[4] This was followed by Kezié Lébikaza's descriptive grammar in 1999,[5] which remains the key reference work in Kabiye linguistics.
[6] Other topics that have been the focus of research include: Comparative linguistics,[7][8][9][10] Discourse analysis,[11][12] Language contact,[13] Lexicology, [28] Morphology,[39] Phonology, [45] Sociolinguistics,[52] Syntax,[53] Tone orthography,[59] Tonology,[67] and the verb system.
[112][circular reference] The five voiced consonant sounds /b v dʒ ɡ ɡ͡b/ only occur either word-medially or as allophones.
Kabiye also has automatic downstep, where a H following a L is always pronounced on a lower pitch than the preceding H within the same phonological phrase.
There are two kinds: A limited number of prefixes undergo both vowel harmony processes, e.g. the first person plural subject pronoun: pà-kpàzá-à "they coughed", pɛ̀-wɛ̀ɛ́tà-à "they whispered", pè-wèlìsàá "they listened", pɔ̀-cɔ́nà-à "they looked", pò-ɖòzà-á "they dreamt".
Kabiye is written in modified Roman script based on the character inventory of the African reference alphabet.
The orthography contains a significant amount of overspecification, since the 5 voiced obstruent graphemes b, g, gb, v, j are superfluous from a strictly phonemic point of view.
The single exception is the spelling of two subject pronouns that are tonal minimal pairs: The hyphen is used in the standard orthography in order to distinguish homophones.
The verb phrase may optionally add a subject pronoun prefix (written joined to the root or the modal prefix as in the examples above) and/or an object pronoun suffix (written joined to the root with a hyphen: ɛ̀hàzá-kɛ́ "he swept it").
The verb phrase can also be extended by means of the suffix -náʊ̀ to indicate instrumentality, accompaniment, manner, simultaneity or conformity (ɛ̀hàzɩ́nàà "he swept with").
All verb roots can be nominalised as agentives (házɩ́yʊ́ "sweeper"), adjectives ("kɪ̀hàzʊ̀ʊ́" "swept") or locatives (ɖɩ̀hàzɩ̀yɛ́ "sweeping place").
Yee pɔyɔɔdʊʊ-ŋ nɛ ɛyʊ welesi yɔ, pɩwɛ-ɩ ɛzɩ wondu peteɣ.
Ɛlɛ, yee ɛyʊ ɛwɛɛ nɛ ɛɛmaɣzɩɣ ñɔ-yɔɔ camɩyɛ yɔ, ɛɛnaɣ ñe-ɖeu.
Ñɛ-wɛtʊ nɛ tɩ-tɩ solo, mbʊ pʊyɔɔ yɔ ɖooo ŋŋwɛɛ, natʊyʊ taasoki ña-taa se tɩpɩsɩ-ŋ nɔɔyʊjaʊ.
jeː pɔjɔːdʊːŋ nɛ ɛjʊ welesi jɔ, pɪwɛɪ ɛzɪ wondu petɤː.
ɛlɛ, jeː ɛjʊ ɛwɛː nɛ ɛmɑːzɯ̙ː ɲɔjɔ tʃamɪjɛ jɔ, ɛːnɑː ɲeɖeu.
ɲɛwɛtʊ nɛ tɪtɪ solo, mbʊ pʊjɔː jɔ ɖo.oː ŋːwɛː, natʊjʊ taːsoki ɲataː se tɪpɪsɪŋ nɔːjʊdʒaʊ.