Rukiga language
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Rukiga (also called Lukiga or Chiga) is closely related to the Runyankole language spoken by the Banyankore, Banyakole or Ankole as the people are also known.
Rukiga, the native language of the people of Bakiga, developed over the centuries as a spoken language.
It was in the second half of the nineteenth century that Rukiga was first written down and appeared in print in its own right.
Rukiga is a very similar language to Runyankore. Runyankore is the language of the people of Ankole that is why dictionaries, show both languages. Although many of the words are the same, or similar, there are differences.
In common with other Bantu languages, Lukiga/Rukiga has a noun class system in which prefixes on nouns mark membership of one of the noun genders. Pronouns, adjectives, and verbs reflect the noun gender of the nominal they refer to. Some examples of noun classes: • mu - person (singular), e.g. mukiga = inhabitant of Bakiga land • bu - land, e.g Bukiga = land of the Bakiga • lu/ru - language, e.g. Lukiga/Rukiga = language of the Bakiga • ba - people, e.g. Bakiga = The Bakiga tribe • ki - customs or traditions, e.g. kikiga, (sometimes pronounced) Kichiga, or Chiciga describes religious tradition common to the Bakiga people. Sometimes the people are called Chiga by people not understanding the linguistic rules in relation to the prefixes.
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