Kipsigis (or Kipsikii, Kipsikiis) is part of the Kenyan Kalenjin dialect cluster,[1] It is spoken mainly in Kericho and Bomet counties in Kenya. The Kipsigis people are the most numerous tribe of the Kalenjin in Kenya, accounting for 60% of all Kalenjin speakers. Kipsigis is closely related to Nandi, Keiyo (Keyo, Elgeyo), South Tugen (Tuken), and Cherangany.
The Kipsigis territory is bordered to the south and southeast by the Maasai. To the west, Gusii (a Bantu language) is spoken. To the north-east, other Kalenjin people are found, mainly the Nandi. East from the Kipsigis, in the Mau forests, live some Okiek speaking tribes.
Usually, the pronunciation of a double vowel does not mean a repetition of that vowel sound but rather an elongation of that particular vowel sound. An exception to that generalization shows up with the double ee.
Normally, the elongated vowel sounds follow the Latin vowel sounds. A few examples are given in the table below
Vowel
As Kipsigis
As in English
aa
Kaap
mama, mark, margin, sharp
ii
Asiis
piece, peace, freeze, sneeze
oo
igoondiit
roopta
gone
robe
uu
piyuut
root, boot
The sound of the double ee may vary in pronunciation. For example:
As in Kipsigis
As in English
akweet 'flock'
wet
beek 'water'
bake
meet 'death'
for this word, there are two sounds, as in lay-ette
