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.
Bwana
3 meanings
bwa·na
Husband
Bwana
means husband
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Bwah-nah
{
"take_id": "4e627f0c-dd82-4d68-b013-95ec194811bd",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Bwana",
"english_gloss": "Husband",
"switch_ms": 4667,
"duration_ms": 9870,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4667
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4667,
"t1_ms": 9870
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Master or Lord
Bwana
means master or lord
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Bwah-nah
{
"take_id": "eff6555e-8c53-4669-9e08-63ac0af00ff7",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Bwana",
"english_gloss": "Master or Lord",
"switch_ms": 4669,
"duration_ms": 10800,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4669
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4669,
"t1_ms": 10800
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Mister or Sir
Bwana
means mister or sir
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Bwah-nah
{
"take_id": "a0ddd8e1-cf85-421f-94d0-618a6ee07757",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Bwana",
"english_gloss": "Mister or Sir",
"switch_ms": 4666,
"duration_ms": 11460,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4666
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4666,
"t1_ms": 11460
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Karibu
3 meanings
ka·ri·bu
Almost
Karibu
means almost
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Kah-ree-boo
{
"take_id": "8fa1ae78-ae02-409f-ba3d-b3647146002a",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Karibu",
"english_gloss": "Almost",
"switch_ms": 5148,
"duration_ms": 8850,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5148
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5148,
"t1_ms": 8850
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Near or close to
Karibu
means near or close to
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Kah-ree-boo
{
"take_id": "a17f0368-c451-4f2b-89ed-14fa67d3d6cf",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Karibu",
"english_gloss": "Near or close to",
"switch_ms": 5148,
"duration_ms": 10820,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5148
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5148,
"t1_ms": 10820
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Welcome
Karibu
means welcome
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Kah-ree-boo
{
"take_id": "c6e59b32-1188-4dae-8c26-1d51057f6a4c",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Karibu",
"english_gloss": "Welcome",
"switch_ms": 5152,
"duration_ms": 9390,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5152
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5152,
"t1_ms": 9390
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Paka
3 meanings
pa·ka
Cat
Paka
means cat
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Pah-kah (stress on the first syllable)
{
"take_id": "59ac1d71-0ab0-47a4-9015-2c8d9b78a43d",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Paka",
"english_gloss": "Cat",
"switch_ms": 4669,
"duration_ms": 9180,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4669
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4669,
"t1_ms": 9180
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
To paint
Paka
means to paint
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Pah-kah
{
"take_id": "46c941aa-721f-4ee4-a1d5-e52a1850467f",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Paka",
"english_gloss": "To paint",
"switch_ms": 4669,
"duration_ms": 12930,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4669
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4669,
"t1_ms": 12930
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
To smear
Paka
means to smear
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Pah-kah
{
"take_id": "b328ec87-9307-4b23-beb8-63815009a850",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Paka",
"english_gloss": "To smear",
"switch_ms": 4670,
"duration_ms": 11140,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4670
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4670,
"t1_ms": 11140
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Panda
3 meanings
pa·nda
To climb
Panda
means to climb
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Pahn-dah
{
"take_id": "a4e50266-7db3-4669-9197-9ec1d98001b0",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Panda",
"english_gloss": "To climb",
"switch_ms": 4664,
"duration_ms": 8860,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4664
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4664,
"t1_ms": 8860
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
To go up or ascend
Panda
means to go up or ascend
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Pahn-dah
{
"take_id": "e33ee4e4-cc91-463b-91fb-92a359eed84f",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Panda",
"english_gloss": "To go up or ascend",
"switch_ms": 4670,
"duration_ms": 10570,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4670
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4670,
"t1_ms": 10570
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
To plant or sow
Panda
means to plant or sow
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Pahn-dah
{
"take_id": "08dd2813-ee56-473f-a513-b719296e3b3d",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Panda",
"english_gloss": "To plant or sow",
"switch_ms": 4670,
"duration_ms": 10940,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4670
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4670,
"t1_ms": 10940
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Baridi
2 meanings
ba·ri·di
Calm or peaceful
Baridi
means calm or peaceful
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Bah-ree-dee
{
"take_id": "90c47885-d0e5-49e6-a3bc-b80c7a63119b",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Baridi",
"english_gloss": "Calm or peaceful",
"switch_ms": 5148,
"duration_ms": 12400,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5148
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5148,
"t1_ms": 12400
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Cold
Baridi
means cold
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Bah-ree-dee
{
"take_id": "b20d0bcc-c161-48e0-a136-fc39168474e0",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Baridi",
"english_gloss": "Cold",
"switch_ms": 5146,
"duration_ms": 9170,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 5146
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 5146,
"t1_ms": 9170
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Hema
2 meanings
he·ma
Tent
Hema
means tent
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Heh-mah
{
"take_id": "5ac5991f-cfc9-495a-b790-3f5356e28d60",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Hema",
"english_gloss": "Tent",
"switch_ms": 4669,
"duration_ms": 9050,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4669
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4669,
"t1_ms": 9050
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
To pant or breathe heavily
Hema
means to pant or breathe heavily
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Heh-mah
{
"take_id": "952883ab-eb8a-4ff9-ac85-d751d7412c46",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Hema",
"english_gloss": "To pant or breathe heavily",
"switch_ms": 4671,
"duration_ms": 12430,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4671
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4671,
"t1_ms": 12430
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Kaa
2 meanings
kaa
Coal
Kaa
means coal
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Kaa-a (stretched or doubled a)
{
"take_id": "14597b59-5fb8-4a4b-b310-5bff44ab27b6",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kaa",
"english_gloss": "Coal",
"switch_ms": 4189,
"duration_ms": 10450,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4189
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4189,
"t1_ms": 10450
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
To sit
Kaa
means to sit
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ka-a (stress on the first syllable)
{
"take_id": "89f512cd-b994-423e-b3d9-b2474dfcc0a7",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kaa",
"english_gloss": "To sit",
"switch_ms": 4190,
"duration_ms": 8240,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4190
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4190,
"t1_ms": 8240
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Kazi
2 meanings
ka·zi
Difficult or hard
Kazi
means difficult or hard
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Kah-zee
{
"take_id": "32660a64-5593-40b1-bdc9-f08c6f28543e",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kazi",
"english_gloss": "Difficult or hard",
"switch_ms": 4670,
"duration_ms": 10180,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4670
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4670,
"t1_ms": 10180
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Work, job, or task
Kazi
means work, job, or task
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Kah-zee
{
"take_id": "6d4511e0-5ef6-474d-8593-ead9d632255f",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Kazi",
"english_gloss": "Work, job, or task",
"switch_ms": 4668,
"duration_ms": 11820,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4668
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4668,
"t1_ms": 11820
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Ndege
2 meanings
nde·ge
Airplane
Ndege
means airplane
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ndeh-geh
{
"take_id": "312e85d0-3b9d-447c-b717-2493e428bb1f",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Ndege",
"english_gloss": "Airplane",
"switch_ms": 4669,
"duration_ms": 9230,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4669
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4669,
"t1_ms": 9230
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Bird
Ndege
means bird
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Ndeh-geh
{
"take_id": "cbf050a8-61b7-4ac3-a87d-9d9d7a2256c2",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Ndege",
"english_gloss": "Bird",
"switch_ms": 4671,
"duration_ms": 8690,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4671
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4671,
"t1_ms": 8690
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
Tupa
2 meanings
tu·pa
A file, that is the abrasive metal tool used for smoothing
Tupa
means a file, that is the abrasive metal tool used for smoothing
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Tu-pa (stress on the last syllable)
{
"take_id": "35ae3125-63a0-4f86-ac0c-43dd1965da4c",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Tupa",
"english_gloss": "A file, that is the abrasive metal tool used for smoothing",
"switch_ms": 4670,
"duration_ms": 14160,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4670
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4670,
"t1_ms": 14160
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"consent": "granted"
}
To throw away or discard
Tupa
means to throw away or discard
Audio pending.
Native pronunciation note: Tu-pa (stress on the first syllable)
{
"take_id": "0d807c93-0030-4a53-aad1-468121c04b7b",
"language_iso": "swh",
"kind": "word",
"bantu": "Tupa",
"english_gloss": "To throw away or discard",
"switch_ms": 4671,
"duration_ms": 10740,
"segments": [
{
"lang": "swh",
"t0_ms": 0,
"t1_ms": 4671
},
{
"lang": "en",
"t0_ms": 4671,
"t1_ms": 10740
}
],
"speaker": "Speaker SWH-A",
"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.