Datapoint Sango/The schwa vowel

This segment still exists in the speech of persons of Banda ethnicity. Banda dialects have at least two central vowels. The Linda dialect, a central one, for example, has in addition to schwa a high central unrounded vowel (Cloearec-Heiss 1969). However, the segment appears in the speech of urban young people, especially in words of French origin, but also as a variant of some other vowels: the vowel /a/ in tongana 'when.'

Among children used most frequently by persons of Banda ethnicity. Banda has central unrounded vowels.

Values

[ə] exists as a minor allophone

Example 59-418:
tongana
when