Editing Chewa language (section)

===Consonants===

Chewa consonants can be simple (directly preceding a vowel) or may be followed by ''w'' or ''y'':

*''b'', ''kh'', ''g'', ''f'', ''m'', ''s'' etc.
*''bw'', ''khw'', ''gw'', ''fw'', ''mw'', ''sw'' etc.
*''bz'', ''tch'', ''j'', ''fy'', ''ny'', ''sh'' etc.

In the orthography, the place of ''by'' is taken by the affricate ''bz'', the place of ''gy'' is taken by ''j'', and that of ''sy'' by ''sh''.

Voiced and aspirated consonants, as well as [f] and [s], can also be preceded by a [[homorganic consonants|homorganic]] nasal:
*''mb'', ''ngw'', ''nj'', ''mv'', ''nz'' etc.
*''mph'', {{transliteration|ny|nkhw}}, {{transliteration|ny|ntch}}, ''mf'', ''ns'' etc.

It is debated whether these are [[consonant cluster]]s {{IPA|/NC/, /Cy/ and /Cw/}}, or whether Chichewa has [[prenasalized consonant|prenasalized]], [[palatalized consonant|palatalized]] and [[labialized consonant|labialized]] consonants {{IPA|/ᴺC/, /Cʲ/, /Cʷ/}}. The most straightforward analysis is that they are clusters.<ref>Downing & Mtenje (2017: 93)</ref> The consonant inventory under a cluster analysis is as follows:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Chewa consonants (cluster analysis)<ref>Downing & Mtenje (2017: 42&ndash;43)</ref>
! colspan="2" | 
! [[Bilabial consonant|Bilabial]]
! [[Labiodental consonant|Labio-<br />dental]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Postalveolar consonant|Post-<br />alveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|''m''<br />{{IPAslink|m}}
|
|''n''<br />{{IPAslink|n}}
|
|''ny''<br />{{IPAslink|ɲ}}
|''ng' ''<br />{{IPAslink|ŋ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="4" |[[Stop consonant|Stop]]
!<small>[[tenuis consonant|tenuis]]</small>
|''p''<br />{{IPAslink|p}}
|
|''t''<br />{{IPAslink|t}}
|
|
|''k''<br />{{IPAslink|k}}
|
|-
!<small>[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
|''ph''<br />{{IPAslink|pʰ}}
|
|'' th''<br />{{IPAslink|tʰ}}
|
|
|''kh''<br />{{IPAslink|kʰ}}
|
|-
!<small>[[Implosive consonant|implosive]]</small>
|''b''<br />{{IPAslink|ɓ}}
|
|''d''<br />{{IPAslink|ɗ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|(''b'')<br />{{IPAslink|b}}
|
|(''d'')<br />{{IPAslink|d}}
|
|
|''g''<br />{{IPAslink|ɡ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="3" |[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
!<small>[[tenuis consonant|tenuis]]</small>
| 
|
|''ts''<br />{{IPAslink|t͡s}}
|''ch''<br />{{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}}
|
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
|
|
|
|''tch''<br />{{IPAslink|t͡ʃʰ}}
|
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| 
|
|''dz''<br />{{IPAslink|d͡z}}
|''j''<br />{{IPAslink|d͡ʒ}}
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
!<small>[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
| 
|''f''<br />{{IPAslink|f}}
|''s''<br />{{IPAslink|s}}
|''sh''<br />{{IPAslink|ʃ}}
|
|
|(''h'')<br />{{IPAslink|h}}
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|(''ŵ'')<br />{{IPAslink|β}}<ref>Sources are contradictory as to whether ''ŵ'' is a fricative or a semivowel.</ref>
|''v''<br />{{IPAslink|v}}
|''z''<br />{{IPAslink|z}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Semivowel]]
|''w''<br />{{IPAslink|w}}
|
|
|''y''<br />{{IPAslink|j}}
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[liquid consonant|Liquid]]
| 
|
| colspan="2" |''la/ra''<br />[{{IPAlink|l}} ~ {{IPAlink|𝼈}}]
|
|
|
|}

Consonants in parentheses are marginal or found mainly in loanwords. The lateral is an approximant {{IPA|[l]}} word-initially and a flap {{IPA|[𝼈]}} medially.{{fix|text=source that it's reflexive?}}

If the more complex syllable onsets are analyzed as single consonants, the inventory is as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Chewa consonants (unitary analysis)
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="4" |[[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! colspan="3" |[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! colspan="3" |[[Velar consonant|Velar]]/[[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
!colspan="2" |{{small|plain}}
!{{small|[[Palatalization (phonetics)|palatal-ised]]}}
!{{small|[[Labialization|labial-ised]]}}
!{{small|plain}}
!{{small|[[Palatalization (phonetics)|palatal-ised]]}}
!{{small|[[Labialization|labial-ised]]}}
!{{small|plain}}
!{{small|[[Palatalization (phonetics)|palatal-ised]]}}
!{{small|[[Labialization|labial-ised]]}}
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|''m''<br />{{IPAslink|m}}||
|''my''<br />{{IPAslink|mʲ}}
|''mw''<br />{{IPAslink|mʷ}}
|''n''<br />{{IPAslink|n}}
|''ny''<br />{{IPAslink|ɲ}}
|
|''ng' ''<br />{{IPAslink|ŋ}}
|
|''ng'w'' <br />{{IPAslink|ŋʷ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="6" |[[Stop consonant|Stop]]
!<small>[[tenuis consonant|tenuis]]</small>
|''p''<br />{{IPAslink|p}}||
|''py''<br />{{IPAslink|pʲ}}
|''pw''<br />{{IPAslink|pʷ}}
|''t''<br />{{IPAslink|t}}
|''ty''<br />{{IPAslink|tʲ}}
|''tw''<br />{{IPAslink|tʷ}}
|''k''<br />{{IPAslink|k}}
|
|''kw''<br />{{IPAslink|kʷ}}
|
|-
!<small>[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
|''ph''<br />{{IPAslink|pʰ}}||
|
|''phw''<br />{{IPAslink|pʷʰ}}
|''th''<br />{{IPAslink|tʰ}}
|''thy''<br />{{IPAslink|tʲʰ}}
|''thw''<br />{{IPAslink|tʷʰ}}
|''kh''<br />{{IPAslink|kʰ}}
|
|''khw''<br />{{IPAslink|kʷʰ}}
|
|-
!<small>[[Prenasalized consonant|Pre-nasalized]]<br />[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
|''mph''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐpʰ}}||
|
|''mphw''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐpʷʰ}}
|''nth''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿtʰ}}
|''nthy''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿtʲʰ}}
|''nthw''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿtʷʰ}}
|''nkh''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑkʰ}}
|
|''nkhw''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑkʷʰ}}
|
|-
!rowspan=2|<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|''b''<br />{{IPAslink|ɓ}}||
|
|''bw''<br />{{IPAslink|ɓʷ}}
|''d''<br />{{IPAslink|ɗ}}
|''dy''<br />{{IPAslink|ɗʲ}}
|''dw''<br />{{IPAslink|ɗʷ}}
|rowspan=2|''g''<br />{{IPAslink|ɡ}}
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|''gw''<br />{{IPAslink|ɡʷ}}
|
|-
|(''b'')<br />{{IPAslink|b}}||
|
|
|(''d'')<br />{{IPAslink|d}}
|
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Prenasalized consonant|Pre-nasalized]]<br />[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|''mb''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐb}}||
|
|''mbw''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐbʷ}}
|''nd''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿd}}
|''ndy''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿdʲ}}
|''ndw''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿdʷ}}
|''ng''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑɡ}}
|
|''ngw''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵑɡʷ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="5" |[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
!<small>[[tenuis consonant|tenuis]]</small>
| ||
|
|
|''ts''<br />{{IPAslink|t͡s}}
|
|''tsw''<br />{{IPAslink|t͡sʷ}}
|
|''ch''<br />{{IPAslink|t͡ʃ}}
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
| ||
|''ps''<br />{{IPAslink|pʃʲ}}
|
|
|
|
|
|''tch''<br />{{IPAslink|t͡ʃʰ}}
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Prenasalized consonant|Pre-nasalized]]<br />[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
| ||
|''mps''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐpsʲ}}
|
|
|
|
|
|''ntch''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿt͡ʃʰ}}
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| ||
|''bz''<br />{{IPAslink|bʒʲ}}
|
|''dz''<br />{{IPAslink|d͡z}}
|
|''(dzw)''<br />{{IPAslink|d͡zʷ}}
|
|''j''<br />{{IPAslink|d͡ʒ}}
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Prenasalized consonant|Pre-nasalized]]<br />[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| ||
|''mbz''<br />{{IPAslink|ᵐbzʲ}}
|
|''(ndz)''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿd͡z}}
|
|
|
|''nj''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿd͡ʒ}}
|
|
|-
! rowspan="4" |[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
!<small>[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
| ||''f''<br />{{IPAslink|f}}
|''(fy)''<br />{{IPAslink|fʲ}}
|''fw''<br />{{IPAslink|fʷ}}
|''s''<br />{{IPAslink|s}}
|''sh''<br />{{IPAslink|ʃ}}
|''sw''<br />{{IPAslink|sʷ}}
|
|
|
|(''h'')<br />{{IPAslink|h}}
|-
!<small>[[Prenasalized consonant|Pre-nasalized]]</small>
| ||''mf''<br />{{IPAslink|ᶬf}}
|
|
|''ns''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿs}}
|
|''nsw''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿsʷ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|(''ŵ'')<br />{{IPAslink|β}}||''v''<br />{{IPAslink|v}}
|''(vy)''<br />{{IPAslink|vʲ}}
|''vw''<br />{{IPAslink|vʷ}}
|''z''<br />{{IPAslink|z}}
|''(zy)''<br />{{IPAslink|zʲ~ʒ}}
|''zw''<br />{{IPAslink|zʷ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
!<small>[[Prenasalized consonant|Pre-nasalized]]<br />[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
| ||''mv''<br />{{IPAslink|ᶬv}}
|
|
|''nz''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿz}}
|
|''nzw''<br />{{IPAslink|ⁿzʷ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Lateral approximant]] ~ [[lateral flap|flap]]
| ||
|
|
|''l/r''<br />[{{IPAlink|l}} ~ {{IPAlink|𝼈}}]
|
|''lw/rw''<br />[{{IPAlink|lʷ}} ~ {{IPAlink|𝼈ʷ}}]
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
| ''w''<br />{{IPAslink|w}}||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|''y''<br />{{IPAslink|j}}
|
|
|}

The spelling used here is that introduced in 1973,<ref>See Kishindo (2001), p.267.</ref> which is the one generally in use in the Malawi at the present time, replacing the ''Chinyanja Orthography Rules'' of 1931.<ref>Atkins (1950), p.200.</ref>

'''Notes on the consonants'''

*In most words, Chewa ''b'' and ''d'' (when not [[Prenasalized consonant|prenasalised]]) are pronounced [[Implosive consonant|implosively]], by sucking slightly.<ref>Scotton & Orr (1980), p.15; Atkins (1950), p.208.</ref> However, there is also a plosive ''b'' and ''d'', mostly found in foreign words, such as {{lang|ny|bála}} 'bar', {{lang|ny|yôdúla}} 'expensive' (from Afrikaans {{lang|af|duur}}) (in contrast to the implosive ''b'' and ''d'' in native words such as {{lang|ny|bála}} 'wound' and {{lang|ny|yôdúla}} 'which cuts').<ref>Downing & Mtenje (2018), p. 43.</ref> A plosive ''d'' is also found in {{lang|ny|kudínda}} 'to stamp (a document)' and {{lang|ny|mdidi}} 'confident step'.
*The affricate sounds ''bv'' and ''pf'' were formerly commonly heard but are now generally replaced by ''v'' and ''f'', e.g. {{lang|ny|(b)vúto}} 'problem', {{lang|ny|(p)fúpa}} 'bone'. In the {{lang|ny|Mtanthauziramawu wa Chinyanja}} dictionary produced by the University of Malawi, the spellings ''bv'' and ''pf'' are not used in any of the headwords, but ''bv'' is used two or three times in the definitions.
*The combination ''bz'' is described by Atkins as an "alveolar-labialised fricative".<ref>Atkins (1950), p.208.</ref> The combination sounds approximately as {{IPA|[bʒ]}} or {{IPA|[bʒʲ]}}. Similarly ''ps'' is pronounced approximately as {{IPA|[pʃ]}} or {{IPA|[pʃʲ]}}.
*The sounds written ''ch'', ''k'', ''p'' and ''t'' are pronounced less forcibly than the English equivalents and generally without aspiration. Stevick notes that in relaxed speech, the first three are sometimes replaced with the voiced fricatives {{IPA|[ʒ]}}, {{IPA|[ɣ]}} and {{IPA|[β]}}, and ''t'' can be heard as a voiced flap.<ref>Stevick (1965), p.xii.</ref> In the combination ''-ti'' (e.g. {{lang|ny|angáti?}} 'how many'), ''t'' may be lightly aspirated.
*''h'' is also used in Chewa but mostly only in loanwords such as {{lang|ny|hotéra}} 'hotel', {{lang|ny|hátchi}} 'horse', {{lang|ny|mswahála}} 'monthly allowance given to chiefs'.
*''j'' is described by Scotton and Orr as being pronounced "somewhat more forward in the mouth" than in English and as sounding "somewhere between an English ''d'' and ''j''".<ref>Scotton & Orr (1980), p.18.</ref>
*''l'' and ''r'' are the same phoneme,<ref>Atkins (1950), p.207; Stevick et al. (1965), p.xii; Downing & Mtenje (2018), p. 43, quoting Price (1946).</ref> representing a retroflex tap {{IPA|[𝼈]}}, approximately between {{IPA|[l]}} and {{IPA|[r]}}. According to the official spelling rules, the sound is written as 'r' after 'i' or 'e', otherwise 'l'. It is also written with 'l' after a prefix containing 'i', as in {{lang|ny|lilíme}} 'tongue'.<ref>Kishindo (2001), p.268.</ref><ref>See also Chirwa (2008).</ref> 
*''m'' is syllabic {{IPA|[m̩]}} in words where it is derived from ''mu'', e.g. {{lang|ny|m'balé}} 'relative' (3 syllables), {{lang|ny|mphunzitsi}} 'teacher' (4 syllables), {{lang|ny|anáḿpatsa}} 'he gave him' (5 syllables). However, in class 9 words, such as {{lang|ny|mphátso}} 'gift', {{lang|ny|mbale}} 'plate', or {{lang|ny|mfíti}} 'witch', and also in the class 1 word {{lang|ny|mphaká}} 'cat', the ''m'' is pronounced very short and does not form a separate syllable. In Southern Region dialects of Malawi, the syllabic ''m'' in words like {{lang|ny|mkángo}} 'lion' is pronounced in a [[homorganic consonants|homorganic]] manner, i.e. {{IPA|[ŋ̍.ká.ᵑɡo]}} (with three syllables), but in the Central Region, it is pronounced as it is written, i.e. {{IPA|[m̩.ká.ᵑɡo]}}.<ref>Atkins (1950), p.209.</ref>
*''n'', in combinations such as ''nj'', {{transliteration|ny|ntch}}, ''nkh'' etc., is assimilated to the following consonant, that is, it is pronounced {{IPA|[ɲ]}} or {{IPA|[ŋ]}} as appropriate. In words of class 9, such as {{lang|ny|njóka}} 'snake' or {{lang|ny|nduná}} 'minister' it is pronounced very short, as part of the following syllable. However, [n] can also be syllabic, when it is contracted from ''ndi'' 'it is' or ''ndí'' 'and', e.g. {{lang|ny|ń'kúpíta}} 'and to go'; also in the remote past continuous tense, e.g. {{lang|ny|ankápítá}} 'he used to go'. In some borrowed words such as {{lang|ny|bánki}} or {{lang|ny|íntaneti}} the combinations ''nk'' and ''nt'' with non-syllabic ''n'' can be found but not in native words.
*''ng'' is pronounced {{IPA|[ŋɡ]}} as in 'finger' and ''ng’'' is pronounced {{IPA|[ŋ]}} as in 'singer'. Both of these consonants can occur at the beginning of a word: {{lang|ny|ngoma}} '[[kudu]]', {{lang|ny|ng'ombe}} 'cow or [[ox]]'.
*''w'' in the combinations ''awu'', ''ewu'', ''iwu'', ''owa'', ''uwa'' (e.g. {{lang|ny|mawú}} 'voice', {{lang|ny|msewu}} 'road', {{lang|ny|liwú}} 'sound', {{lang|ny|lowa}} 'enter', {{lang|ny|duwa}} 'flower') although often written is generally not pronounced.<ref>Atkins (1950), p.204.</ref> Combinations such as ''gwo'' or ''mwo'' are not found; thus {{lang|ny|ngwábwino}} (short for {{lang|ny|ndi wábwino}})<ref>Downing & Mtenje (2017), p. 99.</ref> 'he is good' but {{lang|ny|ngóípa}} (short for {{lang|ny|ndi wóípa}}) 'he is bad'; {{lang|ny|mwalá}} 'stone' but {{lang|ny|móto}} 'fire'. 
*''ŵ'', a "closely lip-rounded {{IPA|[w]}} with the tongue in the close-i position",<ref>Atkins (1950), p.205.</ref> was formerly used in Central Region dialects but is now rarely heard, usually being replaced by 'w'. ("It is doubtful whether the majority of speakers have {{IPA|[β]}} in their phoneme inventory" (Kishindo).)<ref>Kishindo (2001), p.270.</ref> The symbol 'ŵ' is generally omitted in current publications such as newspapers.<ref>[https://mwnation.com/section/chichewa/ The Nation online news in Chichewa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124450/https://mwnation.com/section/chichewa/ |date=2019-02-09 }}; [https://zodiakmalawi.com/business-news/content/28-nkhani-m-chichewa Zodiak Radio online news in Chichewa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209134318/https://zodiakmalawi.com/business-news/content/28-nkhani-m-chichewa |date=2019-02-09 }}.</ref> In the dialects that use the sound, it is found only before a, i, and e, while before o and u it becomes {{IPA|[w]}}.<ref name=Watkins13>Watkins (1937), p.13.</ref> To some linguists (e.g. Watkins) it sounds similar to the Spanish {{IPA|[β]}}.<ref name=Watkins13 />
*''zy'' (as in {{lang|ny|zyoliká}} 'be upside down like a bat') can be pronounced {{IPA|[ʒ]}}.<ref>Mchombo (2004), p.10.</ref>