Luyana (Luyaana), also known as Luyi (Louyi, Lui, Rouyi), is a Bantu language spoken in Zambia and perhaps in small numbers in neighboring countries. It appears to be a divergent lineage of Bantu.[3] It is spoken by the Luyana people, a subgroup of the Lozi people.
Ethnologue lists Kwandi, Mbowe, Mbume, and possibly Kwangwa ("Kwanga") as dialects. Maho (2009) classifies these as distinct languages; it is not clear if any of them are part of the divergent Luyana branch of Bantu, or if they are Kavango languages.[2]
The writing system of the Luyana language was developed in 2011[4] and uses the Latin script.[4]
Luyana has five simple vowels: a, e, i, o, and u.[5]o is almost always open and is rarely closed.[5] Wherever there may be hesitation between o and u, u should be used.[5]
There are no diphthongs.[5] When two vowels meet, they contract, or one is omitted.[5]
Consonants
The consonant inventory of Luyana is shown below.[6]