Ikoma-Nata-Isenye
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A language of Tanzania
34,700 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). 19,400 Ikoma, 7,100 Nata, 8,200 Isenye (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).
Mara region: Serengeti district, Gurumeti division.
6b (Threatened).
Ikoma (Egiikoma, Ghiikoma, Kiikoma, Koma), Nata (Ekinaata, Ekinata, Ikinata, Kinata, Kinatta, Natta), Isenye (Eghiishenyi, Ikisenyi, Isenyi, Issenye, Kiisenye, Kiissenye). Lexical similarity: 81% with Zanaki [zak], 73% with Ngoreme [ngq], 68% with Kuria [kuj], 44% with Gusii [guz]. Dialect similarity: Ikoma 85% with Isenye and 89% with Nata; Isenye and Nata share 88%.
7 vowel system.
Strong Swahili [swh] use among Nata dialect speakers. Many Nata children learn Swahili as L1. All domains, if no speakers of other languages are present. Some young people, all adults.
Bible portions: 2009–2015.
Ikoma, Nata and Isenye are 3 different ethnic groups. They consider their 3 speech varieties different, but similar enough to use the same written material. Nata seems more endangered with many children speaking more Swahili [swh] than Nata. Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.