FSI integration
The syllable is the tone-bearing unit.
Tone docks on exactly one place — the vowel of each syllable. So you cannot represent tone without first decomposing the word into its syllables, and you cannot do that without the language's Full Syllable Inventory. BantuNomics has assembled 459 of them — the first complete collection in history.
Minimal pairs
Same syllables. Different tone. Different meaning.
Each card is one written word that the FSI decomposes into the same syllable sequence for every meaning. The spelling is identical; the tone — carried in the audio, on the syllable nuclei — is what separates the meanings. Play them back to back.
Gukora
2 meanings
gu·ko·ra
To touch
Gukora
means to touch
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-koo-ra (long 'oo')
{
"take_id": "476aa243-c449-40d2-af9a-f92a9efaecd2",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gukora",
"english_gloss": "To touch",
"switch_ms": 5152,
"duration_ms": 9100,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5152
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5152,
"t1_ms": 9100
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To work
Gukora
means to work
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-ko-ra (short 'o')
{
"take_id": "71293a17-6103-4b3c-a7a7-e785ece32aeb",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gukora",
"english_gloss": "To work",
"switch_ms": 5150,
"duration_ms": 9570,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5150
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5150,
"t1_ms": 9570
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Gukura
2 meanings
gu·ku·ra
To grow
Gukura
means to grow
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-ku-ra (short 'u')
{
"take_id": "1135ddef-44c2-4e9c-aba7-3a13262af50f",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gukura",
"english_gloss": "To grow",
"switch_ms": 5148,
"duration_ms": 8900,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5148
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5148,
"t1_ms": 8900
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To remove
Gukura
means to remove
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-kuu-ra (long 'u')
{
"take_id": "6ce23190-4f98-4b95-b2ba-eb909035a207",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gukura",
"english_gloss": "To remove",
"switch_ms": 5148,
"duration_ms": 9770,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5148
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5148,
"t1_ms": 9770
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Gusama
2 meanings
gu·sa·ma
To catch, for example a ball
Gusama
means to catch (a ball)
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-sa-ma (short 'a')
{
"take_id": "87dda458-8670-472c-8e1a-e8454eedeebd",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gusama",
"english_gloss": "To catch (a ball)",
"switch_ms": 5148,
"duration_ms": 9830,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5148
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5148,
"t1_ms": 9830
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To conceive a child
Gusama
means to conceive a child
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-sa-ma (short 'a')
{
"take_id": "2961273d-7802-466c-b247-e5d439704111",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gusama",
"english_gloss": "To conceive a child",
"switch_ms": 5153,
"duration_ms": 11950,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5153
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5153,
"t1_ms": 11950
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Gusiba
2 meanings
gu·si·ba
To be absent or to erase
Yasibye ishuri.
means he was absent from school
Audio pending.
{
"take_id": "1a33bac2-8fa2-4ade-8f5c-ffdb52c56808",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "sentence",
"bantu": "Yasibye ishuri.",
"english_gloss": "He was absent from school.",
"switch_ms": 6593,
"duration_ms": 12450,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 6593
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 6593,
"t1_ms": 12450
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To fast, to go without food
Gusiba
means to fast (go without food)
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-sii-ba (long 'i')
{
"take_id": "bdec1f17-0a11-4f29-9de2-85230be025c2",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gusiba",
"english_gloss": "To fast (go without food)",
"switch_ms": 5156,
"duration_ms": 11260,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5156
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5156,
"t1_ms": 11260
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Gusura
2 meanings
gu·su·ra
To fart
Gusura
means to fart
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-suu-ra (long 'uu')
{
"take_id": "d5950965-1e26-436e-98f8-bb9017d299c2",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gusura",
"english_gloss": "To fart",
"switch_ms": 5150,
"duration_ms": 9220,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5150
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5150,
"t1_ms": 9220
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To visit
Gusura
means to visit
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-su-ra (short 'u')
{
"take_id": "bbae3041-cbaa-46a9-a87d-a002ba1aaae5",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gusura",
"english_gloss": "To visit",
"switch_ms": 5151,
"duration_ms": 10150,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5151
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5151,
"t1_ms": 10150
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Gutema
2 meanings
gu·te·ma
To cut, for example with a machete
Gutema
means to cut (with a machete)
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-te-ma (short 'e')
{
"take_id": "6a006ed8-e224-4540-a1e1-c24f40972c69",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gutema",
"english_gloss": "To cut (with a machete)",
"switch_ms": 5150,
"duration_ms": 11460,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5150
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5150,
"t1_ms": 11460
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To press bananas until they yield no juice
Gutema
means to press bananas (yielding no juice)
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Gu-tee-ma (long 'ee')
{
"take_id": "19c8ffa9-aab0-458c-ae66-46e653e34a78",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Gutema",
"english_gloss": "To press bananas (yielding no juice)",
"switch_ms": 5148,
"duration_ms": 12670,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5148
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5148,
"t1_ms": 12670
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Inda
2 meanings
i·nda
Louse, the insect
Inda
means louse (the insect)
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: In-daa (long; high tone on the second vowel)
{
"take_id": "a5076226-1979-4c45-9132-caacc7e3c997",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Inda",
"english_gloss": "Louse (the insect)",
"switch_ms": 4670,
"duration_ms": 10370,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4670
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4670,
"t1_ms": 10370
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Stomach
Inda
means stomach
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: In-da (short; low tone on both vowels)
{
"take_id": "993a2734-416c-4ffc-8589-7b61fc37695f",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Inda",
"english_gloss": "Stomach",
"switch_ms": 4664,
"duration_ms": 8760,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4664
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4664,
"t1_ms": 8760
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Kugura
2 meanings
ku·gu·ra
To buy
Kugura
means to buy
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ku-gu-ra (short 'u')
{
"take_id": "450ecbc0-f98d-4d63-9c0c-f150545e0379",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kugura",
"english_gloss": "To buy",
"switch_ms": 5152,
"duration_ms": 9260,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5152
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5152,
"t1_ms": 9260
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To open wide
Kugura
means to open wide
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ku-guu-ra (long 'uu')
{
"take_id": "68b0e777-351b-43b4-8b44-21e96c0600af",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kugura",
"english_gloss": "To open wide",
"switch_ms": 5150,
"duration_ms": 10490,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5150
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5150,
"t1_ms": 10490
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Kurira
2 meanings
ku·ri·ra
To cry
Kurira
means to cry
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ku-ri-ra (short 'i')
{
"take_id": "6c72fc59-719a-4ecd-87f2-147eecaac871",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kurira",
"english_gloss": "To cry",
"switch_ms": 5150,
"duration_ms": 8890,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5150
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5150,
"t1_ms": 8890
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To eat on or at something
Kurira
means to eat on or at something
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ku-rii-ra (long 'ii')
{
"take_id": "48a3f063-d052-4a90-b58f-98038de01040",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kurira",
"english_gloss": "To eat on or at something",
"switch_ms": 5149,
"duration_ms": 11310,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5149
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5149,
"t1_ms": 11310
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Kuvuga
2 meanings
ku·vu·ga
To cook ugali, a stiff cornmeal porridge
Kuvuga
means to cook ugali (stiff cornmeal porridge)
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ku-vuu-ga (long 'u')
{
"take_id": "ea481380-a0de-48cb-b8b2-b93c95164bc6",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kuvuga",
"english_gloss": "To cook ugali (stiff cornmeal porridge)",
"switch_ms": 5149,
"duration_ms": 12760,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5149
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5149,
"t1_ms": 12760
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
To speak
Kuvuga
means to speak
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ku-vu-ga (short 'u')
{
"take_id": "4c4732aa-7fb0-44f4-92b8-dddf24a26819",
"language_iso": "kin",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kuvuga",
"english_gloss": "To speak",
"switch_ms": 5150,
"duration_ms": 8930,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "kin",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5150
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5150,
"t1_ms": 8930
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker KIN-A02",
"consent": "granted"
}
Why a model can't fake this
Generation is cheap. Certification against native ground truth is not.
A model can output a plausible syllable list; it cannot prove the list is complete, correct, or native, and it cannot produce the consented audio that carries the tone. The FSI plus this audio is the certified standard underneath alignment, ASR, and TTS.