Nilotic languages

Last updated
Nilotic
Geographic
distribution		Southwestern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, northeastern Congo (DRC), northern/eastern Uganda, western/southern Kenya, and northern Tanzania
Ethnicity Nilotic peoples
Native speakers
31 million [1]
Linguistic classification Nilo-Saharan?
Proto-language Proto-Nilotic
Subdivisions
Language codes
Glottolog nilo1247
Nilotic languages.png
Region where Nilotic languages are spoken

The Nilotic languages are languages spoken across wide areas between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania by the Nilotic peoples. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Etymology

The word Nilotic means of or relating to the Nile River or to the Nile region of Africa. The Nile River runs from Rwanda through various countries upto Egypt [6] [7] .

Demographics

Nilotic peoples, who are the native speakers of the languages, originally migrated from the Gezira area in Sudan. Nilotic language speakers live in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. [8]

Subdivisions

According to linguist Joseph Greenberg, the language family is divided up into three subgroups: [9]

It is important to note that these Nilotic languages' groupings are geographical classifications rather than mutual intelligibility. For instance, the Dinka is a different language from the Luo, which is also different from Nuer etc. Some words may sound similar due to shared location although these are distinct ethnic groups, with distinct speeches. [3] [ citation needed ] Dinka and Nuer languages are not mutually intelligible but they share a common vocalbulary since both languages are related Western Nilotic languages. [10]

Before Greenberg's reclassification, Nilotic was used to refer to Western Nilotic alone, with the other two being grouped as related "Nilo-Hamitic" languages. [11]

Blench (2012) treats the Burun languages as a fourth subgroup of Nilotic. [12] In previous classifications, the languages were included within the Luo languages. Starostin (2015) treats the Mabaan-Burun languages as "West Nilotic" but outside the Luo level. [13]

Reconstruction

Over 200 Proto-Nilotic lexical roots have been reconstructed by Dimmendaal (1988). [14] Dimmendaal reconstructs the Proto-Nilotic consonants as follows:

Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular
Plosive voiceless p t̪ t c k ( q )
voiced b d̪ d ( ɟ ) ɡ
Fricative s ʀ
Implosive ɓ ɗ ʄ
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Trill r
Lateral l
Approximant j w

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages: [15]

ClassificationLanguage12345678910
Eastern, Bari Bari ɡɛ́lɛ̀ŋmʊ̀rɛ́kmʊ̀sálàɪ́ŋwànmʊ̀kánàtbúkɛ̀rbúryòbúdö̀kbʊ́ŋwànpúwö̀k
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo Lopit F/ M nàbóìtóì / lòbóìtóìlòhórìk, ariklòhúnìklóŋwánmìyét (litː < 'hand')ilehatarik (5 + 2)hotohunɪk (5 + 3)hotoŋwan (5 + 4)tomon
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo Lotuho (Lotuxo) (1)ábótèáréhèhúníheáŋwànmìyyàt (litː < 'hand')ɪ́llehàtmɪk (5 + 2)hùtohunɪk (5 + 3)hùtoŋwan (5 + 4)tòmmòn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo Lotuho (Lotuxo) (2)ʌ̀bóíté / âbotyeʌ̀ríxèy / árrexaixúnixòì / xunixoiaŋwânmíèt < 'hand'ɪ́llɛ́xáttàrɪ̀k (5 + 2)xóttóxúnìk (5 + 3)xɔ́ttɔ́ŋwàn (5 + 4)tɔ́mɔ̀n
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-Maa Maasai nabô (fem), obô (masc), nebô (place)aré (fem), aàre/ɔáre (masc)uní (fem), okúni (masc)oŋwán (fem), oóŋwan (masc)ímíêtílɛ̂ / íllɛ̂naápishana (f.), oópishana (m.)ísíêt < Kalenjinnaáudo (fem), oódó (masc)tɔ́mɔ̂n < Kalenjin
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-Maa Samburu naɓô (fem), oɓô (masc), noɓô (place)aré (fem), waáre (masc)uní (fem), okúni (masc)onɠwán (fem), oónɠwan (masc)ímɟêt / ímʄêtílêsápâísɟêt / ísʄêt < Kalenjinsâːltômôn < Kalenjin
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Teso Teso (Ateso) (1)ìdʸòpétìɑɾèíwúnííwóŋóníkɑ̀ɲíkɑ̀ɲɑ̂pè (5 + 1)íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂ɾè (5 + 2)íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wùní (5 + 3)íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wòŋòn (5 + 4)ítòmòn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Teso Teso (Ateso) (2)-diope-árèy-(w)únì-oŋôn-kaɲ < 'hand'kaɲ kape (5 + 1)kaɲ karey (5 + 2)kaɲ kauni (5 + 3)kaɲ kaoŋon (5 + 4)tɔ́mɔ̀n
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana Karamojong (Dodotho) (1)ɲípéíŋíááréíŋúúníŋóómwánŋííkan (< hand)ŋíkan ka péí (5 + 1)ŋíkan ka áréí (5 + 2)ŋíkan ka úní (5 + 3)ŋíkan ko ómwán (5 + 4)ŋítomón
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana Karamojong (2)ɛpeiŋiareiŋiuniŋiomwɔnŋikan < handŋíkàn kà-pei (5 + 1)ŋíkàn kà-arei (5 + 2)ŋíkàn kà-uni (5 + 3)ŋíkàn kà-omwɔn (5 + 4)ŋítɔ̀mɔ́n
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana Nyangatom a-péy ̀ŋa-áréy ̀ŋa-uní ̀ŋa-omwɔn ̀ŋa-kànɪ (litː hand)ŋa-kanɪ̀ ka-pey (5 + 1)ŋa-kanɪ̀ ka-arey (5 + 2)ŋa-kanɪ ka-uni (5 + 3)ŋa-kanɪ ka-omwɔn (5 + 4)ŋa-tɔ̀mɔn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana Toposa péìáréìʊ́nìɔ́ŋwɔ́nkànì̥ < handkànì̥ kà-péì (5 + 1)kànì̥ kà-àréì (5 + 2)kànì̥ kà-ʊ́ní (5 + 3)kànì̥ kà-ɔ́ŋwɔ́n (5 + 4)tɔ̀mɔ́ní̥
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana Turkana a-péy ̀ŋa-áréy ̀ŋa-úní ̀ŋa-ómwɔ̀n ̀ŋa-kànɪ̥ < handŋa-kanɪ ka-péy (5 + 1)ŋa-kanɪ ka-áréy (5 + 2)ŋa-kanɪ ka-úní (5 + 3)ŋa-kanɪ ka-ómwɔ̀n (5 + 4)ŋa-tɔ̀mɔn
Southern, Kalenjin, Elgon Kupsabiny (Sebei) aɡeenɡe [akɛ́ːŋkɛ]äyëëny [ɑréːɲ]sömök [sómok]anɡʼwan [aŋwán]müüt [múːt]müüt äk aɡeenɡe [múːt ɑk akɛ́ːŋkɛ]müüt äk äyëëny (5 + 2)müüt äk sömök (5 + 3)müüt äk anɡʼwan (5 + 4)taman [támán]
Southern, Kalenjin, Elgon Sabaot (Koony dialect) akeenke [ aɡɛ́ːŋɡɛ]āyēēnɡʼ [ɑyéːŋ]sōmōk [sómok]anɡʼwan [aŋwán]mūūt / muut [múːt]lo [lɑ]tisab [tɪ́sap]sisiit [sɪsɪ́ːt]sokool [sɑ́kɑːl]taman [támán]
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Markweta Cherang'any àkɛ́ɛ́ŋkɛ̀ʌ́yíínsómòkáŋwaanmúútlɔ̀tɪsápsìsítsʌ́ɡʌ́ltámán
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Markweta Endo (Marakwet) ɒ́kɔ́ːŋɔərèːɲsómókɒ́ŋwɒ̀nmùːtlɔ́tɪ́sɔ́psisíːtsɔkɔ̀ːltɒmɒn
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Nandi Keiyo àkɛ́ŋɡɛ̂ / àɛ́ŋɡɛ̂aɛ́ːŋ /aɛ́ːɲsɔ̀mɔ̂kàŋwànmʊ́ːtlɔ̂tɪ̀sâpsɪ̀sɪ́ːtsɔ́kɔ́ːltámán
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Nandi Tugen àɣééɲɡéàééɲsómókàɲwánmúútlótísápsìsíítsóɣóòltàmán
Southern, Kalenjin, Okiek Akie (Okiek) akɛɛnkɛayensomokaŋwànmʊ́ʊ́tílɛnápíʃanaísíêtnáúdotaman
Southern, Kalenjin, Pokot Pökoot (Suk) àkɔ́ɔ́ŋkɔ̀oɣë̀ë̀ŋ / òdë̀ë̀ŋsä́mä́kàŋwânmúutmúut ŋɡɔ́ àkɔ́ɔ́ŋɔ̀ (5 + 1)múut ŋɡɔ́ òdë̀ë̀ŋ (5 + 2)múut ŋɡɔ́ sä́mä́k (5 + 3)múut ŋɡɔ́ àŋwân (5 + 4)támàn
Southern, Tatoga Asimjeeg Datooga (1)àkàlɛːlɛ̀ː / ák / (àqàlɛːlɛ̀ː)íjèɲsàmòɡwàŋwànmùːtláísːpòsìsʃàɡàʃdàmàn
Southern, Tatoga Datooga (2)ɑ̀ɡiíiyèeɲɑsɑ́mɑ̀ɡuɑ́ŋwɑ́nmʊ̀ʊtlɑ́íispɑ̀sísʃɑ́ɡɛ̀ɛʃdɑ̀mɑ́nɑ́mʊ́qʊ̀ʊʃ
Southern, Tatoga Datooga (3)ʔàɡiíyèeɲasàmàɡuʔàŋwànmùuti ~ bánàakta mùutilàhìsbà ~ isbwàsìss ~ sìsʃàɡèeʃʃ ~ ʃàɡèeʃdàmáná múqùuʃ
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Dinka Dinka Agaar ʈɔ́krɔ́ʷdʲákŋʊ̀ʷânðíɟðɛ̀ʈemðɜ̀rʊ́ʷbɛ̀ʈðɔ̀ŋʊ́ʷànt̪íʲàːr
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Dinka Dinka Padang tò̤kròwdyá̤kŋwánd̪yì̤cd̪ètémd̪ɔ̀rɔ́wbɛ̤́td̪ɔ̀ŋwánt̪yɛ́ɛ̀r
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Nuer Nuer (1)kɛ̀ːlrɜ̀ʷdɪʲɔ̂kŋʊ́ʷǎnðɪ́ʲɛ̀ɟbakɛ̀l (5 + 1)bàraʷ (5 + 2)bɛ̀dak (5 + 3)bɜ̀ŋʊ́ʷǎn (5 + 4)wɜ́ːl
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Nuer Nuer (2)kɛ́ɛ̀lrɛ̌wdyɔ̌kŋwánd̪yè̤cbʌ̤́kɛ̀l (5 + 1)bʌ̤rɔ̀w (5 + 2)bʌ̤̀dá̤k (5 + 3)bʌ̤́ŋwàn (5 + 4)wá̤l
Western, Luo, Northern, Anuak Anuak(Anyua) (1)àcíɛ̀làríyɔ̀àdʌ́kàŋwɛ́ɛ́nàbícàbícìɛ̀l (5+ 1)àbíríyɔ̀ (5+ 2)àbárà (5+ 3)àbíŋwɛ̀ɛ̀n (5+ 4)àpár
Western, Luo, Northern, Anuak Anuak (2)aciel / acíɛ̀lariio̤ / aríɪàwada̤k / adʌ́ɡaŋween / aŋwɛ́ɛnabi̤i̤c / abíiɟabi̤ciel / abícíɛ̀l (5+ 1)abi̤riio̤ /abíríɪàw (5+ 2)aba̤ra / abʌ́rʌ́ (5+ 3)abi̤ŋween / abíŋwɛ̀ɛn (5+ 4)apaar / apáar
Western, Luo, Northern, Bor Belanda Bor ákɛɛ̂larɛ̂wàdéɡàŋwɛ́nàbícàbíc kúkɛ́l (5+ 1)àbíc kúrɛ̂w (5+ 2)àbíc kùdēēk (5+ 3)àbíc kúŋwɛ̂n (5+ 4)áfaàr
Western, Luo, Northern, Jur Luwo áciɛ̄lɔ́á̟riɔ̄wá̟dá̟ɡáŋwɛ̄ːnàbī̟ːjábíciɛ̄l (5 + 1)ábɛ́riɔ̄w (5 + 2)á̟bɛ̟́dā̟ɡ (5 + 3)ábɛ́ŋwɛ̄ːn (5 + 4)āpāːr
Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, Burun Burun (Mayak) kɛɛl / kɛ̀ɛlrɛɛ / rɛ̄ɖʌk /ɖʌ̄kŋan / ŋānd̪oc / dōocɖowk /ɖɔ́ùkŋat̪ukɛl / ŋàtúkɛ́lŋunu / ŋɔ̀nʊ́ɟucukɛl / ɲùcúkɛ́lcaac / cáac
Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, Mabaan Mabaan cyɛ́ɛlɔ̀yɛ́ɛwɔ̀ɗɔ́ɔ́ɡɔ́ŋáánɔ̀d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wílin nè cyɛ́ɛlɔ̀ (5 + 1)d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè yɛ́ɛwɔ̀ (5 + 2)d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè ɗɔ́ɔ́ɡɔ́ (5 + 3)d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè ŋáánɔ̀ (5 + 4)ínyáákkɛ̀n (lit: both hands)
Western, Luo, Northern, Shilluk Shilluk àkjɛ̀láɾjɛ̀wádə̀káŋwɛ̀nábîcábîkjɛ̀l (5 + 1)abìɾjɛ̀w (5 + 2)àbîdèk (5 + 3)ábîŋwɛ̀n (5 + 4)pjáár
Western, Luo, Northern, Thuri Thuri ácîelaríòwádeèkàŋwɛɛ̀nàbíícabícbícèl (5+ 1)àbícbə́riə́ɔ̀w (5+ 2)àbícbídèk (5+ 3)àbíc bə́ŋwɛ́ɛn (5+ 4)ápaàr
Western, Luo, Northern, Unclassified Päri (Lokoro) (1)ácɛ̀lɔ́árìyɔ́ádòɡóáŋwɛ̀nɔ́ábìd͡ʒɔ́àbícɛ̀lɔ́ (5+ 1)àbírìyɔ́ (5+ 2)ábʌ̄rà (5+ 3)ábúŋwɛ̀nɔ́ (5+ 4)ápàr
Western, Luo, Northern, Unclassified Päri (Lokoro) (2)acyelo, tookaryo, ireekadöɡo, ɡalaaŋwenoabijo, kunatabicyelo (5+ 1), bukelabiryo (5+ 2), buryoabidö̈ɡo, aböra (5+ 3), bodökabuŋweno (5+ 4), buŋwanapar
Western, Luo, Southern, Adhola Adhola (1)ɑ́cêrɑ́rîoɑ́dêːkɑ́ŋʷênɑ́bîːcɑ̀ᵘcèr (5+ 1)ɑ̀bírîo (5+ 2)ɑ́bôːrò (5+ 3)ɑ̀búŋʷèn (5+ 4)ɑ́pɑ̂ːr
Western, Luo, Southern, Adhola Adhola (2)àcíɛlàríóàdeékàŋwɛɛ̂nàbîcàwúciɛ̄l (5+ 1)àbíirò (5+ 2)àbɔ́ɔ̀rò (5+ 3)àbúŋwɛ́n (5+ 4)ápāar
Western, Luo, Southern, Kumam Kumam ɑ̀cɛ́lɑ̀réɑ̀dēkòŋwɔ́nkɑ̄ɲkɑ́ɲ ɑ̀pé (5 + 1)kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ré (5 + 2)kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀wūní (5 + 3)kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ŋɔ́n (5 + 4)tɔ̄mɔ́n
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Alur Alur àcìɛ̄làríɔ̀àdékàŋùénàbîcàbúcìɛ̀l (5+ 1)àbírɔ́ (5+ 2)àboônà (5+ 3)àbúŋwɛ̄ɛ̄n (5+ 4)àpáàr
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Acholi (Labwor) àcíèlàríòàdékàŋwɛ̂nàbîcàbícíèl (5+ 1)àbíìrɔ́ (5+ 2)àboôrà (5+ 3)àbúŋwɛ́n (5+ 4)àpáàr
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Acholi àcɛ̂làryɔ̂àdêkàŋwɛ̂nàbîcàbícɛ̀l (5 + 1)àbíryɔ̀ (5 + 2)àbórò (5 + 3)  ??àbóŋwɛ̀n (5 + 4)àpâr
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Luo Dholuo àcìɛ̄làríɔ̀àdékàŋùénàbîcàúcìɛ̀l (5+ 1)àbíríɔ̀ (5+ 2)àborôɔ́cíkɔ̀àpáàr

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ "Nilotic; Ethnologue".
  2. ↑ "Egyptians and Nubians".
  3. 1 2 "The Nilotic Languages-a Comparative Essay" (PDF). Retrieved 2026-01-17.
  4. ↑ Barrett, E. Caitlin Cornell University (2013). "Nilotic Scenes, Egyptian Religion, and Roman Perceptions". Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections.
  5. ↑ "Historical morphology of Nilotic languages" . Retrieved 2026-01-17.
  6. ↑ "the definition of Nilotic". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  7. ↑ "countries of Nile River" . Retrieved 2026-01-09.
  8. ↑ Payne, Doris. "Nilotic Family". pages.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  9. ↑ Barnard, Alan; Spencer, Jonathan (1996). Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Taylor & Francis. p. 10. ISBN   9780415099967.
  10. ↑ "Dinka-Nuer are not mutually intelligible".
  11. ↑ Ki-Zerbo, Joseph (1981). Methodology and African Prehistory. UNESCO. p. 306. ISBN   9789231017070.
  12. ↑ Roger Blench (2012) Nilo-Saharan language list
  13. ↑ George Starostin (2015) The Eastern Sudanic hypothesis tested through lexicostatistics: current state of affairs (Draft 1.0)
  14. ↑ Dimmendaal, Gerrit Jan. 1988. "The lexical reconstruction of proto-Nilotic: a first reconnaissance." Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere (AAP) 16: 5-67.
  15. ↑ Chan, Eugene (2019). "The Nilo-Saharan Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.