Likpakpaanl (Konkomba) Dictionary. Likpakpaanl – English with English Index

193 Pages·2015·38.333 MB·English

by  Mary Steele

English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation
(GILLBT)

Likpakpaanl (Konkomba) Dictionary

Likpakpaanl – English
with
English Index
Compiled and edited by:
Mary Steele
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by
any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or
otherwise—without the express permission of GILLBT
with the exception of brief excerpts for reviews.

GILLBT
Tamale, Northern Region
Ghana
© 2015 SIL International®
Published by:
®
SIL International
Webonary.org
This web edition may be cited as:
Steele, Mary. 2015. "Likpakpaanl - English Dictionary." Webonary.org. SIL International. Retrieved <Date of access>, from
<https://www.webonary.org/likpakpaanl/>.

Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service

English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Likpakpaanl alphabet
ŋ ɔ

Search

A/a Aa/aa B/b Ch/ch D/d E/e Ee/ee F/f G/g
Advanced Search
Gb/gb H/h I/i Ii/ii J/j K/k Kp/kp L/l M/m N/n Ŋ/ŋ
Ŋm/ŋm O/o Oo/oo Ɔ/ɔ Ɔɔ/ɔɔ P/p R/r S/s T/t U/u
Uu/uu V/v W/w Y/y
Number of Entries

Konkomba: 4303
The Likpakpaanl-to-English part of the dictionary is arranged alphabetically
according to the above order.
Last update: Apr 4, 2019
Thus, words beginning gb occur at the end of the g
Date published: Nov 13, 2015
section rather than after ga, those beginning kp after k, ny after n and ŋm
after ŋ. Words beginning with ŋ are inserted after ny and those beginning
with ɔ after o. The order is therefore as follows:

a b c ch d e f g gb h i j k kp l m n ny ŋ ŋm o ɔ p s t u w y
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service
English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Phonology
Steele, Mary and Gretchen Weed. 1966. Collected Field Reports on the Phonology of Konkomba. (Collected Language
Notes, 3) Legon: Institute of African Studies.
Consonants
Labial-
Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Postalveolar Palatal Velar
velar
͡
Voiceless p t tʃ k kp
Stop
͡
Voiced b d dʒ ɡ ɡb
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ ŋ͡ m
Voiceless f s
Fricative
Voiced
Approximant w y **
Lateral
l
Approximant
Trill r
** IPA symbol [j]
Orthography note:
tʃ - is written as ch in words like cha - go, kichɔk - axe
dʒ - is written as j in words like uja - man, ji - eat
͡
kp - is written as kp in words in words like kpa - have, likpuul - funeral
͡
ɡb - is written as gb in words like gbaa - beat, gbin - tether, tie
ɲ - is written as ny in words like nyi - know, unyoon - bird
ŋ - is maintained as ŋ in words like ŋa - do, liŋuul - anger
͡
ŋm - is written as ŋm in words like ŋmee - write, uŋmal - moon
Vowels
Front Central Back
High i u
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɔ
Low a
Front Central Back
High iː uː
Close-mid eː oː
Open-mid ɛː ɔː
Low aː
Front Central Back
High ĩ ũ
Close-mid ẽ õ
Open-mid ɔ̃
Low ã
Tone
High tone is marked with the letter h following a vowel in cases where it is necessary to separate meaning.
Examples:
upii - woman, upiih - sheep
unyoon - bird, unyoohn - scorpion
But tone is also used grammatically in
Waa buen kisaak - He did not go to farm
Waah buen kisaak na ... - When he went to farm ...
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service
English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Abbreviations
adj. adjective adv. adverb
conj. conjunction dem. demonstrative
esp. especially Euph. euphemism
interj. interjection interrog. interrogative
Lit: literally loc. locative
n. noun num. number
Pl: plural pro. pronoun
Sg: singular s.b. somebody
sp. species s.t. something
Syn: synonym v. verb
Var: variant
Note: In the English definitions all references to he, him, his etc. should also be taken to refer to she, her, hers etc.
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service
English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Dictionary entries explained
A simple entry has three parts. First is the Likpakpaanl headword. This begins Explain 1
each entry and is shown in bold type. Second is the grammatical part of
speech which is shown in an abbreviated form in italic type. (See the List of Abbreviations where these are expanded).
Third is the definition which shows the meaning of the Likpakpaanl headword in English. In many of the definitions there
are a number of equivalent English words that can be used to describe the Likpakpaanl meaning. These are listed
separated by commas ending with a semicolon. Sometimes, after the semicolon a further explaining phrase is given that
serves to expand the definition.

Explain 2 In the first example given above, The Likpakpaanl word, ‘ ExampleWord ’, only has
one meaning. Sometimes however, words have multiple meanings. These multiple
meanings are called senses and they are indicated in the dictionary by sense numbers. Each sense begins with a
number followed by a dot. The various senses in an entry have distinct meanings, but they are all related in some way.
That is why they are given numbers and listed under a single Likpakpaanl headword.

Occasionally you will notice that the headword is immediately followed by a small Explain 3
lowered number. The lowered number is used to distinguish what we call homonyms.
Homonyms are words that have the same spelling but are unrelated in meaning.

Words that describe things are called nouns and are indicated with n. as the part of speech. When you want to look up a
Likpakpaanl noun you should look for the singular form of the noun. E.g., in the example above, a bundle of things is
listed with the Likpakpaanl headword ‘ ExampleWord2 ’, not ‘ ExampleWord2pl ’. If there is a plural form it will be listed
after the singular form and preceded with the label PluralTag . In some few instances the plural form is more common
and will be listed as the headword. If there is a singular form, then it will be preceded with the label SingularTag

Explain 4 Sometimes a meaning is figurative, and not literal. It may be a metaphor or an
idiom. In these cases after the sense number you may find the label Metaphor . or
Idiom . A Metaphor indicates that this sense uses the likpakpaanl word in a way that is not literal. An Idiom is
similar—it is a phrase with a meaning that cannot be determined from the individual words that make up that phrase. In
other cases you may see Euph . or Taboo . A euphemism is a polite way of expressing a meaning that would
otherwise be disrespectful or too harsh. Taboo indicates that the Likpakpaanl word is considered offensive, and should
not be used in normal conversation.

You may also notice words that appear in bold, like a Likpakpaanl headword, Explain 5
yet they are indented from the margin. These words are sub entries. They are
related to the Likpakpaanl headword that precedes them and are derived from that headword. They are indented to show
this relationship.

Explain 6 Sometime a Likpakpaanl headword will have a slightly different sound or spelling
dependant on the speaker who uses the word. These are called variants . If a
variant is known it will be listed immediately after the headword and is preceded with the label Var . If a variant or a sub
entry has a spelling that begins in a different way to their parent headword then the subentry or the variant will be found
as a minor entry in the correct alphabetical place in the dictionary. The label, See main entry: will refer you back to the
main headword where the full definition of the variant or sub entry will be found.
Explain 7
Where a word is similar in meaning to another word in a different part of the
dictionary this will be marked with the label Syn : indicating that the two words are synonyms . Not all synonyms have
been marked in this first edition of the dictionary.

Explain 8 Where it is known that a word has originally come from another language, then this
has been indicated by the label: From :
Explain 9
Some plant and animal terms have been given their proper scientific names.
This name, if known, will be underlined and italicised.
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service
English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Likpakpaanl – English
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n ŋ o ɔ p s t u w y
a
a past past/completive marker - corresponds to English 'have' perfective M sunn a. I have forgotten (and still cannot
remember).
aa cf: aan (inf. var. of aa ), kaa , kaa , na aabo, taa (inf. var. of aa ), taa . conjunction or, alternative Ti cha kinyaŋ
1 1 1 4 1 1 3
ni ti ti daa ukpaan la aan ikɔla. We are going to market to buy a guinea-fowl or a chicken. U ga buen aa waan buen? Will
he go or not? (He will go or he-neg.-fut. go)
aa (inf. var. aan ; taa ) cf: baan , bi , ga, ga, ga, ga, kaa , kaan , kaan , ki-, ki-, ki , litafal, m , m , maaŋuntafal,
1 1 1 3 1 5 3 4 3 1 1
maanyi, naa , naan (unspec. comp. form of ni , aa ), ŋaan , ŋi, ni , ni , ŋun , nyi, saa , si . negative not/negative
2 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 2
(in the main clause) Binib bi bi nima chee na aa ye beebee aanib. The people who live there are not bad people.
aa pronoun you singular
2
aa interrogative question marker (if the sentence ends with a consonant or vowel /a/ ) Aa doon aa? Did you sleep? (You
3
slept?)
aa- pre�x pfx possessive/ associative uja aanaa the man's cow
aabaa re�exive yourself pɔɔn aabaa ki gaa ipiin ngbaan Please accept this gift (try yourself and accept gift this)
aabee aasub (pl. aabee aasui) noun small oil palm nut tree (sem. domains: 1.5.1 - Tree, 5.2.3.1 - Food from plants,
5.2 - Food.)
aabee aasui pl. of aabee aasub
aabilbii (pl. aabilbii mam; aabilbii tiib) noun pineapple (sem. domains: 5.2.3.1 - Food from plants.)
aabilbii mam pl. of aabilbii
aabilbii tiib pl. of aabilbii
aabɔŋ noun varieties (associative-variety) iliin aabɔŋ dialects (languages assoc. -varieties)
aah cf: aah ... na , aah ... na , aah ... na , maah . conjunction as/while/when
aah ... na cf: aah, kaah, maah, naah, ŋaah . 1) particle as, since, when Ubo aah chuun nsan ni na le u kan uwaa. As
the child was walking on the road, he saw a snake. 2) conjunction as/because 3) conjunction as/in the way/manner
aan inf. var. of aa
1 1
aan conjunction in order to, so that, while Aa dan aan ti buen u chee. You come so that we can go to him. U ga li kii timi
2
aan ti ŋa timi aatuln ngbaan. He will wait while we do our work.
aasai (dial. var. yaansara) noun joke, geniality, joviality
aayii interjection no
aduwa noun bean [type] (sem. domains: 5.2.3.1 - Food from plants.)
alabarika 1) noun blessing, pro�t 2) verb bénir 3) verb reduce your price
amaa conjunction but Ubɔ wee nan bir pam amaa waa ki bir. This dog had been dangerous, but now is not. (This dog had-
been bad intensi�er, but he neg. again bad)
ansilfa noun silver
aŋkora noun barrel, drum
asibti (pl. asibtitiib) noun hospital, clinic
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service
English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Likpakpaanl – English
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n ŋ o ɔ p s t u w y
a
asibtitiib pl. of asibti
awurabaa noun nurse, educated girl
Page 2 of 2 < 1 2
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service
English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Likpakpaanl – English
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n ŋ o ɔ p s t u w y
b
b- pronoun pfx they (see introduction)
ba cf: badaal, bayoonn (comp. of n-yoonn), daal, ni , nilaba, n-yoonn . interrogative what? Aa ban ba? What do
1 1
you want? (You want what?) badaal? when? (what day) ba ŋa? why? (what happened?) Ba ŋa si? |What is the matter
with you? (What happened you?) ba pu? why? (what upon?) bayoonn when? (what time?) Aa fuu ni bayoonn? What
time did you come? (You arrived what time?)
ba particle marker of conditional contrary to fact Ni yaa ba nan bi niyajatiib yoonn ngbaan kan naa ba ga ŋa baah nan ŋa
2
pu na. If you had been living in your ancestors' day, you would not have done what they did.
ba cf: daalpu, daalpu na (der. of daalpu), fe, fe, fe, nan , nan , nan . particle time near past marker (today) U ba
3 4 4 4
buen kinyaŋ ni. He went to market. (earlier today)
baa cf: mbaan . verb ask
3 1
baa negative pronoun they are not/did not... (pronoun bi 'they' fused with aa neg.')
4
*baa re�exive self, (one's) own (re�exive) Aa gii aabaa aa? Did you cut yourself? M kal mbaa aadiik ni. I sat in my own
1
room.
*baa cf: daalbaadaal (comp. of daal) . numeral one, certain (the pre�x agrees with the noun and may be plural) U kpa ubo
2
ubaa. He has one child. Uja ubaa le nan bi...... There was a certain man ..... Bijab bibaa le nan bi ..... There were some
men .....
*baabaa (unspec. comp. form) numeral one each/ one, one
*baa (der. of liwinbaal one)
5
baah pronoun as they (3rd person plural pronoun bi assimilated to the conjunction aah 'as')
baan verb begin, start at a point indicated
1
baan verb grope, search for
2
baan cf: aa , aan (inf. var. of aa ), bi , kaan , -n . negative future pronoun They are not/won't.
3 1 1 1 1 3
*baan cf: *chachaan, iliin (pl. of nliin), ilimbaan, kpaan . bound rt. of one, same Bi ye ujabaan/upiibaan aabim la.
4 2
They are one man/one woman's children.
baanja quanti�er only, alone Ubɔr aapuu baanja le ba bi. Only the chief's wife was there.
baanjira noun latrine, lavatory, toilet
baar cf: -kaan, likpateerkaan, litakpal, teer , tiwan, tiwanbaarkaan . verb crawl
2
baayar noun yam [type] (sem. domains: 5.2.3.1 - Food from plants.)
bab verb be satis�ed, replete
badaal cf: ba , daal . interrogative when? (what day?)
1
bae cf: mbaem, ubabae (comp. of bae) . verb learn
ubabae (comp.) (pl. bibabae) cf: bae . noun apprentice, learner
bak verb tire, be tired
bakaa noun bad, misdeed of major or minor signi�cance.
bakadaan (der.) cf: -daan, udaan . noun self willed person, criminal
bakadaan (der. of bakaa)
bal verb apply eyeshadow Le u bal chaloo, ki chaal uyikpir mbamɔm. She applied eyeshadow and arranged her hair well.
1
Page 1 of 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 15 >
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service
English Français
Overview Search Browse Download Language Links Help
Likpakpaanl Dictionary
Likpakpaanl – English
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n ŋ o ɔ p s t u w y
b
bal (inf. var. balni; banni) verb carry in one's hand in addition to a head burden B. tun nnyun uyir paab la le ki bal gbagir
2
uŋaal ni. B. carried water on her head and also in a bucket in her hand.
balaa noun boasting U nyu balaa he boasted
balab (pl. balab teeb) noun soup leaves [type] (sem. domains: 5.2.3.1 - Food from plants.)
balab teeb pl. of balab
balni inf. var. of bal
2
ban (inf. var. banni) cf: mban . verb 1) seek, want, search for 2) be about to
banchi noun cassava (sem. domains: 5.2.3.1 - Food from plants.)
banni inf. var. of ban
banni inf. var. of bal
2
baŋ verb group together protectively La chee aan saawakor ga nan baŋ nwiin pu? (Sng. 1.7) Where will your sheep rest at
noon?
baŋa interrogative why? what's wrong? ba ŋa si? what happened you?
bar cf: chee . verb reduce (price) break o�, cut o� Uwankpadaan taa pa jer, ugiin mu taa pa bar. (Exo. 30.15) The rich
1 4
should not pay more, the poor should not pay less.
bar verb break o� Le bi bar tifar. They broke o� leaves.
2
bar verb pour (into a bowl)
3
bar verb make tribal marks on face or body
4
bar verb put black on eyes
5
bar verb dip out a liquid , using a small container Bar tikpin tii bi man. (2Ki. 4.41) Dip out soup and give/serve them.
6
bayoonn (comp. of n-yoonn)
bee cf: gaar (dial. var. of gur ), gur . verb remain U nan bee Yaan iwiin ilee amaa dandana u kun. He remained in Yendi
2 2
for a few days, but now he has gone home. U bee nnyun ni. He drowned. (he remained water in)
bee demonstrative these (3 pl. or cl. 2 demonstrative)
1
bee conjunction or, an alternative Yoor unii ubaa bee bilee ki ki buen u chee. take one or two people and go again to him.
2
bee (inf. var. beer ) verb know, realise, recognise, discover
3 3
beebee noun wickedness Binib bi kpa beebee na aabeebee le kuln bi The wickedness of the wicked destroys them. (People
who have wickedness poss.-wickedness destroys them)
beenin (dial. var. buenin) adverb continue to, still Ubo beenin gbiir. The child is still playing.
beer cf: mbeer, tinimoor . verb clear ground (around house or farm preparatory to planting)
1
Page 2 of 15 < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 15 >
Likpakpaani Dictionary © GILLBT 2015
© 2013 - 2020 SIL International® Webonary.org Terms of Service