ABANYALA BA KAKAMEGA - SYLLABLES IN OLUNYALA (K)

THE SYLLABLE STRUCTURES OF OLUNYALA (K)

Abanyala ba Kakamega Living Academic Paper 12- Olunyala (K)

Balovera Edwin Ongacho

Abstract.^[1]

Sounds are combined in different ways in languages of the world to form different pronounceable units known as the syllables.

The aim of this project article was to examine the syllable structure types that occur in Olunyala and their constitution and document the findings as a living online document.

The article identifies the syllable structures of Olunyala (K) by showing the sound segments that constitute each of them. The data was analyzed using Generative CV phonology theory which enabled the establishment of the syllable structure of Olunyala(K) in order to establish the prevalent positions for each syllable type in words. 

This article observes that Olunyala (K) has both univalent and ambivalent syllable structures and further provides interpretations to the actual phonemic status of the various ambivalent (ambiguous) structures. In order to get the right respondents and the required data, purposive sampling technique was used to identify native Olunyala (K) speakers and to categorize the data into the required categories for analysis. Examples of words, from all word classes, in which these sound segments occur are provided in order to show their positions in the syllable structures of Olunyala (K). Many words were analyzed in order to give the study a wide data range. A descriptive research design was used to put the various word classes into different categories for analysis. From the data analysis, Olunyala (K) has a  open syllable structures and each of them does not accept codas. The Olunyala (K) syllable structures are ten: V, VV, CV, NCV, CGV, GGV, NCGV, NGGV, CVV and CCV.

It was observed that not all the syllable structure types can occur in all word positions in Olunyala (K). The study is important for it contributes to an objective generalization to and comparison to other Luhyia dialects and Bantu languages in general. A study on the branching syllable onset to capture the composition of the internally complex onset in other Luhyia and Bantu dialects in order to come up with CV tier trees that are specific to Bantu languages is recommended.   

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Olunyala (K) is one of the Luhya continuum of dialects spoken in the Western part of Kenya, East Africa. The K in brackets stands for the Olunyala spoken in Kakamega and differentiates it from the variety that is spoken in Busia which scholars refer to as Olunyala (B). The aim of this study was to find out the syllable types and word positions of the syllable structures of Olunyala(K). This study focuses on the phonological syllable because it is a structural unit which is capable of showing the internal structure of a word and the boundaries of syllables within it. The phonological syllable is formed by combining the consonant (C) and vowel (V) elements, combinations of which differ from one language to another (Hooper, 1976). According to Kenstowicz (1994), not all possible sound segments in a language exist due to accidental gaps.  

The identification and description of the syllable is important in any language because this is what enables the determination of other phonological processes that are larger than the segment (Bauer,1988). The objective of this study is guided by the assumption that even when languages have the same sounds in their phonemic inventories, the combinations of these sounds differ. This assumption is the same for Olunyala (K). 

The argument regarding the complex syllable onset in this study is that an onset is complex when it is composed of sound segments that are distinct in the phonetic inventory of that language. It is from this standpoint that the prenasalized syllable onset is discussed as a single sound segment with the CV syllable in Olunyala(K). The argument for this as a distinct syllable type is based on the observation by other scholars on Bantu languages who single out the CGV syllable type (Savala, 2005, Nandelenga, 2013). Other syllable types that have more than one sound segment are explored using data from Olunyala (K). The study was carried out in Navakholo Sub-county of Kakamega County because that is where Olunyala (K) is predominantly spoken.  

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

Generative phonology came to recognize the syllable as an essential concept in understanding phonological structure. Discovery of the syllable structure of any language involves looking at the phonological sequences of specific syllable configurations (Gussmann, 2002). The nucleus is the central element of the syllable ( Kreidler, 2001). This means that each language cannot avoid the nucleus in the formation of its syllables. The nucleus of the syllable is formed by a vowel although there are some languages in which any segment, and in others, the semi-vowel can form a nucleus when it syllabifies ( Prince and Smolensky, 1993). In Olunyala (K), like in most Bantu languages, the nucleus can only be formed by a vowel and semi- vowels are pure consonants which form the onset rather than the nucleus ( Etakwa, 2010; Nanbdelenga, 2013). Olunyala(K), like most Bantu languages, has an open syllable structure which does not allow codas ( Angogo, 1989; Ingonga,1990; Mbugua,1990; Ochwaya,1992; Sumba, 1992, Savala, 2005, Nandelenga, 2013). In addition, the dialect, like most Bantu languages and Luhyia dialects, does not also allow diphthongs in its syllable structure and will use various phonological processes to eliminate them (Mutonyi, 2000; Wasike, 2004; Nandelenga, 2013).

Most Luhyia dialects have four syllable structures, namely, CV, V, CVV and CGV (CSV); for example, Lubukusu and Lwitakho, ( Savala, 2005, Nganga, 2008). The current study focuses on the CVV and V syllable structures, particularly at word medial position to find out the boundaries of the verb elements in the words in which they occur. This focus is guided by the observation by Etakwa, (2010) and Lwangale et al, (2016) that Olunyala(K) is one of the Luhyia dialects that has a lot of the V syllable structure. The V syllable structure at word medial position can easily be confused with the heavy syllable in the CVV syllable type. The observation by Oduor (2002) that in Dholuo, the VV syllable structure occurs word medially also holds true for Olunyala(K). However, the current study sought to show that in Olunyala(K), the VV syllable structure could easily be confused with the V syllable structure in which the vowel elements follow each other and yet they are syllabified in two distinct syllables in some of the words. The confusion is even more likely when the two vowel elements are similar. The current study is also meant to rule out the occurrence of diphthongs in Olunyala (K) because sequences with vowels elements that occur together can easily be confused with diphthongs. The syllabification of the V and CVV syllable types is discussed. The analysis of the two types of syllable structures in Olunyala(K) is as per Aronoff and Oehrle (1984) who posit that the difference between the phonologically long and short syllables can only be shown by looking at syllable boundaries. Most linguistic literature only refers to the diphthong and the long vowel while the current study shows that there is, also, the occurrence in which two vowels that follow each other fall in different syllables such as the word abaaba for attempt many approaches.  

3.0 METHODOLOGY

A descriptive research design was used to describe the syllable structures of Olunyala(K) and their prevalent word positions. The design enabled the researcher to categorize the data as per the research objectives so as to identify and analyze the syllable structures. Following Creswell ( 1994), the data was put into the various word categories and the syllable types identified. Purposive sampling was used to get the respondents from, Namirama village, Navakholo subcounty of Kakamega County. Eight respondents, a variety of recorded songs by Wambusi wa Musungu and the researcher’s speaker intuition were used to get the required data ( Kenstowicz, 1994). Data from Abanyala ba Mukhamba blogspot was greatly used. A total of 1050 words were used in the analysis: 300 nouns, 300 verbs, 150 adjectives, 150 adverbs, 50 pronouns, 50 prepositions, 25 conjunctions and 25 interjections. Though Milroy (1987) argues that large samples are not necessary in linguistic studies, the large sample was meant to give more credibility to the findings. These were further grouped into monosyllabic, disyllabic, trisyllabic and polysyllabic words so as to answer the objective on syllable position. The CV tier model proposed by Clements and Keyser (1983) was used to show and analyze the syllable types. 

4.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION IN RELATION TO VOWELS AND CONSONANT SOUND 

4.1 OLUNYALA VOWELS

To understand syllabification in Olunyala (K), it is imperative that we give a keen analysis to possible vowel sounds of Olunyala (K) sound system.

4.11 The vowel letters of Olunyala (K)

The vowel letters used to represent sounds in Olunyala (K) are only five.

Letter	Word example	Translation
a	abana alia	Children Is eating
e	etete  ebaka	Grasshopper Python
i	emaito  baisa	Groundnuts marry off
o	omusolo toola	Game, revenge Milk a lot of milk
u	taula  Lausa	Scoop a liquid Make grey

• NB
1. The letter 'i', and 'u' do not appear at start of Olunyala (K) words unless  is attached to /w/ or /y/.

4.12 Vowel sounds of Olunyala (K)

The following are the vowel sounds represented by the above vowel letters.

1. Short vowel sound from the five vowel letter of Olunyala (K) orthography.

Vowel	Word example	Translation
/a/	aka (those ones) amala (intestines)	/aka/ /amala/
/e/	embere (young one) ambemba (rumours)	/eᵐbere/ /eᵐbeᵐba/
/i/	emaito (groundnuts) omuimo (a ceremony)	/emaito/ /omuimo/
/o/	oluokha (spirogyra) eondo (pumpkin)	/oluoxa/ /eoⁿdo/
/u/	kaula (divide) taula (scoop)	/kaula/ /taula/

2. Long vowels sounds from each of the five vowel letters. At times the long vowel sound can be written as double letters for beginners of Olunyala (K) orthography.

Vowel	Word example	Translation
/a:/	olwala (finger) olwaala (is sick) amala (intestines) amaala (is smearing)	/olʷala/ /olʷa:la/ /amala/ /ama:la/
/e:/	embere (young) embeere (breasts) amabeere (milk) amabere (sorghum)	/eᵐbere/ /eᵐbe:re/ /amaβe:re/ /amaβere/
/i:/	Siima (like) Sima (extinguish) Tima (ran) Tiima (get confused)	/si:ma/ /sima /tima/ /ti:ma/
/o:/	Sola (play) Soola (revenge) Khola (remove tooth) Khola (do)	/sola/ /so:la/ /xo:la/ /xola/
/u:/	Kula (buy) Kuula (roof)	/kula/ /ku:la/

3. Vowels based on tone- Olunyala (K) is a tonal Language. All the short and long vowels of Olunyala (K) have two or more distinct vowel sounds based on tone. This is not indicated in orthography of words but realized during pronunciation
1. Short vowels such as the u in esifu can be /esifù/ meaning that which is dead or /esifú/ meaning that which is flour-like. Apart from many homographs that are tone marked, the past tense and present perfect of verbs have are distinguished by this tone.

Vowel	Minimal pairs	Translation
[á] [à]	Kakhupa [káxupa] Kakhupa [kàxupa]	beat me in past. beating me now.
[á] [à]	Enda [éⁿdá] Endá [eⁿdà] Enda [èndà]	Stomach Louse Dry wax
[í] [ì]	Sikha [sìxá] Sikha [sìxa] Sikha [si:xa]	be extinct Burry It is drowning
[ó] [ò]	mola [móla] mola [mólá] kola [mo:lá]	crawl Feel shy Apply thick oil
[ú] [ù]	khula [xulá] Khula [xùlá] Khula [xula] Khula [xúlà]	Grow On top of that one Uproot I am uprooting

2. Long vowels such as the /u:/ in olufuu can be [olufú:] meaning the blunt one or olufuu [olufú:] meaning a type of tree. This is different from olufu that can have /olufú/ meaning dust and /olufù/ meaning death.

Vowel	Minimal pairs	Translation
[á:] [à:]	endaana [eⁿdé:na] endaana [eⁿdà:na]	Child at birth. Young yam shoots
[é:] [è:]	oluseembe [olusè:ᵐbe] oluseembe [olusé:ᵐbe]	A type of a tree twig Hoarding disorder
[í:] [ì:]	olwiiki [olwì:ki] olwiiki [olwí:ki]	Waterfall rainbow Door
[ó:] [ò:]	koola [kó:la] koola [kò:la]	Come back Has arrived
[ú:] [ù:]	olufuu [olufú:] olufuu [olufù:]	Death  Type of plant

4.20 CONSONANT SOUND IN OLUNYALA (K)

To understand syllabification in Olunyala (K), it is imperative that the study gives an analysis of consonant sound inventory of Olunyala (K)

1. Single sound consonants- there are 14 single letter consonants that are used in Olunyala (K) orthography to represent consonant sounds. Letters q, v, x and z are not used in indigenous Olunyala (K). The single letter consonants account for the many syllables in the language. 
1. Letter b pronounced /β/ as in abebi /a.βe.βi/ for thieves, abene /a.βe.ne/ meaning themselves. The letter b is pronounced as /b/ in borrowed words only; though at times devoiced for example ebesini meaning basin can be /ebesini/ or /epesini/. However, in some words, the <b> undergoes olunyalanization to become /β/ as in esiberiti /esiβeriti/ for a matchbox.
2. Letter f pronounced /f/ as in efuliefu /e.fu.lje.fu/ for dull coloured, efukho /efuxo/ for mole.
3. Letter h pronounced /h/ as in okhuhera /o.xu.he.ra/ for to breath or to conceive or to be of right quantity. When the h letter is in initial position, it is unaspirated. This makes the vowel after it to sound mere prominent eg hano meaning here can come out as [h˭ano]  giving it [ano].
4. Letter k pronounced /k/ as in ekorokocho /e.ko.ro.ko.ʧo/ for cart, kona /kona/ for sleep.
5. Letter l pronounced /l/ as in okhulala /o.xu.la.la/; /o.xu.lla/ for roasted badly.
6. Letter l also pronounced /ɾ/ as in oulimbo /o.u.li.ᵐbo/ for latex glue, okhulimalima /o.xu.li.ma.li.ma/ for dig habitually. It is similar to /l/ but uniquely produced as a flap in Olunyala (K).
7. Letter m pronounced /m/ as in mama meaning mother, okhulomaloma /o.xu.lo.ma.lo.ma/ meaning to talk, mana /mana/ for then.
8. Letter n pronounced /n/ as in nina /ni.na/ meaning climb, noyu /noju/ for so and so.
9. Letter p pronounced /p/ as in esipupu /e.si.pu.pu/; /esippu/ for group. Take note of the <p> in opicha [opiʧa] and epicha. [epʰiʧa] are different since one is aspirated.
10. Letter r pronounced /r/ as in esichiriri /e.si.ʧi.ri.ri/; /e.si.ʧi.rri/ for cricket. Sierere /sie:rere/ for that made from small reeds called erere. The r syllable does not occur in initial position in all original Olunyala (K) words.
11. Letter s pronounced /s/ as in esisa /e.si.sa/; /e.ssa/for sorrow.
12. Letter t pronounced /t/ as in etete /e.te.te/ for grasshopper
13. Letter w pronounced /w/ as in wewecha /we.we.ʧa/for murmur.
14. Letter y pronounced /j/ as in yeya /je.ja/ for sweep, yino /jino/ for this. Also present as a vowel glide as in sierere /sjerere/ for let it hand as contrasted with sierere /si.e.re re/ for in a free empty manner
2. Indigenous Digraphs- there are  consonant letters that combine into digraphs sound to be realized as one consonant sound in many Indegenious words of Olunyala (K). The four are as below 
   

   Letter	Word example	Transcription
   CH as /ʧ/	esichakha (bush)  techa (block blow) Choma (pierce)	esiʧaxa/ /teʧa/ /ʧoma/
   KH as /x/	khola (do) Ekhe (fish smell) takha (search) esikhoso (splint)	/xola/ /exe/ /taxa/ /esixoso/
   NG' as /ŋ/	eng'ang'a (albis) eng'ala (turtle) eng'eni  (fish) ng'eng'a (gnaw) ng'ola (prophesy)	/eŋaŋa/ /eŋala/ /eɲeni/  /ɲeɲa/ /ɲola/
   NY as /ɲ/	enyungu (pot) khonya (help) nyanya (chew) nyika (be tight)	/eɲuⁿgu/ /xoɲa/ /ɲaɲa/ /ɲika/

3. Borrowed digraph- there are digraphs that come from borrowed words forming digraphs consonants in Olunyala (K) 
1. The s and h (sh) pronounced as a fricative postalveolar /ʃ/. This is not common in Olunyala (K) words as it is only found in borrowed and olunyalanized words: 
1. Eishi /eiiʃ/ interjection for disapproval. 
2. Shii, /ʃi:/ interjection for silencing.
3. Omusharuti /omuʃaruti/ for a rope whip.
4. Omushipi /omuʃipi/ for a belt.
2. The t and h (th) /θ/ pronounced as one sound as seen in borrowed  words. However, the /θ/ is usually released as /t/ in borrowed and Olunyalanized words.
1. Thoo /θo:/ an interjection of disapproval
2. Ethamosi /eθamosi/ /etamosi/ for a thermos
4. Consonant blends from nasals- there are consonant sound segments which are released as consonant blends and not separate consonant sounds.
1. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter b, which does not exist as an independent sound in Olunyala (K), can combine with nasal sounds /m/ to form a bilabial implosive nosal compound sound segment released as one consonant sound. The m with b (mb) is realized as /ᵐb/ as in embemba /eᵐbeᵐba/ for rumours, mberese /ᵐberese/ for give me or make me sorrowful and embere /eᵐbere/ for young one.
2. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter d, which does not exist as an independent sound in Olunyala (K), can combine with a nasal sounds /n/ to form a new alveolar nasal compound sound segment released as one consonant sound. The n with d (nd) is realized as /ⁿd/ as in enda /eⁿda/ for stomach or louse, endia /eⁿdja/for am eating or ones mannerism of eating and omuanda /omuaⁿda/for road.
3. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter j, which does not exist in Olunyala (K), can combine with nosal sound /n/ to form a new sound segment. The n and j (nj) is then realized as /ⁿdʒ/ as in enjaka /eⁿdʒaka/for marijuana, emianjo /emjaⁿdʒo/for melody sticks and enjukha /eⁿdʒuxa/for a snake. 
4. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter g, which does not exist in Olunyala (K), can combine with nosal sound /n/ to form a new sound segment. The n and g (ng) is realized as /ᵑɡ/ as in e.ngo for a home, e.ngo.bi for placenta and ngochwiswe /ᵑɡoʧʷisʷe/for I do not know, engo /eᵑgo/for home and engeso /eᵑgeso/for sickle 
5. The voiceless sound for letters ch can combine with nosal sound for n (nch) to be realized as /ⁿʧ/as in enchu /eⁿʧu/for a house, enchaba /eⁿʧaβa/for I am digging or tobacco and nchebe /ⁿʧeβe/ for ask me. 
5. Consonant blends from glide /w/ and /j/: 
1. The /w/ Glides- The glide /w/ blends with many other consonants to give rise to contrastive consonant sounds. For example [esa] for caterpillar is contrastive with [esʷa] for body hair. When the w is combined with a consonant, the two sound segments, being released together, blend into a new labialized sound segment that may qualify to be an independent consonant sound. This blending leads to the following eighteen sound segments worth considering as single consonants when dealing with syllable analysis in Olunyala (K).
1. fw /fʷ/ as in fwana /fʷa.na/ for resemble, afwiye /a.fʷi.je/ for has died and efwafwa /e.fʷa.fʷa/for wondering jew.
2. kw /kʷ/ as in okhukwa /oxukʷa/ for to fall, kweya /kʷe.ja/ for a huge person sweeping and esikwakwata /e.kʷa.kʷa.ta/ for funnel.
3. lw /lʷ/as for amalwa /a.ma.lʷa/ for brew, lwakwa /lʷa.kʷa/ for it has fallen and alwala /a.lʷa.la/ for one being sick.
4. nw /nʷ/ as for nwana /nʷa.na/ for I am struggling, ewuunwa /e.wu.nʷa/ for bull, munenwa /mu.ne.nʷa/ for term father to a son and a father to wife use to show how they relate to each other.
5. mw into a nasal liquid bilabial sound /mʷ/ as in mwemwenda /mʷe.mʷe.ⁿda/for glow, omwiima /o.mʷ.i:.ma/ for character and emwo /e.mʷo/ for seed.
6. pw /pʷ/ as in pwoka /pʷo.ka/ for arriving incognito, esupupwi /e.su.pu.pʷi/ for horse, okhupwekukha /o.xu.pʷe.kuxa/for to bark and ekipwe /e.ki.pʷe/for jackal 
7. rw /rʷ/ as in okhulekherwa /o.xu.le.xe.rʷa/ for to be forgiven, okhwirwaacha /o.xʷi.rʷa:.ʧa/meaning to preach. The ‹rw› is never used in initial position of Olunyala (K) words
8. sw /sʷ/as in eswa /e.sʷa/ for white ant, esiswi /e.si.sʷi/for nest, swaka /sʷa.ka/for pound and swala /sʷa.la/for peddle.
9. tw /tʷ/as in etwaya /etʷaja/for cock, etwasi /etʷasi/ for female cow, twekhera /tʷexera/for making loose boom sound, namwitwitwi /namʷitʷitʷi/ for a type of cuckoo bird, okhutwara /oxutʷara/ for talking non-stop and   embetetwe /eᵐbetetʷe/for roasted corn seeds. 
10. yw /jʷ/as in ehaywa /e.ha.jʷa/ for axe, khaywa /xajʷa/for lack riches, amaywaywe /amajʷajʷe//for valley land.
11. chw /ʧʷ/as as in owuchwanjwanu /wu.ʧʷa.ᵑʧʷa.nu/ chwisa /ʧʷisa/ for tighten, oluchwara /oluʧʷara/ for watery dung and owukochwe /owukoʧʷe/ for big mushroom type.
12. khw /xʷ/as in khwesa /xʷe.sa/for pull, mukhwasi /muxʷasi/for brother-in-law, ekhwe /exʷe/ for body dirt and khwa /xʷa/for pay dowry.
13. mbw /ᵐbʷ/ as in embwa /e.ᵐbʷa/ for dog, mbwekho /ᵐbʷexo/ for leave me alone and embwaho /eᵐbʷaho/ for I am going home and okhuambwa /oxuaᵐbʷa/ for getting trapped or infected. 
14. nchwa /ⁿʧʷ/as in ochwinchwi /o.ʧʷi.ⁿʧʷi/ for wagtail. bird, nchwisise /ⁿʧʷisise/; /ⁿʧʷisse/ for I made it tight 
15. ndw /ⁿdʷ/ as in esirindwa  /e.si.ri.ⁿdʷa/for graveside heap, endwasi /eⁿdʷasi/ for allergy, lindwakho /liⁿdʷaxo/ for goodbye, and ndwaye for I became sick.  
16. ngw /ᵑɡʷ/as in engwe /e.ᵑɡʷe/ for leopard, ngwiye /ᵑɡʷije/ for I have fellen, engwa /eᵑɡʷa/ for I am falling, engwasule /eᵑɡʷasule/ for a type of snake hunting bird. 
17. ng'w /ŋʷ/ as in amang'wari  /a.ma.ŋʷa.ri/ for foot and mouth disease. Yimung'wa /yi.mu.ŋʷa/ for accept to be thrown in mouth one by one. 
18. njw /ⁿdʒʷ/ as in owuchwanjwanu /o.wu.ʧʷa.ⁿdʒʷa.nu/ for blackmail, ekhunjwe /exuⁿdʒʷe/ for African parrot and njwikhule /ⁿdʒʷixule/ for helping to offload from head. 
19. nyw /ɲʷ/ as for okhunywa /o.xu.ɲʷa/for to drink or score, okhunywana /oxuɲʷana/ for to soak completely, esiminywi /esimiɲʷi/for a chick.
2. The /j/ glides- this occurs in some words when short vowel /i/ is followed by another vowel.
1. Kia as in kiasi /kiasi/ for the big ones in KWA- KI noun class that are at the bottom. Kiasi /kjasi/ for the big ones for what use.
2. lia as for liakhupa /ljaxupa/ a noun in the LI-KA class has just beaten. Liakhupa for noun in the LI-KA class has just beaten me. 
3. Mia as in olumia /olumia/ get determined. Olumia /olumja/ for one hundred note.
4. Piu as in omupiulo /omupjulo/ for any vegetable that make ugali to rush into and omupiulo /o.mu.pi.u.lo/ for sound of a chick in stress.
5. Ria as in eria /eria/ for marriage and eria /erja/ for fearful respect.
6. Sia as in sialia /sjalia/ for it ate and sialia /sialia/ for let s/he eat. Siakhina /sjaxina/ for a noun in class of SI - BI danced and siakhina /siaxina/ for let it dance.
7. Tio as in omutiomera /omutjomera/ for chicken dung contrasted with omutiomera /omutiomera/ for talk to him or her in scolding manner.  
8. Yie for yiyie /jjie/ for it is his or hers and yiyie /jje/ for I got burned- also njiye. 

5.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION IN RELATION TO OLUNYALA SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

5.11 The V syllable in Olunyala (K)

All the vowel in Olunyala (K) can form the zero onset or onsetless syllable (Ø). This has only one short vowel nucleus. This zero onset syllable can be at the beginning, within or at the end of a word.

1. The V syllable from short vowels
1. a as /a/ 
1. Noun as in amani /a.ma.ni/ meaning energy or a lot of liver, andu /a.ⁿdu/ for it would have been better.
2. Verb as in lia /li.a/ meaning eat
3. Adjective akhatiti /a.xa.ti.ti/ meaning a small one. Omuani /o.mu.a.ni/ for a generous giver.
4. Pronoun ano /a.no/ meaning here.
5. Adverb as malia /ma.li.a/ meaning in an eating or conning manner.
6. Conjunctions as in akachali /a.ka.ʧa.li/ meaning but. 
7. Preposition .
2. e as /e/
1. Noun  as in enani /e.na.ni/ meaning ogre.
2. Verb as in lie /li.e/ meaning you eat, agenda /a.e.nda/ s/he is worrying.
3. Adjective as in esifuliefu /e.si.fu.lje.fu/ that which is dull coloured.
4. Pronoun efwe /e.fʷe/ meaning us.
5. Adverb as in masiekera /ma.si.e.ke.ra/; /ma.sje.kera/ meaning in a limping manner. Sierere /si.e.re.re/ in a free empty manner.
6. Conjunctive enyuma wa /e.ɲu.ma‿wa/ meaning apart from
7. Preposition emberi /e.ᵐbe.ri/ meaning in front of
3. i as /i/ 
1. Noun as in eito /e.i.to/ for ostrich.
2. Verb as in okhusoiya /o.xu.so.i.ja/ meaning to bribe
3. Adjective as in emboiywa /e.ᵐbo.i.jwa/ for that which is gentle- a minimal pair to emboywa /e.ᵐbojwa/for that which can be tied.
4. Pronoun as in yinoino /ji.no.i.no/ meaning this specific one
5. Adverb as in masoiya /ma.so.i.ja/ meaning in a corrupt manner.
6. Conjunctive as in naine /na.i.ne/ meaning what of
7. Preposition- NA
4. o as /o/ 
1. Noun as in owoni /o.wo.ni/ meaning sin. Omuolo /o.mu.o.lo/ meaning a person who is rotten a minimal pair to omuolo /o.mʷo.lo/ meaning a tool for cutting grass.
2. Verb as in khondiola /xoⁿdi.o.la/ for ogle
3. Adjective as omulamu in omulamu /o.mu.la.mu/ for one who is alive.
4. Pronoun ono /o.no/ meaning this person. Ao /a.o/ for there.
5. Adverb as in makhondiola /ma.xo.ⁿdi.o.la/ meaning in an ogling way.
6. Conjunction nao /na.o/; /na.ho/ meaning or
7. Preposition as in mbachao ne /ᵐba.ʧa.o‿ne/ in lieu of
5. u as /u/ 
1. Noun  as in amakhaukhau /a.ma.xa.u.xa.u/ for types of wild pears
2. Verb as in kaula /ka.u.la/ for dividing ugali for sharing
3. Adjective as in esikaule /e.si.ka.u.le/ that which has been divided for sharing
4. Adverb as in makaula  /ma.ka.u.la/ in a dividing manner.
5. Conjunctions as in aukhala /a.u.xa.la/ meaning instead.
6. Preposition as aundi /a.u.ⁿdi/ meaning another place.
7. Pronoun NA
2. The V syllable from tone marked vowels
1. a as /à/ or /á/
1. Noun as in akaka /à.ka.ka/ for massage gently and akaka /á.ka.ka/ for these here
2. e as /é/ or /è/
1. Noun  as in enda /è.ⁿda/ for lice. Then enda /é.ⁿda / for stomach. Then enda /éⁿdá/ for tree epicuticular wax.
3. o as /ò/ or /ó/
1. Noun as in olwasa /olʷà.sa/ for a tooth gap and olwasa /o.lʷá.sa/ for nursing the sick.

5.12 The VV syllable in Olunyala (K)

This is also taken as the heavy V syllable structure because the long vowel is looked at as V. However, since the V and VV are contrastive in some words in Olunyala (K), then VV syllables can be said to be present in the language. The VV occurs in the same syllable because the syllable concerned is a heavy one by virtue of having a 

long vowel. In Generative CV Phonology, length, which is constituted by the timing units of the C or V elements in a syllable, is what determines syllable weight. In Olunyala (K), this syllable occurs in word initial position.

1. aa as /a:/ 
1. Verb as in aana /a:na/ meaning s/he is giving which is contrastive with ana /meaning a type of mooing cattle in need. Also aambia /a:ᵐbi.a/ for s/he is lighting as contrasted with ambia for you light.
2. ee as /e:/
1. Verb as in eendia /e:ⁿdi.a/ meaning I am eating. This contrasts with endia /e.ⁿdi.a/ meaning ones mannerism of eating. 
3. oo as /o:/ 
1. Verb as oonga /o:ⁿga/ meaning absent onesel 

However, it is worth noting there are some few words with double vowel sounds that may belong to separate syllables

1. Abaaba /a.βa.a.βa/ for have no  focus contrastive with abaaba [a.βá:.βá] for those one and ababa [a.βà:.βá] for grope using your palm.
2. Alaala /a.la.a.la/ for right over there contrastive with alaala /a.lá:lá/ for help the needy and alaala /a.là:là/ for get accustomed to a vice.
3. Moola /mo.o.la/ for apply a lot of body oil contrastive with moola /mo:la/ an idiophone for moo.
4. Soola /so.o.la/ for pull in item fro the rest contrastive with soola /so:la/ intercede to help.
5. Toola /to.o.la/ for milk a lot

5.13 The CV syllable in Olunyala (K)

This study posits that Olunyala (K) has CV syllable structure. The occurrence of the CV syllable structure is very high in Olunyala (K) since the onset can be formed by any of the consonants that occur in the phonemic inventory of the language. This is usually composed of a vowel nucleus and a consonant onset.

1. V= Vowel nucleus.
2. C= the Consonant onset

a) The vowel nucleus in the CV

1. The short and the long vowels form the nucleus from the vowel sound in the CV syllable structure.
1. /a:/ for example we have olwala /o.lwa.la/ for finger then olwaala /o.lwa:.la/ for you are sick. Then amala as /a.ma.la/ and amaala /a.ma:.la/ for smearing.
2. /e:/ for example we have amabere /a.ma.βe.re/ for sorghum and amabeere /a.ma.βe:.re/ for milk. Then embere as /e.ᵐbe.re/ for the young and embeere /e.ᵐbe:.re/ for breasts. 
3. /i:/ for example we have sima /si.ma/ for extinguish fire and siima /si:.ma/ for I love. Then omwikho as /o.mʷi.xo/ for a cooking stick and omwiikho as /o.mʷi:.xo/ meaning a relative, yima /ji.ma/ for you stand and yiima /ji:ma/ for hunt, tima /ti.ma/ for run and tiima /to:.ma/for get confused.
4. /o:/ for example we have mola /ʧo.la/ for plug vegetable leaves and choola /ʧo:la/ for bewitch by picking a item. Then loba /lo.βa/  for refuse and looba /lo:.βɑ/ ask for  for a debt payment.
5. /u:/ for example we have kula /ku.la/ for buy and kuula as /ku:.la/ for roof.  Then we lave embula /eᵐbula/ for wax and embuula /eᵐbu:lɑ/ meaning I am threshing or I am revealing. Fuma /fu.ma/ for be praised and fuuma /fu:.ma/ for cover.
2. The tone marked vowels can also form the nucleus in the CV syllables Olunyala (K) is a tonal Language. Thus, all the short and long vowels have two or more distinct vowel sounds based on tone. This is not indicated in orthography of words but realized during pronunciation.
1. [à], [á] and [à:], [á:] 
1. Kakhupa /káxupa] s/he beat me. Kakhupa /kaxupa/ s/he beat it some time back. kakhupa /kàxupa] s/he is beating me now.
2. Kaala /kà:la/for remain naive and kaala /ká:la/ for s/he made a place to sleep. Naala /ná;la/ for I made a place to sleep sometime back or naala /nà:la/ for I am making place to sleep now 
2. [è], [é] and [è:], [é:] 
1. enda [è.ndà] louse then enda /é.ndá/ stomach. Also amateche finger nails then amateche threshed sorghum refuse.
2. Neenya for I wanted some time back and neenya for I want it now.
3. [ì], [í] and [ì], [í]
1. Sikha [sixá] get extinct, sikha [sìxa] you bury and sikha [síxa] an item in noun class of SI- BI is drowning; I am burying.
2. Siimba to mean maybe if I am not and siimba to mean I am swelling or I am swelling. Siima /si:ma/ for you love and siima /sí:ma/ for I love.
4. [ò], [ó] and [ò:], [ó:]
1. Ewunyolo [ewuɲòlo] in luo land and Ewunyolo [ewuɲólo] at a place with plenty to get
2. Moola /mò:la/ for you apply quantity oil on skin and moola /mó:la/ for I am applying more oil on skin.
5. [ù], [ú] and [ù], [ú]
1. Nuna [nùna] you suckle and Nuna [núna] I am suckling. 
2. Khuula as [xú:la] for I am uprooting and Khuula as [xù:la] for you do the uprooting. 

b. The consonant onset in CV

The following consonant sounds are used as syllable onsets in Olunyala (K). 

1. Letter b pronounced as /β/
1. Noun abebi /a.βe.βi/ meaning thieves. 
2. Verb beka /βe.ka/ meaning shave.
3. Adjective olubesemu  /oluβemu/ meaning red one.
4. Pronoun abo /aβo/ meaning those people.
5. Adverb sibibiibi /si.βi.βi:βi/ in the worst manner.
6. Conjunctive bachi
7. Interjection baye
2. Letter f pronounced /f/ 
1. Noun efuu /e.fu.u/ for hippopotamus 
2. Verb fua /fu.a/ for blow air.
3. Adjective esifuliefu /e.si.fu.li.e.fu:/ for full coloured.
4. Pronoun efwe /e.fʷe/ meaning us.
5. Adverb as in sifwabakani /si.fʷa.βa.ka.ni/ meaning in unplanned manner.
6. Conjunctions
7. Prepositions 
3. Letter h pronounced /h/. In most words, when the h letter is in initial position, it is unaspirated.
1. Noun esihani /e.si.ha.ni./ meaning a hanger
2. Verb hana /ha.na/ meaning give give.
3. Adjective as in esihere /e.si.he.re/ meaning that which is young.
4. Pronoun hano /ha.no/ meaning here
5. Adverb sihere /si.he.re/ meaning in childlike manner.
6. Conjunctions naho ta meaning nor
7. Prepositions as in hasi /hasi/ meaning down.
4. Letter k pronounced /k/ as in 
1. Noun ekorokocho /e.ko.ro.ko.ʧo/ meaning a cart.
2. Verb as in kona /ko.na/ meaning sleep.
3. Adjective as in omukali /o.mu.ka.li/ meaning big.
4. Pronoun as in ako /a.ko/ meaning those ones
5. Adverb as in makona /ma.ko.na/ meaning in sleeping manner.
6. Conjunctions 
7. Interjection as in mako /mako/ meaning what a shock.
8. Prepositions hamukulu meaning up
5. Letter l pronounced /l/
1. Noun amalia /a.ma.li.a/ meaning marriages
2. Verb lala /la.la/ meaning get roasted badly. 
3. Adjective emali /e.ma.li/ meaning black one.
4. Pronoun ola /o.la/ meaning that person.
5. Adverb as in silwaye /si.lʷa.je/ meaning in a sickly manner
6. Conjunction as in eluveka nende /elubekan ende/ meaning besides.
7. Prepositions hamukulu /ha.mu.ku.lu/ meaning up.
6. Letter l pronounced /ɾ/. It is similar to /l/ but uniquely produced as a flap.
1. Noun omuloho /o.mu.lo.ho/ for hook
2. Verb Lima /lima/ for dig
3. Adjective omukhulu /o.mimxu.lu/ for elderly.
4. Pronoun ala /a.la/ for over there.
5. Adverb email /e.ma.li/ for black.
6. Conjunctions /akachali/ for but
7. Prepositions hamukulu /ha.mu.ku.lu/ for up
7. Letter m pronounced /m/ 
1. Noun mama /ma.ma/ for mother
2. Verb lomaloma /lo.ma.lo.ma/ for talk
3. Adjective isiniufu /e.si.mi.u.fu/
4. Pronoun omuene meaning self
5. Adverb mafumala in a down facing manner
6. Conjunctions as in mana meaning then.
7. Prepositions as in hamukulu meaning up.
8. Letter n pronounced as /n/
1. Noun as in esini /esini/ for liver.
2. Verb as in nina /nina/ for climb.
3. Adjective as in nasikokhe /nasikoxe/ for grey.
4. Pronoun as for niye for him or her
5. Adverb sinenga meaning like a frog.
6. Conjunctions  namwe for or, ne meaning with, mana meaning then
7. Prepositions 
9. Letter p pronounced /p/ as in . Take note of the <p> in opicha [opiʧa] and epicha. [epʰiʧa]
1. Noun as in esipupu /esipupu/ for group
2. Verb as in para /para/ for think
3. Adjective esipaapi meaning that which is flat.
4. Pronoun 
5. Adverb mapaapia meaning in a flattening manner
6. Conjunctions sipyulo nende ,/si.pju.lo ne meaning at same time with
7. Prepositions 
10. Letter r pronounced /r/. The alveolar trill /r/ does not occur at word initial position in Olunyala(K).
1. Noun as in esichiriri for cricket, 
2. Verb as in lira meaning cry.
3. Adjective as in omuraka meaning young
4. Pronoun- NA
5. Adverb as in mapaapia meaning in a thinking manner
6. Conjunctions as in okhubera meaning because
7. Prepositions 
11. Letter s pronounced /s/ as in 
1. Noun as in esuna meaning mosquito.
2. Verb as in sicha meaning to fence
3. Adjective esisacha meaning that which is male
4. Pronoun as in ese meaning me.
5. Adverb as in sikhasi meaning female-like
6. Conjunctions as in singa meaning like, esisasio nende together with
7. Prepositions as in hasi meaning down.
12. Letter t pronounced /t/ as in e.te.te for grasshopper
1. Noun etete /e.te.te/ for grasshopper
2. Verb as in tema /te.ma/ for try
3. Adjective esitiiti meaning small one.
4. Pronoun- NA
5. Adverb as in matiika meaning in a lost manner.
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions 
13. Letter w pronounced /w/ as in we.we.cha for murmur
1. Noun as in ewa meaning thorn.
2. Verb as in wucha for blow (wind)
3. Adjective as if wubafu meaning imbecile.
4. Pronoun ewe meaning you in singular 
5. Adverb as in mawewrcha meaning in a whispering manner.
6. Conjunctions as in khoniwo meaning so that
7. Prepositions 
14. Letter y pronounced /j/ as in ye.ya for sweep.
1. Noun as in yaya
2. Verb as in yeya
3. Adjective 
4. Pronoun 
5. Adverb as in mayeyera
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions 
15. The digraph of s and h (sh) /ʃ/ pronounced as one sound. This is not common in Olunyala (K) words as it is found few borrowed words omusharuti rope-whip: eishi interjection for warning disapproval and Shii for an interjection meaning silence.
16. The digraph of c and h (ch) pronounced /ʧ/
1. Noun e.si.cha.kha meaning a bush
2. Verb be.cha for slash
3. Adjective yechiba meaning that which is soiled.
4. Pronoun as in owachana meaning he himself
5. Adverb as in machoma meaning in piercing manner
6. Conjunctions esibacho nende meaning besides
7. Prepositions 
17. The digraph of k and h (kh) pronounced /x/ as in  ta.kha for search and e.si.kho.so for glowing splint.
1. Noun ekhirikhikhi meaning owl
2. Verb as in kho.mba meaning lick,
3. Adjective omukhombi for one who licks
4. Pronoun akho meaning that small one.
5. Adverb sikhasi meaning in a manner of female.
6. Conjunctions as in khoniwo meaning in order to; so that
7. Prepositions khu- meaning on top of (prefix)
18. The digraph of n and y (ny) /ɲ/
1. Noun enyungu meaning a pot,
2. Verb nyanya meaning chew
3. Adjective esitekenyalu that which is soggy.
4. Pronoun- NA
5. Adverb as in sitekenyalu meaning in a soggy manner
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions- enyuma meaning behind.
19. The diagraph of n with g' (ng') /ŋ/
1. Noun  eng'eni for fish 
2. Verb ng'eng'a for gnaw
3. Adjective ng'au meaning thin
4. Pronoun 
5. Adverb
6. Conjunctions as in neng'oni meaning with slowness
7. Conjunctions NA
8. Prepositions 

5.14 The NCV in Olunyala (K).

This study posits that Olunyala (K) has the NCV syllable structure where a nasal and an oral consonant occur together at the syllable onset, followed by a vowel.

1. N = Nasal consonants /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/
2. C = Oral consonant /b/, /d/, /g/ and /dʒ/. At times /tʃ/ is heard.
3. V = Vowel /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/ and /u/

We wish to note here that this syllable type is discussed by some scholars as a CCV syllable structure, for example Mwaliwa (2014). In this study we discuss it under the CV type as NCV because, as mentioned in the introduction, some of the second elements in this structure do not occur as a distinct consonants in the phonemic inventory of Olunyala (K). 

1. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter b, which does not exist as an independent sound in Olunyala (K), can combine with nasal sounds /m/ to form a new sound segment. The m with b (mb) is realized as /ᵐb/ as in 
1. Noun e.mbe.ba /eᵐbea/ for rat and e.mbe.mba /eᵐbeᵐba/ for rumours. 
2. Verb mbe.re.se for give me 
3. Adjective enombe for that which has been made
4. Adverb mahambwa to be trapped wholly 
5. Conjunctions as in nohomba meaning or, mbo meaning so that.
6. Prepositions simbembe for besides.
7. Pronoun NA.
2. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter d, which does not exist as an independent sound in Olunyala (K), can combine with a nasal sounds /n/ to form a new sound segment. The n with d (nd) is realized as /ⁿd/ as in  
1. Noun enda for stomach.
2. Verb endia for am eating 
3. Adjective endia for ones habit of eating
4. Pronoun NA
5. Adverb sihindi for in a Hindu manner 
6. Conjunctions as in nende meaning and; with
7. Prepositions NA.
3. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter j, which does not exist in Olunyala (K), can combine with nosal sound /n/ to form a new sound segment. The n and j (nj) is then realized as /ⁿdʒ/ 
1. Noun enjaka /e.ⁿdʒa.ka/ for marijuana, emianjo for melody sticks and njukha /ⁿdʒu.xa/ for a snake.
2. Verb as in sinjae /si.ⁿdʒa/ for out. for slaughter
3. Adjective esinje /esiⁿdʒe/ for that which has been slaughtered.
4. Pronoun njanu /ⁿdʒanu/ for who.
5. Adverb as in makhonja /maxoⁿdʒa/ in a manner of winnowing.
6. Prepositions enje /eⁿdʒe/ for out.
7. Conjunctions NA. 
4. The voiced plosive consonants sound for letter g, which does not exist in Olunyala (K), can combine with nosal sound /n/ to form a new sound segment. The n and g (ng) is realized as /ᵑɡ/ 
1. Noun engo /e.ᵑɡo/ for a home, e.ngo.bi for placenta
2. Verb ngochwiswe for I do not know
3. Adjective omulianga for lier 
4. Adverb as in engolobe for in the evening.
5. Conjunctions as in singa meaning now that
6. Pronoun NA
7. Prepositions NA
5. The voiceless sound for letters ch seen to combine with nosal sound for n (nch) to be realized as /ⁿʧ/ is usually by mistake. However, since the (nch) as /ⁿʧ/ and (nj) as /ⁿdʒ / are contextual variations of a single phoneme: allophones.
1. Noun e.nchu /eⁿʧu/ or /eⁿdʒu/ for a house, enchulanjula /eⁿʧulaⁿʧula/ or /eⁿdʒulaⁿdʒula/ or /eⁿdʒulaⁿʧula/ or /eⁿʧulaⁿdʒula/

5.15 The CGV in Olunyala (K)

This study affirms that Olunyala (K) has CGV among its primary syllable structures. 

1. C= Consonant /f/, /k/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /p/, /r/, /s/, /t/, /ʧʷ/ and /x/
2. G= Glide- the labio- velar approximant /w/.
3. V= Vowel /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/ and /u/

The accepted glide forms is the /w/ which co‑occur with 11 consonant sounds in the onset, creating labialized sound clusters. The clusters have rising-sonority that are phonotactically permissible under Bantu Sonority Sequencing Principle.

1. fw /fʷ/
1. Noun efwa for death, efwafwa for wondering jew
2. Verb as in fwana /fʷa.na/ for resemble, fwa for die
3. Adjective esifwiye for that which is dead
4. Pronoun fwabene meaning ourselves
5. Adverb sifwabakani in a disorderly manner
6. Conjunctions as in fwana meaning as though
7. Prepositions NA 
2. kw /kʷ/   
1. Noun esikwakwata for funnel
2. Verb okhukwa for to fall,
3. Adjective 
4. Pronoun as in okwene meaning himself (big)
5. Adverb NA
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions NA
3. lw /lʷ/
1. Noun amalwa for brew
2. Verb alwala for one being sick
3. Adjective lwange for mine
4. Pronoun 
5. Adverb silwaye for in a sick manner
6. Conjunctions as in khulwako meaning as a result of that
7. Prepositions NA
4. nw /nʷ/
1. Noun ewuunwa for bull, munenwang'ene for term father to son use to relate to one another
2. Verb nwaana /nʷana/ for I am struggling
3. Adjective- enwani that which struggles.
4. Pronoun- not used for pronouns.
5. Adverb sinenwa in a manner befitting father-in-laws to father-in-law.
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions NA.
5. mw /mʷ/ 
1. Noun omwiima for character and echemwa for banana.
2. Verb mwemwenda for glow
3. Adjective 
4. Pronoun omwene himself
5. Adverb mamwekha in a glowing manner
6. Conjunctions as in namwe meaning or
7. Prepositions NA.
6. pw /pʷ/.
1. Noun ekipwe /ekipʷe/ for jackal 
2. Verb pwoka /pʷoka/ for arriving incognito, okhupwekukha /oxupʷekuxa/ for to bark
3. Adjective omwipwengulo for having character of being talkative.
4. Adverb- mapwekukha /mapʷekuxa/ in a barking manner 
5. Pronoun- NA
6. Conjunctions- NA
7. Prepositions- NA
7. rw /rʷ/ This syllable is never used in initial position of Olunyala (k) words
1. Noun amerwacho for preachings.
2. Verb okhulekherwa for to be forgiven, okhwirwaacha for to preach
3. Adjective amerwache for that which has been preached
4. Adverb as in merwacha in preaching manner.
5. Pronoun- NA
6. Conjunctions- NA
7. Prepositions- NA
8. sw /sʷ/
1. Noun eswa /esʷa/ for white ant, esiswi /esisʷi/ for nest, 
2. Verb swaka e/sʷaka/ for pound 
3. Adjective eswale /esʷale/ for that which is paund
4. Pronoun- NA
5. Adverb maswala /masʷala/ for in a  paddling manner
6. Conjunctions swa /sʷa/ for greeting interjection
7. Preposition NA
9. tw /tʷ/
1. Noun etwaya for cock; embetetwe for roasted corn seeds.
2. Verb twekhera for making loose boom sound 
3. Adjective esitwekhefu fit that which makes loose boom sound.
4. Adverb matwekhera in a manner of making loose boom sound.
5. Conjunctions NA
6. Pronoun NA
7. Prepositions NA
10. Digraph ch with w as chw /ʧʷ/
1. Noun owuchwanjwanu, amatoche for veranda
2. Verb chwisa for make tight, chwekese, chwira for squeal
3. Adjective ochwene for themselves- small and useless.
4. Pronoun ochwo for those small useless ones 
5. Adverb  machwayirisa in a goading manner, machwira meaning in a squealing manner.
6. Interjection as in chwi for a swear word.
7. Conjunctions NA
8. Prepositions NA
11. Diagraph kh with w as khw /xʷ/
1. Noun as in mukhwasi for brother-in-law, 
2. Verb as in khwesa meaning pull, khwere meaning pay dowry for me.
3. Adjective owukhwesi meaning ability to pull
4. Adverb as in makhwesa for in a pulling manner
5. Conjunctions as in okhwola meaning until 
6. Pronoun NA
7. Prepositions NA

5.16 The GGV in Olunyala (K)

This study identifies GGV as one of the syllable structures in Olunyala (K).

1. G = Glide consonants /j/
2. G = Glide consonant /w/
3. V = Vowel /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/ and /u

1. yw /jʷ/as in , 
1. Noun ehaywa /ehajʷa/ for axe.
2. Verb okhuoywa /oxuojʷa/ meaning to be seduced or tied, okhukhaywa /oxuxajʷa/ to lack okhwaywa /oxʷajʷa/ to be grazed, okhutaywa [okhutaájʷá] to be scooped okhutaywa [oxutàjʷà/
3. Adjective esioywa /esiojʷa/ for that which is docile. Esitaywe /esitajʷe/ for that which is scooped.
4. Adverb- maoywa in a manner of being seduced, sitaywa /si.ta.jʷa/ in a manner of a cock or in a manner of asking for debt payment.
5. Conjunctions NA
6. Pronoun NA
7. Prepositions NA

5.17 The NCGV syllable structure in Olunyala (K)

This study posits that Olunyala (K) has the NCGV syllable structure where a nasal, oral consonant and a glide occur together at the syllable onset, followed by a vowel.

1. N = Nasal consonants /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/
2. C = Oral consonant /b/, /d/, /g/ and /dʒ/. At times /tʃ/ is heard.
3. G= Glide- the labio- velar approximant /w/ and /j/
4. V = Vowel /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/ and /u/

We wish to note here that this syllable type is discussed by some scholars as a CCCV type, for example Mwaliwa (2014). 

In this article we discuss it under the CV type because, as mentioned in the introduction, some of the first onset elements in this structure have consonant sound segments that do not occur as distinct consonants in the phonemic inventory of Olunyala (K). 

1. The NCGV with /w/ glide
1. mbw /ᵐbʷ/ as in embwa for d
1. Noun embwa /eᵐbʷa/ for a dog
2. Verb embwene /ᵐbʷe.ne/ for I have seen, embwaho /ᵐbʷa.ho/ for I am going home, omutombwe /o.mu.to.ᵐbʷe/ for a type of grass.
3. Adjective embwenge /eᵐbʷeᵑɡe/ empty vessel. Esihaambwe /e.si.ha:ᵐbʷe/; /~ᵐbe/ for that which has been trapped. 
4. Adverb mahambwa /ma.ha.ᵐbʷa/ in a trapped manner
5. Interjection mbwekho /ᵐbʷe.xo/ for leave me alone
6. Pronoun NA
7. Conjunctions NA
8. Prepositions NA
2. ndw /ⁿdʷ/ 
1. Noun esirindwa /e.si.ri.ⁿdʷa/ for grave heap
2. Verb endwaye /e.ⁿdʷa.je/ for I became sick.
3. Adjective esiendwasi /e.sje.ⁿdʷa.si/ for one with allergy.
4. Adverb sindwasi /si.dʷa.si/ in an allergic manner.
5. Pronoun NA
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions NA
3. ngw /ᵑɡʷ/
1. Noun engwe /e.ᵑɡʷe/ for leopard
2. Verb ngwiye /ᵑɡʷi.je/ for have fallen
3. Adjective NA
4. Pronoun NA
5. Adverb NA
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions NA
4. ng'w /ŋʷ/ 
1. Noun amang'wari /a.ma.ŋʷa.ri/ for foot and mouth
2. Verb as in okhungwara /o.xu.ŋʷara/ to move in an unstoppable manner
3. Adjective eyanang'wari /e.ja.ma.ŋʷa.ri/ mean one with foot and mouth.
4. Adverb as in singwari /si.ŋʷa.ri/ meaning in a foot and mouth manner.
5. Interjection as in ng'we /ŋʷe/ for a sear word.
6. Pronoun NA
7. Conjunctions NA
8. Prepositions NA
5. njw /ⁿdʒʷ/ as in , and from head.
1. Noun- ekhunjwe /exuⁿdʒʷe/ for African parrot, esikhunjwi /esikuⁿdʒʷi/ for a type of fly.
2. Verb- njwikhule /ⁿdʒʷi.xu.le/ for helping to offload 
3. Adjective omuchwanjwanu /o.mu.ʧʷa.ⁿdʒʷa.nu/ for blackmailer.
4. Adverb sikhunjwe /si.xu.ⁿdʒʷe/ meaning in a manner of a parrot.
5. Pronoun NA
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions NA
6. nchwa /ᵑʧʷ/. Though included, the /ᵑʧʷ/ is an acceptable devoiced form of . The two are not contrastive sounds in Olunyala (K)
1. Noun chwinchwini for wagtail
2. Verb nchwisise /ⁿʧʷi.si.se/; /ⁿʧʷi.sse/ for I made it tight
2. NCGV with /j/ glide- the /j/ arises because of <i> following another vowel with the vowel pronounced as part of the nucleus.

1. mbia /ᵐbja/ 
1. Noun embia /eᵐbja/ for species contrastive with embia /e.ᵐb.i.a/ for I am getting burned.
2. ndia /ⁿdia/ 
1. Verb endia /eⁿdja/ for style of eating contrastive with endia /eⁿdia/ for I am eating
3. ngia /ᵑɡia/
1. Noun engia /eᵑgia/ a group of iron tools
4. ndie /ⁿdie/
1. Adjective endie /eⁿdje/ for that which is eaten and verb endie /eⁿdie/ for I to eat

5.18 The NGGV Syllable structure

This study posits that Olunyala (K) has the CCV syllable structure. 

1. N= normal consonant /n/
2. G= Glide 
3. G=
4. V= Vowel sound.

1. nyw /ɲʷ/ as for , 
1. Noun esiminywi for a chick, esinywerwa for accompanying meal for a drink, omunywi for one who drinks.
2. Verb okhunywa for to drink, okhunywania for to soak, mwenywerwa be smiled at, khonywa be helped, wunywa to be made to smell, nywe for you drink, enywe for can I drink.
3. Adjective esinywane for that having been soaked properly.
4. Pronoun  enywe meaning plural of you
5. Adverb sinywinywi in a manner of a chick.
6. Conjunctions NA
7. Prepositions NA

5.19 The CCV syllable in Olunyala (K)

This study posits that Olunyala (K) has the CCV syllable structure. 

1. C= Consonant such as
2. C= another consonant of the same type as one before it
3. V= short vowel sound.

This is a syllable structure arising from germinates. This occurs when the same consonant occurs in the same syllable without the intervention of a vowel in trisyllabic and polysyllabic words. This article posits that, in Olunyala(K), there is 

allophonic possibility of length in the C (consonant) element. Allophonic length was found in syllables that are not stressed as in mumima being /mmima/ and not /mumma/. Degermination in Olunyala(K) is a case of the two phonological processes of deletion and assimilation taking place. 

1. The germinate b ababayeho those who were there
2. The germinate f okhufufuyasa /o.xu.ffu.ja.sa/ or playing down an issue
3. The germinate k as in ekokoto /e.kko.to/ for gravel, esikherekeke /e.si.xe.re.kke/
4. The germinants /l/ olulama /o.lla.ma/ the roofing
5. The germinants /mm/ mumoni /m.mo.ni/ in the eyes or face. Mumaha /mma.ha/ for in the armpits. Mumima /mmi.ma/
6. The germinants /nn/ okhukhanana /o.xu.xa.nna/; /o.xxa.nna/ to remain tough. 
7. The germinants /pp/ esipepenu /e.si.ppe.nu/ for cartilage, okhupapalukha /o.xu.ppa.lu.xa/ for thundering 
8. The germinants /ss/ esisani /e.ssa.ni/ for a plate, esisiko /e.ssi.ko/ for a shadow, esisoni /e.sso.ni/ for great grandchild. Esisanda /e.ssa.ⁿda/ . 



9. The germinate for ch as /ʧʧ/ Okhuechichina. /o.xu.e.ʧʧi.na/
10. The germinants for kh as /xx/- Namukhokhome /na.mu.xxo.me/ 

5.20 The CVV syllable structure in Olunyala (K)

This category has some of the following minor structures

1. The simple CVV
1. Noun as in omuchooli /o.mu.ʧo:li/ for one who picks items with aim of bewitching contrastive with omuchooli for a name of a tree. Ekhoono /e.xo:.no/for mastoid process.
2. Verb as in choola meaning pick an item with aim of bewitching contrastive with chola /ʧo.la/ for pick vegetable leaves from twigs 
3. Adjective as in owuchooli /owuʧo:li/ meaning trait of picking with aim of bewitching contrastive with owuchooli /o.wu.ʧoli/ for manner of picking vegetable from a twig.
4. Adverb as in makoola /ma ko:la/ meaning in a manner of coming back. 
5. Pronoun abaaba /a.βa:βa/ for these ones over here.
6. Adjective as in esihaambwe /e.si.ha:.ᵐbwe/ meaning that which has been trapped.
7. Conjunctions as Kaaba mbo /ka:βa ᵐbo/ for if it is that.
8. Prepositions NA
2. Complex CVV in form of NCVV
1. Noun as in enguu /eᵑgu:/ meaning medicinal herbs for wounds. Nguuye /ᵑgu:je/ for I have roofed contrastive with nguye [ᵑgúje] for a short person or nguye [ᵑgùje] for raking chaff sideways.
2. Verb nguunya /eᵑgu:ɲa/ for am walking fast
3. Adjective as embuu /eᵐbu:/ in meaning colostrum whey 
4. Adverb NA
5. Interjection NA
6. Pronoun NA
7. Conjunctions NA
8. Prepositions NA
3. Complex CVV in form of CGVV, 
1. Noun as  in esifwaabi /e.si.fʷa:.βi/ meaning obscenity.
2. Verb ngoola /ᵑgo:la/ for prophesy
3. Adjective as efwaala /efʷa:la/  meaning I am dressing up
4. Adverb as in mafwaabi /mafʷa:βi/ meaning in an obscene manner
5. Interjection as in fwaa /fʷa:/ meaning in a lazy careless manner
6. Interjection NA
7. Pronoun NA
8. Conjunctions NA
9. Prepositions NA
4. Complex CVV in form of CCVV
1. Noun as in mumoni /mmo.ni/ for in the eyes or face,  esisaabi [e.ssá:βi] that which is big and wide. Esisaabi [essà:βi] for that used for washing. Okukoondo /o.kko:ndo/ meaning a big appearance. Oluloolo /ollo:lo/meaning one flea omumeesi /o.mme:si/ meaning a drunkard esiseero /e.sse:ro/ meaning a saddle, esitutuumiro /e.si.ttu:mi.ro/ meaning larynx.
2. Verb as in babaake /ββa:ke/ for let then skin, kukoole /kko:le/ for the big one to come back. Mumeere /mme:re/ for may you get drunk. 
3. Adjective as in owuwoolo /o.wwo:.lo/ for ones style of reporting  oluleembukho /olle:ᵐbuxo/ for a style of loosening ones lips
4. Adverb NA
5. Interjection NA
6. Pronoun NA
7. Conjunctions NA
8. Prepositions NA

6.00 CONCLUSION

Olunyala (K) has a total of eleven  syllable structures. Seven of the syllable structures have already been identified by scholars of Bantu languages including Kiswahili; these are: V, VV, CV, CVV, CCV, GGV and CGV. The eighth syllable structure is NCV which represents a Nosal, Consonant and Vowel. The ninth syllable structure is that of NCGV which has a Nosal, Consonant, Glide and Vowel. The tenth syllable structure is NGGV that has a Nosal, Glide, Glide and Vowel. All the syllable structures discussed in this article show that  Olunyala (K) has an open syllable structure system because all of them end with vowel sounds. The composition of the syllable in Olunyala (K) is such that glides can only be syllabified as part of the onset but not the nucleus because they function as consonants in the subject dialect. This article also concludes that the sonority scale of Olunyala (K) can be helpful in predicting the sound segments that can combine in the formation of the complex onset. The use of CV Phonology was instrumental, not only in establishing the syllable structures, but also in  discussing their composition in the sound system of Olunyala (K). It is projected that the discussion of the syllable structures of Olunyala (K) in this article is important in the comparative dialectology of, not just the dialects in the Luyia continuum of dialects, but other Bantu languages in phonology and other areas of linguistics. This online article, therefore, makes a contribution towards the classification of Olunyala (K) as a dialect of the Luyia continuum of dialects.