Milyon cyi

200,000,000: Milyon cyi sweang

300,000,000: Milyon cyi tsat

400,000,000: Milyon cyi nyaai

500,000,000: Milyon cyi tswuon

600,000,000: Milyon cyi a̱taa

700,000,000: Milyon cyi a̱natat

800,000,000: Milyon cyi a̱ni̱nai

900,000,000: Milyon cyi a̱kubunyiung

Billions

1,000,000,000: Bilyon / Cyikwop cyikwop cyikwop / Cyikwop a̱ka̱tat

10,000,000,000: Bilyon swak

100,000,000,000: Bilyon cyi

Trillions

1,000,000,000,000: Ti̱rilyon / cyikwop cyikwop cyikwop cyikwop / Cyikwop a̱ka̱naai

10,000,000,000,000: Ti̱rilyon swak

100,000,000,000,000: Ti̱rilyon cyi

Cardinal sequence

Tyap numbers can be modified according to the sequence of arrangement or the number pairing.

This is possible for numbers 1-6, mostly.

Example:

Number	Tyap	English
1/1	A̱nyanyin	Singly, individually
2/2	A̱fafaan	In twos
3/3	A̱tatat	In threes
4/4	A̱nanai	In fours
5/5	A̱ka̱fafwuon	In fives
6/6	A̱tataa	In pairs of six

Ordinal numbers

These do not differ from the cardinal numbers. When in use, the numbers 1-5 are used according to the noun being qualified.

Example:

1. For the WU and KA definite articles
   • A̱byii̱k a̱tat wu wa byia̱ mman na.
     • It is the third woman that has the children.
   • Bityong wa yet nggwon a̱feang ka.
     • Bityong is the second child.
2. For the HU definite article
   • Kyang tat hu n cat n dyiat a̱ni huhwa yet...
     • The third thing I want to talk about is...
3. For the JI definite article
   • Á̱ wa ka̱n faat nyak jhyiung ji.
     • They have already slaughtered the first cattle.

Frequency

Tyap numbers can be modified according to the frequency of occurrence by simple adding the prefix "a̱ka̱-" to the cardinal number.

Number	Tyap	English
0x	A̱ka̱sa̱khat	Zero times
1x	A̱ka̱nyiung	Once
2x	A̱ka̱feang	Twice
3x	A̱ka̱tat	Thrice
4x	A̱ka̱naai	Four times
5x	A̱ka̱fwuon	Five times
6x	A̱ka̱taa	Six times
7x	A̱ka̱natat	Seven times
8x	A̱ka̱nni̱nai	Eight times
9x	A̱ka̱kubunyiung	Nine times
10x	A̱ka̱swak	Ten times
20x	A̱ka̱nswak nfeang	Twenty times
100x	A̱ka̱ncyi	Hundred times
1,000x	A̱ka̱ncyikwop	Thousand times

Example:

1. N gyorong ang a̱ka̱tat, a̱wot a si̱ fa̱k nung bah.
   • I called you three times, but you did not hear me.
2. Hyia̱ ma̱ng a̱nggu a̱ka̱nyiung. Ka̱ gu fa̱k bah, a yok nggu.
   • Tell him/her once. If he/she does not listen, let him/her be.

Frequency sequence

Tyap numbers can be modified according to the frequency of occurrence according to the sequence by simple adding the prefix "a̱ka̱-" to the cardinal sequence number.

Number	Tyap	English
1/1x	A̱ka̱nyanyin	Once in a sequence
2/2x	A̱ka̱fafaan	Twice in a sequence
3/3x	A̱ka̱tatat	Thrice in a sequence
4/4x	A̱ka̱nanaai	Four times in a sequence
5/5x	A̱ka̱fafwuon	Five times in a sequence
6/6x	A̱ka̱tataa	Six times in a sequence

Example:

1. A̱ka̱neam na ku fwoi a̱sa̱khwot na a̱ka̱tatat.
   • The girls had fetched the water three times each.
2. Zam ji cong a̱ji a̱ka̱nyanyin kuzang zwat.
   • The boys come here once each every month.

---

<<Back to previous lesson

On to the next lesson>>

Tyiet 1/Lesson 1

• • 1. A kwai doot ka̱ngka̱ra̱ng a? = Good morning! (to one person)
    • Nyi kwai doot ka̱ngka̱ra̱ng a? = Good morning! (to more than one person)
  • 2. A shyip ka̱ngka̱ra̱ng a? = Good morning! (to one person)
    • Nyi shyip ka̱ngka̱ra̱ng a? = Good morning! (to more than one person)

• • A kwamam ka̱ngka̱ra̱ng a? = Good day/afternoon/evening! (to one person)
    • Nyi kwamam ka̱ngka̱ra̱ng a? = Good day/afternoon/evening! (to more than one person)

• • Si̱ a̱tson ka! = Good night!
  • A̱gwaza gu ta̱ngam nzi̱t ka̱ngka̱ra̱ng! = Good night!

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Tyiet 2/Lesson 2

1. • Á̱ ngyei ang a̱nyan (w)a? = What is your name? (to one person)
     • Nung gwa á̱ ngyei Kambai = My name is Kambai! (lit. "I am the one they call Kambai!")
     • Á̱ ngyei nung Kambai = My name is Kambai! (lit. "I am called Kambai!")
     • A̱lyoot nung kya yet Kambai = My name is Kambai!
   • Á̱ ngyei nyin a̱nyanyan bya? = What are your names? (to more than one person)
     • Nzi̱t bya á̱ ngyei _____. = Our names are _____! (lit. "We are the ones they call _____!")
     • Á̱ ngyei nzi̱t _____. = Our names are _____! (lit. "We are called _____!")
     • Lyulyoot nzi̱t hu hwa yet _____! = Our names are _____!

Vocabulary

Contents : Nkyangmami

• Arts
• Business and economy
• Colours
• Dates and time
• Environment
• Food and drinks
• Health and Medicine
• History
• IT
• Law
• Linguistics
• Place names, nationalities, and languages
• Politics
• Professionals
• Science and technology
• Sports
• Transportation

A̱sa̱khwot ※ Colours

Tyap	Colour	English
a̱shong		red
a̱lyemu, tswuo		orange
bagina		yellow
lyilyim, a̱kwop, a̱li̱ga̱shi		green
bula		blue
a̱meti̱t		purple
mbyin		brown
a̱gurma		pink
a̱sai		white
ntong		grey
a̱dyundyung		black
a̱ghwum		maroon
khaan		creamy white

Others are: a̱da̱nzwak (dark brown), a̱ja̱jiat (pure white), a̱shyui (reddish-brown/maroon), kyai tswazwa (sky blue), a̱shyim a̱kwop (yellowish green), a̱shyim a̱kwop na̱ kyiai ma̱ng bula (bluish-green, cyan), a̱baan/khan (milk).

Apart from A̱shong, A̱sai, A̱dyundyung, lyilyim and A̱ja̱jiat, it is advisable to first say A̱sa̱khwot before saying any of the colours above to make complete meaning.

Á̱tuk ma̱ng Jen ※ Dates and Time

Swáng a̱lyiat ji̱ byia̱ a̱meang ma̱ng jen※ Terminologies associated with time

Tyap	English
Ma̱nini, Ma̱ninika	Now
Jenjini̱shi, Mi̱ di̱ kwi njen	Later
A̱fwun (ka)	Today
A̱tson (ka)	Tomorrow
Lyuo (hu)	Yesterday
A̱ti̱kyia̱ (ka)	A day after tomorrow
A̱ti̱kyia̱ kwamam lyuo (ka)	A day before yesterday
Mi̱ di̱ yong huni	Currently
Mi̱ di̱n jen ji̱ swak a̱ni	Previously
A̱tuk (ka)	Date
Mam (hu)	Day (of 12 hours)
A̱tuk (ka)	Day (of 24 hours)
A̱tsotson (ka), Tsotson (ka)	Morning
A̱ta̱mam (ka), Ta̱mam (ka)	Afternoon
Jenshyung (ji)	Evening
A̱tyetuk (ka)/A̱kyetuk (ka)	Night
Sati (hu)	Week
Zwat (ji)	Month
A̱lyia̱ (ka)	Year
Ta̱ulyia̱	A year before
A̱leang (ka)	Current year
A̱lyia̱ cobai (ka)	A year after
Jen (ji)	Time
A̱cak (ka)	Season

Mmam sati na ※ Days of the week

Tyap	English
A̱tuk Ladi (ka)	Sunday
A̱tuk A̱ta̱nii (ka)	Monday
A̱tuk Ta̱lata (ka)	Tuesday
A̱tuk La̱ra̱ba (ka)	Wednesday
A̱tuk A̱laamit (ka)	Thursday
A̱tuk Juma (ka)	Friday
A̱tuk A̱sa̱ba̱t (ka)	Saturday

Zwát a̱lyia̱ ji ※ Months of the year

Tyap	English
Zwat Jhyiung (ji)	January
Zwat Sweang (ji)	February
Zwat Tsat (ji)	March
Zwat Nyaai (ji)	April
Zwat Tswuon (ji)	May
Zwat A̱taa (ji)	June
Zwat A̱natat (ji)	July
Zwat A̱ni̱nai (ji)	August
Zwat A̱kubunyiung (ji)	September
Zwat Swak (ji)	October
Zwat Swak ma̱ng Jhyiung (ji)	November
Zwat Swak ma̱ng Sweang (ji)	December

Kyayak ma̱ng nkyangswuo ※ Food and drinks

Names of raw foods (Lyulyoot a̱bun nkyayak /Lʲúlʲo:d əbun ŋ̀kʲájag/)

Tyap	English
Ji̱njok (ji)	Beans
A̱cyi (ka)	Yam
A̱gurma a̱nfwuong (wu)	Garlic
A̱gurma (wu)	Onion
A̱myia̱ (na)/Hya̱u (hu)	Oil/Fats
A̱nyenyiat nfak (wu), Shuga (ji)	Sugar
Cyia̱ga̱vang (hu)	Rice
Nfak (na)	Salt
Nyinyep (hu)	Spinach
Kwon (hu)	Vegetable
Swaat (also Swurak) (ji)	Sorghum/Guinea corn
Shita (ji)	Pepper
Shita a̱byin (ji)	Ginger
Shyui (ji)	Peanut
Tong (hu)	Honey
Tumatut (ji)	Tomato
Tson (ji)	Fonio
Zuk (ji)	Millet

Names of cooked foods (Lyulyoot nkyayak weang /Lʲúlʲo:d ŋkʲájag wɛjaŋ/)

Tyap	English
Tuk cyi (hu)	Pounded yam paste
Tuk swakpat (hu)	Corn paste
Tuk cyia̱ga̱vang	Rice paste
A̱ka̱ti (wu)	Corn sauce
A̱ka̱ti cyi (wu)	Yam sauce
Nyiung (hu)	Soup

Names of drinks (Lyulyoot nkyangswuo /Lʲúlʲo:d ŋkʲáŋsʷwo/)

Tyap	English
A̱ta̱bwai (na)	Porridge
Buza (hu)	Mead
A̱kan (na)	Beer
A̱kpa̱nkoot (wu)	Millet grained porridge
A̱kamu (wu)	Pap
A̱sa̱khwot (na)	Water
A̱baan (na)	Milk
Tii (hu)	Tea
Kwofi (wu)	Coffee

Lyenlilyem ※ Linguistics

A

A̱lama wu = Symbol

A̱lyem ka = Language, tongue

A̱lyiat na = Speech

A̱tyong ka = Syllable; paragraph

B

Bwoi a̱lyoot hu = Etymology

G

Ga̱lyuut = Font

K

Kham a̱lyiat ji = Phrase

L

Lang a̱lyiat hu = Sentence

Lyiat = to Speak

Lyuut hu = to write, writing, script

N

Nwap ji = Ethnic group, tribe; language

S

Swang a̱lyiat ji = Word

T

Ta̱zut = to Inscribe

Y

Yei hu = Pronunciation

Z

Zwunzwuo ji = Mark, character, code

Zwunzwuo a̱lyem ji = Alphabet

Lyulyoot a̱ka̱vwuo, bibyinneet, ma̱ng lilyem ※ Place names, nationalities, and languages

Place names

A̱baka̱keang, A̱ka̱keang, ma̱ng A̱ca̱cet a̱ka̱keang ma̱ A̱byin A̱nienzi̱t ※ Villages, Towns, and Cities in Nenzit land

Tyap	English (/Hausa)
A̱bwuiyap (wu)	Rohogo
Fantswam (hu)	Kafanchan
Gwoot (hu)	Kagoro
Tsok (ji)	Manchok
Nietcen A̱fakan	Zangon Kataf

A̱ca̱cet a̱ka̱keang ta̱cya̱ ※ World cities

Tyap	English
A̱buja (ji)	Abuja
Nduguli (wu)	Maiduguri
Urusha̱lima (hu)	Jerusalem
Legwot (wu)	Lagos
Nja̱t (ji)	Jos
Atina (wu)	Athens
Da̱maskut (wu)	Damascus
Iska̱nda̱riya (wu)	Alexandria
Rom (wu)	Rome
Sa̱lamit (ji)	Salamis

Bibyin swanta ※ Countries

Tyap	English
Naijeriya (ji)	Nigeria
Ityopya (wu), Ha̱basha (wu)	Ethiopia
Ma̱sa̱t (wu), Ma̱sa̱r	Egypt
Isi̱rela (wu)	Israel
Sudan	Sudan
Sudan A̱tak	South Sudan
Suriya	Syria
Italiya	Italy
Li̱biya	Libya
A̱gba̱ndang Bi̱ri̱ti̱n	Great Britain
Helat	Greece
Ma̱kidoniya A̱za	North Macedonia
Ma̱lita	Malta
Kuburut	Cyprus
Konggo	Congo
Mali	Mali
Turkiya	Turkey
Pa̱la̱stina	Palestine
Roshiya	Russia
Ndiya	India
Moroko	Morocco
Ninjer	Niger
Gana	Ghana
Afrika A̱tak	South Africa
Caina	China
Jami̱ni	Germany
Ja̱pan	Japan
Kenya	Kenya

Nvam-a̱byin ※ Continents

Tyap	English
Afrika	Africa
A̱siya	Asia
Yurop	Europe
A̱streliya	Australia
Amerika A̱za	North America
Amerika A̱tak	South America
A̱ntati̱ka	Antarctica

Nkyai a̱sa̱khwot ※ Oceans/Seas

Tyap	English
A̱gba̱ndang kyai a̱sa̱khwot Ati̱lantik	Atlantic Ocean
A̱gba̱ndang kyai a̱sa̱khwot Ndiya	Indian Ocean
A̱gba̱ndang kyai a̱sa̱khwot A̱tak	Southern Ocean
A̱gba̱ndang kyai a̱sa̱khwot Atik	Arctic Ocean
A̱gba̱ndang kyai a̱sa̱khwot Pasi̱fik	Pacific Ocean
Kyai a̱sa̱khwot Meditaroniya	Mediterranean Sea

Lilyem ※ Languages

Tyap	English
Shong, Nggi̱li̱t	English
Kpat	Hausa
Ghwangkpang, Yoruba	Yoruba
Kuma̱cyi, Igbo	Igbo
Fi̱ransa	French
A̱biru	Hebrew
Helen	Greek
La̱ra̱ba	Arabic

Á̱nietnta̱m ※ Professionals

Á̱nietnta̱m ※ Professionals

Tyap	English
A̱bwok (wu)	Physician (of any sort)
A̱bwok-á̱niet (wu)	Doctor
A̱bwok-a̱nyunyung (wu)	Dentist
A̱bwok-nyám (wu)	Veterinary doctor
A̱bwok-ntswam (wu)	Engineer
A̱fwu (wu)	Blacksmith
A̱na̱mbwon (wu)	Nurse
A̱tyokat (/A̱tyu-a̱kat) (wu)	Hunter
A̱tyubwom (wu)	Singer
A̱tyuluk (wu)	Driver
A̱tyuluk a̱man-tswam (wu)	Pilot
A̱tyulyuut nkwambwat/nta̱ka̱da (wu)	Author/writer
A̱tyukhap (wu)	Farmer
A̱tyukwat (wu)	Barber
A̱tyushei A̱lyiat A̱gwaza (wu)	Preacher
A̱tyutsot bubwom (wu)	Musician
A̱tyutsot nkwambwat/nta̱ka̱da (wu)	Typist
A̱tyutyiet (wu)	Teacher
A̱tyutywai (/A̱tyutwai) (wu)	Tailor
Kapinta (wu)	Carpenter
Nggwonshan (ka)	Police

A̱ka̱cyet ※ Transportation

Nkyangcung ※ Vehicles

Tyap	English
Tsaai tswam (ji)	Bicycle
A̱bakputkput (ka), Tsaai ndong (ji)	Motorbike
A̱da̱dei ma̱to (wu)	Car
A̱gba̱ndang ma̱to (wu)	Truck, lorry
Bos (hu)	Bus
A̱taintuut (wu), Kyangcung a̱byin (hu)	Train
A̱man tswam (ka)	Aeroplane
Kukwon a̱wak (hu)	Canoe, boat
A̱gba̱ndang kukwon a̱wak (wu)	Ship
Kyangcung a̱sa̱khwot (hu)	Water vehicle

---

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Articles

Tyap has no Indefinite articles like in English or German, but has Definite articles or Classifiers.

Indefinite articles

Indefinite articles are often unnecessary in normal speech, hence, absent in Tyap. But when being specific about the quantity of the noun, a number is used (usually placed after the noun).

E.g.,

• A big tree. = A̱gba̱ndang a̱kwon.
• One big tree. = A̱gba̱ndang a̱kwon a̱nyiung.

where: a̱gba̱ndang = big, great; a̱kwon = tree; a̱nyiung = one

Definite articles

Tyap has six definite articles or classifiers. Two (ka & wu) are primarily used for singular nouns and adjectives, two (hu & ji) for both singular and plurals and the other two (ba & na) for plural nouns. All nouns and adjectives in Tyap fall under one of these six, so do their corresponding pronouns.

When placed under categories, we would have three categories.

• Category A (Ka & Wu)
  • KA: Words here are mainly used for younger humans, some animals, few non-concrete nouns and adjectives and plants.

Examples of words: a̱baai (knife), a̱bakeang (village), a̱banggwon (baby), a̱bwu (dog), a̱byin (land, country), a̱fwuop (link, meeting point, joint), a̱keang (human settlement, town), a̱kwi (cat), a̱kwon (tree), a̱nu (mouth), a̱pyia̱ (head), a̱sham (beautiful), a̱ta (bow), a̱ta̱nyeang (devil), a̱tuk (day - of 24 hours), a̱tyin (stem), nggwon (child), nggwoneam (girl), nggwoseam (boy)

- A̱baai ka = The knife

- A̱baai kani = This knife

- A̱baai a̱kya = That knife

- A̱baai keniaau = That knife over there

• • WU: Words here are mainly used for matured humans, some animals, and most non concrete nouns and adjectives.

Examples of words: a̱bwuon (fool), a̱gwak (expert, professional), a̱gwam (king, chief), A̱gwaza (God), a̱kwak a̱son (leader), a̱niet (person), a̱som (hare, rabbit), a̱toot (cloth), a̱tang (thief), a̱tyia̱ (father), a̱tyok (man), a̱tyoli (husband, master, mister), a̱tyu (person), a̱tyubishyi (human being), a̱yang (mother), a̱yin (person)

- A̱bwuon wu = The fool

- A̱bwuon wuni = This fool

- A̱bwuon a̱wa = That fool

- A̱bwuon wunia̱u = That fool over there

• Category B (Hu & Ji)
  • HU: Words here are mainly used for objects, plants, rarely humans; in general, most words beginning with b, f, g, h, k, l, m, p, v some words beginning with c, d, jhy, n, s, t.

Examples of words (singular): beang (help), bwak (hand), fi̱ng (young), fwuo (mind, neck), gak (boundary), hyet (arrow), kan (medication), kwon (vegetable), kyang (thing, property), li (to see), lang (line), mam (sun, 12-hour day), nam (meat, flesh, muscle), nyeang (marriage), pyia̱ (hair), tak (leg), vam (body), vak (road), wa (cavity), yak (grains, cereals)

- Vak hu = The road

- Vak huni = This road

- Vak a̱hwa = That road

- Vak hunia̱u = That road over there

Examples of words (plural): bibyin (lands, countries, territories), li̱la̱n (pots), lyilyia̱ (years, livers), lyulyoot (names)

- Lyulyoot hu = The names

- Lyulyoot huni = These names

- Lyulyoot a̱hwa = Those names

- Lyulyoot hunia̱u = Those names over there

• • JI: Words here are mainly used for almost all words beginning with z, ts, j, and some words beginning with b, c, d, j, ny, s; all languages; most loaned words in Tyap especially those from Hausa.

Examples of words (singular): byia̱k (bridge, support), bying (faeces), cyuo (leopard, panther), dyang (waist), ja̱m (weed), jem (hippopotamus), jen (time), jet (cricket), khwap (loan), Kpat (Hausa), nyam (animal), Shong (English, any European language), song (dance), sop (forest), shan (stick), shisham (beauty), tyan (station, location, point, spot; to quote, quotation), Tyap (Tyap), tsaai (horse), tsok (mountain), tswa (spirit, nut), za (rain), zat (buffalo), zon (goat), zonseap (sheep), zwuom (elephant)

- Jen ji = The time

- Jen jini = This time

- Jen a̱ja = That time

- Jen jinia̱u = That time over there

Examples of words (plural): cyuí (rats, mice), jét (cricets), nyám (animals), shán (sticks), tityan (points, stations, spots, locations; quotations), tsaaí (horses), tsutsok (mountains), zát (buffaloes), zón (goats), zwát (moons, months)

- Zwát ji = The months

- Zwát jini = These months

- Zwát a̱ja = Those months

- Zwát jinia̱u = Those months over there

• Category C (Ba & Na)
  • BA: Words here are mainly used for plural living things, especially those with singulars in the "WU Category" and a few in the "KA & HU Category".

Examples of words: á̱ga̱fi̱p (plants, shrubs), a̱ghyi (eyes), á̱ghyi (face), á̱kyuo (wives), á̱nap (females), á̱niet (people), a̱nyiuk (women), á̱sam (males), a̱ti̱tak (legs), á̱tuk (days - of 24 hours), á̱tyok (men), a̱yaasom (hares), a̱yaatyia̱ (fathers), a̱yaatyoli (masters, lords, husbands), a̱yaayang (mothers)

- Á̱niet ba = The people

- Á̱niet bani = These people

- Á̱niet a̱bya = Those people

- Á̱niet bania̱u = Those people over there

• • NA: Words here are mainly used for plural of non-living things and some living things, especially those with singulars in the "KA Category" and "HU Category.

Examples of words: a̱ka̱neam (girls), a̱ka̱khwon (axes), a̱ka̱kwon (trees), a̱ka̱laa (lies), a̱ka̱ta (bows), a̱ka̱tung (meetings, gatherings, assemblies), a̱ki̱kan (medications), mbwak (hands), mkpa (pestles), mmam (days - of 12 hours), mman (children), ndang (lines), ndyia̱ (years, livers), nkyang (things, properties), nla̱mba (numbers), ntangka̱i (types), nvak (roads), nvam (bodies)

- Nkyang na = The things

- Nkyang nani = These things

- Nkyang a̱nia = Those things

- Nkyang nania̱u = Those things over there

---

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Nouns

Noun/A̱lyoot

Difinition and Types

A noun is a word that identifies a person, place, animal, things, abstract idea etc.

Types

The types of noun include:

A. Proper nouns:

Begins with a capital letter. It identifies:

1. Person (A̱yin): Da̱wali, Ca̱cet, Bityong, Kumaai, Sangkwai, A̱yok, etc.
2. Place (A̱vwuo): Sankwap, Mawukili, Fantswam, etc.
3. Institution (Sotnta̱m): ACDA, TLDB, etc.
4. Months and Days (Zwát ma̱ng Á̱tuk): Zwat Tsat (ji), A̱tuk Ladi (ka), etc.

B. Common nouns:

They do not always start with capital letter except at the beginning of a sentence. It refers to general names of persons, places, etc.

1. Person (A̱yin): nggwoneam (girl), nggwoseam (boy), a̱tyok (man), a̱yang (mother), etc.
2. Animal (Nyam): a̱kwi (cat), a̱bwu (dog), zon (goat), etc.
3. Place (A̱vwuo): a̱byin (country), fam (district), etc.
4. Thing (Kyang): a̱li (house, eye), a̱byin (land, country, state), kwatak (shoe), kurum (money), a̱la̱ujhyi (sickle), bung (cap), etc.

C. Abstract nouns:

They do not have physical attribute e.g., mai (laughter), nwuan (seeing), cat (love), dyep (praise), fwoi (insult), a̱nak (mourning), etc.

D. Concrete nouns:

They can be seen and touched, E.g., a̱ceang (basket), tong (honey), a̱buki̱ti (bucket), a̱toot (cloth), a̱tyii (table), a̱kwon (tree), kyayak (food).

E. Uncountable (mass) nouns:

They cannot be pluralised or are already in plural form. They are usually singular. E.g., nkyuo (powder), za (rain), a̱sa̱khwot (rain), a̱myia̱ (oil), etc.

F. Countable nouns:

They can be counted and exist as singular and plural.

Examples:

S/N	SINGULAR	PLURAL
1	a̱nyung ka (tooth)	a̱nyunyung ba (teeth)
2	a̱li ka (house)	a̱ka̱sa na (houses)
3	a̱tyem ka (hoe)	tityem hu (hoes)
4	nggwoneam ka (girl)	a̱ka̱neam na (girls)
5	a̱kusuru wu (pig)	a̱yaakusuru ba (pigs)
6	bwak hu (hand)	mbwak na (hands)
7	a̱baai ka (knife)	a̱ka̱baai na (knives)
8	zon ji (goat)	zón ji (goats)
9	tak hu (leg)	a̱ti̱tak ba (legs)
10	nggwoseam ka (boy)	zam ji (boys)

Tyap nouns are classified according to the six definite articles of the language.

Noun Formation (Bwoi A̱lyoot)

In this section, we shall view the various ways of forming nouns from verbs and adjectives.

Nouns can be formed (norminalized) from verbs:

(A) By adding the prefix "a̱-"

Examples:

S/N	WORD	NOUN FORMED
1	bwom (to sing)	a̱bwom (song)
2	lyiat (to speak)	a̱lyiat (speech)
3	khwo (to serve)	a̱khwo (slave)
4	bwok (to treat)	a̱bwok (physician)
5	kpang (to peg)	a̱kpang (peg, nail, hammer)
6	tyia‌̱ (to put)	a̱tyia̱ (father)

The nouns formed above may refer to both living and non-living targets and situations.

(B) By adding the prefix "ka-"

Examples:

S/N	WORD	NOUN FORMED
1	jang (exaggerate)	Kajang (when you exaggerate)
2	lyiat (to speak)	Kalyiat (when you speak)
3	kwok (packing)	Kakwok (when you are packing)
4	lat (to be less than)	Kalat (when you are less than)
5	lyin (to lack)	Kalyin (when you lack)
6	sang (to be without, to lack)	Kasang (when you are without, when you lack

These nouns formed are mostly used as human names and the "ka-" prefix is a contraction of the phrase "ka̱ a" (i.e., if/when you).

(C) Nouns can be formed from adjectives by removing the first "a̱":

Examples:

S/N	WORD	NOUN FORMED
1	a̱bwuon (foolish)	bwuon (foolishness)
2	a̱tsotswat (true)	tsotswat (truth)
3	a̱pa̱mpang (useless)	pa̱mpang (uselessness)
4	a̱sa̱t (free)	sa̱t (freedom, liberty)

(D) Nouns can also be formed by placing the noun antecedent "a̱tyu" as a prefix before a verb

The nouns formed using "a̱tyu" can only be used to refer to humans.

Examples:

S/N	WORD	NOUN FORMED
1	tyiet (to teach)	a̱tyutyiet (teacher)
2	gba (to warn)	a̱tyugba (warner)
2	lyuut (to write)	a̱tyulyuut (writer, author)
3	cam (to watchguard)	a̱tyucam (guard)
4	luk (to drive)	a̱tyuluk (driver)
5	khap (tilling)	a̱tyukhap (farmer)
6	myiam (to learn)	a̱tyumyiam (learner)

(E) Nouns or noun phrases may also be formed using noun antecedents such as "kyang" and "swat" before other nouns

Examples:

S/N	WORD	NOUN FORMED
1	cet (strength)	kyangcet (insect)
2	cung (race/racing)	kyangcung (vehicle)
3	fang (reading/to read)	kyangfang (textbook, text manuscript)
4	nyeang (marriage)	swat nyeang (marriage life)
5	nta (outside)	swat nta (outer living)
6	a‌̱yang (mother)	swat a‌̱yang (motherhood)

(F) Nouns created by adding "yet" and "ya" to act as antecedents before an adjective or adverb

Examples:

S/N	WORD	NOUN FORMED
1	a̱tsotswat (true)	yet a̱tsotswat (righteousness)
2	a̱tan (good)	yet a̱tan (goodness)
3	a̱son (front)	ya a̱son (progress)

NOTE: There are words which on their own serve as both verbs and nouns. These are the Tyap gerunds.

Example: fang (reading), lyuut (writing), nwuan (watching/seeing), corop (descending), ban (ascending), etc.

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Pronouns

Pronouns

A pronoun is a word use in place of a noun.

Types

• Personal pronoun:e.g nung, nung-wu, N, Zu, gu, Zit.

Examples:

1. Zi ya chyi-agavang.
2. N chat gu.
3. Yei gu.
4. Agwaza biyang zit.

• Indefinite pronoun: e.g konyan(everybody)

Examples:

1. Konyan chat chyi-agavang.
2. Zit chat agyang

• Interrogative pronoun: e.g ihwa(what), aji(where), ajau(there), ana/will.

1. A nat aji?
2. Ihwa nang aya?
3. Ana ya kyak wu?

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Verbs

Verb

Definition

A verb is a word that denotes action or a state of being.

• Action:

1. Anyet madidit ya chyi agavang.
2. Matina nung-wu lak nyung kusat.
3. Samson nok ali.
4. Nat a san khyahu
5. Atyia,akum-achyi chat alyiat gu.
6. Ana ya jinjok?

• State of being:

1. Agwaza yet Agwam
2. Akakwon shyia madidit ma'tachya ka.

• Miscellaneous examples of verbs: bai, nat, ya, twei, swuo, lyuut, lyiat, shim, fak, naai, fang, myiam, yong, swan, foot, Biyang, dyep, tyiet, cham, Gba, kwang, wan, chwi, San, shim, fak, nyin, Fip etc.

Definition

A verb is a word that denotes action or a state of being.

Action:

1. Anyet madidit ya chyi agavang.
2. Matina nung-wu lak nyung kusat.
3. Samson nok ali.
4. Nat a san khyahu
5. Atyia,akum-achyi chat alyiat gu.
6. Ana ya jinjok?

State of being:

1. Agwaza yet Agwam
2. Akakwon shyia madidit ma'tachya ka.

Miscellaneous:

Example of other verbs are: bai, nat, ya, twei, swuo, lyuut, lyiat, shim, fak, naai, fang, myiam, yong, swan,foot, Biyang, dyep, tyiet, cham, Gba, kwang, wan, chwi, San, shim, fak,nyin ,Fip etc.

Verb Formation (Bwoi 'Kyai'):

In Tyap, verbs are largely formed mainly from nouns. Other ways include the addition of verb antecedents to adjectives, adverbs or nouns to form verb phrases.

• Verbs are formed from nouns by the removal of the first letter "a̱-" of the noun word.

Examples:

S/N	WORD	VERB FORMED
1	a̱tung	tung
2	a̱shai	shai
3	a̱ta	ta
4	a̱bwok	bwok
5	a̱bwom	bwom
6	a̱gwai	gwai
7	a̱yaat	yaat
8	a̱ka̱u	ka̱u
9	a̱fwu	fwu
10	a̱wak	wak
11	a̱khwop	khwop
12	a̱lyiat	lyiat
13	a̱khwo	khwo
14	a̱khwu	khwu
15	a̱fwu	fwu
16	a̱kpang	kpang
17	a̱bwum	bwum
18	a̱tyia̱	tyia̱
19	a̱tsa	tsa
20	a̱mat	mat

• Verbs can also be formed by the removal of the first part of a double-sounding noun word.

Examples:

S/N	WORD	VERB FORMED
1	shyishyi	shyi
2	shyishyim	shyim

• Verbs or verb phrases are formed by the addition of verb antecedents to nouns, adverbs or adjectives.

Examples:

S/N	WORD	VERB FORMED
1	khwo	tyia̱ khwo
2	a̱swon	ya a̱swon
3	bwak	swuó bwak
4	fa̱t	bwuo fa̱t
5	bying	ta bying
6	jejeet	li jejeet
7	gba̱gbai	li gba̱gbai
8	taan	tyia̱ taan
9	kyekyak	tyia̱ kyekyak
10	nfwuut	ta nfwuut

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Adverbs

Adverb

Definition and Types

An adverb tells more about a verb.

Types of adverb

• Adverb of Manner:e.g shenshwuon, makpat, chachaat, ghan, akafiyang

• Adverb of time: manini, atswon, taulyia, kuzang-mam, lyuo, aliyang, nyet gbang-gbang, harmanini,afwun

• Adverb of place: aji, ajau, kpankpan, gban-kayau

• Adverb of degree: gbamgbam
• Adverb of frequency: kuzanjen, nchiring.

Adverb Formation (Bwoi 'A̱kwa'):

Tyap language adverbs, regardless of dialect are mainly formed from adjectives, as well as from nouns in varying but closely related ways.

• Adverbs can be derived from adjectives by the addition of the prefix "m-".

Examples:

S/N	WORD	ADVERB FORMED
1	a‌kyiri‌p	ma‌kyiri‌p
2	a‌chunchwiit	ma‌chunchwiit
3	a‌kyenkyai	ma‌kyenkyai
4	a‌ka‌nka‌rang	ma‌ka‌nka‌rang
5	a‌za‌nzan	ma‌za‌nzan
6	a‌kpa‌a‌t	ma‌kpa‌a‌t
7	a‌tsatsak	ma‌tsatsak
8	a‌shonshyon	ma‌shonshyon
9	a‌cha‌chaat	ma‌cha‌chaat

• Adverbs are again derived from nouns by the addition of the "a̱-" prefix.

Examples:

S/N	WORD	ADVERB FORMED
1	mali	a̱mali
2	tsotswon	a̱tsotswon
3	ta̱mam	a̱ta̱mam
4	jenshyung	a̱jenshyung
5	tyetuk	a̱tyetuk

• It may as well be formed from a noun through other ways.

Examples:

S/N	WORD	ADVERB FORMED
1	sham	a̱nsham
2	shanshan	ma̱shansham

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Adjectives

Adjectives

Definition and Types

Adjective tells more about a noun,pronoun or adjective.

Types of adjective

• Attributive adjectives: atyong-jyip, kakap/sarai, nggoseam, atan, nyung, gbandang, abobwon, akpa.

Examples:

1. Philip yet atan nggoseam
2. Atyia nung-wu byia gbandang tsaai
3. A yet abwon nggoseam.

• Predicative adjectives:asai-alyia, zanzam, Tsotswat, abwon, Akatuk, asham, dundung.

Examples:

1. Atyubishi yet akatuk
2. Joy kani yet asham

Adjective Formation (Bwoi 'Sanggak'):

Adjectives in Tyap language (Tyap Proper dialect) are mainly formed from nouns by the addition of the prefix "a̱-".

• Examples:

S/N	WORD	ADJECTIVE FORMED
1	fi̱fan	a̱fi̱fan
2	tsatsak	a̱tsatsak
3	shyim	a̱shyim
4	pyat	a̱pyat
5	sa̱t	a̱sa̱t
6	tswotswat	a̱tswotswat
7	sham	a̱sham
8	mumwang	a̱mumwang
9	gba̱za̱zai	a̱gba̱za̱zai
10	kyenkyai	a̱kyenkyai

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Prepositions

Prepositions

Prepositions shows relationship between a noun, pronoun or other words in a sentence e.g. tafa ,tazwa

Examples:

1. Akwi shyia tafa tebru kani
2. Agwaza shyia tazwa

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Conjunctions

Conjunction

Word that join two or more phrases, clauses or sentences together.e.g "mang" ,"a" etc

Examples:

1. Fang a myam
2. Nat a hyat nyang ji nyou.
3. Myiam Fang Mang Lyuut Tyap

<<Back to previous Lesson

On to the next Lesson>>

Interjections

Interjection

Word that expresses emotion, e.g. Ka̱t!, kaai!, Kwot!

Example:

1. Ka̱t! bredi, ka̱ n na shyia̱.
2. Kaai! N kan bai a̱ji bah.

<<Back to previous Lesson