Lango language (Uganda)

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Lango
Lëblaŋo
Native to Uganda
Region Lango sub-region
Ethnicity Lango
Native speakers
2.1 million (2014 census[ failed verification ]) [1]
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3 laj
Glottolog lang1324
Glottopedia Lango [2]

Unlike the Lango of South Sudan, Lango of Uganda although ethnically and linguistically related to the Lango of South Sudan, currently speak a Mixed language due to their proximity with Lwo people. Lango language is not a Southern Luo language or dialect cluster of the Western Nilotic language branch but Ateker, also known as the Nilo-Hamites. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

The word "Lango" or Ateker is used to describe both the language spoken by the indigenous and the tribe itself.

Luo language is a distinct language for Luo peoples. Several sources show that the Lango language is not originally Luo but Ateker. They learned Luo dialect after migration to the current areas in Uganda. They currently speak broken dialects of Lwo mixed with hamitic vocabularies of their original language [6] .

It is mainly spoken in Lango sub-region, in the North Central Region of Uganda. An orthography for it using the Latin script has been introduced and is taught in primary schools.

The origin of Lango people is strongly linked to the Karamojong and Teso speaking people. [7]

Flag of the Lango People Flag of the Lango People.svg
Flag of the Lango People

On 27th to 29th November 2024, Lango people reunited back to the Ateker peoples. Uganda government hosted this historical event. The Lango people are not ethnically nor linguistically related to Luo peoples [8] .

Phonology

Consonants

Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Stop voiceless p t k ( ʔ )
voiced b d g
Affricate voiceless tɕ
voiced dʑ
Fricative ( ɸ )( s )( ɕ )( x )
Lateral l
Tap voiceless ( ɾ̥ )
voiced ɾ
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Semivowel w j

In addition to these consonants, the Lango language maintains a gemination [Cː] distinction in the stops, affricates, nasals and lateral.

Voiceless stops and affricates are slightly aspirated, whereas voiced stops and affricates are fully voiced, sometimes with a characteristic of breathy voice. Stops are normally unreleased at the end of an utterance.

Fricatives and the voiceless alveolar tap are found in complementary distribution with ungeminated voiceless stops and affricates: [3]

A glottal stop [ʔ] can also be heard in word-initial position, or in other intervocalic positions. In slow speech, it may also be heard as a murmured fricative [ɦ]. [3]

Vowels

Kumam has ten vowels, forming an asymmetric vowel harmony system based on advanced and retracted tongue root, wherein the presence of advanced tongue root vowels [+ATR] may change retracted tongue root vowels [-ATR], but the reverse does not hold. Vowels can be lengthened but in a predictable manner. [3]

[+ATR][-ATR]
Front Central Back Front Central Back
Close i u ɪ ʊ
Mid e ə o ɛ ɔ
Open a

Writing system

Lango alphabet [9]
abcdeëgiïjklmnŋnyoöprtuüwy

Long vowels are indicated by doubling the vowel: ⟨aa, ee, ëë, ii, ïï, oo, öö, uu, üü⟩.

References

  1. ↑ Lango at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  2. ↑ Glottopedia article on Lango language.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Noonan, Michael (2011). A Grammar of Lango. doi:10.1515/9783110850512. ISBN   9783110850512.
  4. ↑ "No difference between Langi and Karamajong".
  5. ↑ "BANTU CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC SHIFT".
  6. ↑ Uzoigwe, G. N. The beginnings of Lango society : a review of evidence. OCLC   38562622.
  7. ↑ Uzoigwe, G. N. (1973). The beginnings of Lango society : a review of evidence. OCLC   38562622.
  8. ↑ "Museveni to grace first Ateker reunion fete".
  9. ↑ Teacher's Guide Lëblaŋo: An atwërö kwan kede cöc (PDF). Uganda Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports, National Curriculum Development Centre. 2014. p. 286.
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