Identification, description and classification of consonants and vowel phonemes in Nambya language of Hwange district in Matabeleland North Province in Zimbabwe

Nambya language has been scantly researched on. While it has been introduced at primary, secondary and tertiary level, there is no consensus on the agreed phonemes. With the background of learning a Language of Wider Communication (LWC), the LWC has influenced the way Nambya is written or spelt.
This paper investigates the phonemes in Nambya, a previously marginalised language spoken by an estimated 117 000 inhabitants (https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups / -retrieved 16 June 2022.)  found in Hwange district. The study employed a qualitative design and was conducted in Hwange district in western province of Zimbabwe. The study attempted a systematic description and classification of Nambya consonants, and vowels using a descriptive framework.  This research aimed to establish and provide a detailed study of the consonant sounds available in the language.  The target population were the mother tongue speakers who had either learnt the language at formal setups or were natural speakers of the language. Expert and homogeneous purposive sampling techniques were applied to select participants and the sample size was ten. Data was generated through semi structured interviews and focused group discussions. It was also collected through primary and secondary sources and analysed according to consonantal and vowel structures of the language. The study found that Nambya has basic 5 vowel system. The consonant structure includes single and modified consonants. Long vowels are restricted to (i) the future tense, future (Incidental) Indicative, affirmative, other persons, (ii)in the third person singular of negative tenses and present indicative negative.