Nilotic languages

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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 a group of related languages spoken across a wide area between South Sudan and Tanzania by the Nilotic peoples.

Contents

Etymology

The word Nilotic means of or relating to the Nile River or to the Nile region of Africa. [2]

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. [3]

Subdivisions

According to linguist Joseph Greenberg, the language family is divided up into three subgroups: [4]

Before Greenberg's reclassification, Nilotic was used to refer to Western Nilotic alone, with the other two being grouped as related "Nilo-Hamitic" languages. [5]

Blench (2012) treats the Burun languages as a fourth subgroup of Nilotic. [6] 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. [7]

Reconstruction

Over 200 Proto-Nilotic lexical roots have been reconstructed by Dimmendaal (1988). [8] Dimmendaal reconstructs the proto Nilotic consonants as follows:

Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular
Plosive voicelesspt̪tck(q)
voicedbd̪d(ɟ)ɡ
Fricative sʀ
Implosive ɓɗʄ
Nasal mnɲŋ
Trill r
Lateral l
Approximant jw

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages: [9]

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kordofanian languages</span> Geographic grouping of five language groups spoken in parts of Sudan

The Kordofanian languages are a geographic grouping of five language groups spoken in the Nuba Mountains of the South Kordofan region of Sudan: Talodi–Heiban languages, Lafofa languages, Rashad languages, Katla languages and Kadu languages. The first four groups are sometimes regarded as branches of the hypothetical Niger–Congo family, whereas Kadu is now widely seen as a branch of the proposed Nilo-Saharan family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niger–Congo languages</span> Large language family of Sub-Saharan Africa

Niger–Congo is a hypothetical language family spoken over the majority of sub-Saharan Africa. It unites the Mande languages, the Atlantic–Congo languages, and possibly several smaller groups of languages that are difficult to classify. If valid, Niger–Congo would be the world's largest in terms of member languages, the third-largest in terms of speakers, and Africa's largest in terms of geographical area. Austronesian has almost as many member languages, although this is complicated by the ambiguity about what constitutes a distinct language; the number of named Niger–Congo languages listed by Ethnologue is 1,540.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nilo-Saharan languages</span> Proposed family of African languages

The Nilo-Saharan languages are a proposed family of around 210 African languages spoken by somewhere around 70 million speakers, mainly in the upper parts of the Chari and Nile rivers, including historic Nubia, north of where the two tributaries of the Nile meet. The languages extend through 17 nations in the northern half of Africa: from Algeria to Benin in the west; from Libya to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the centre; and from Egypt to Tanzania in the east.

The Nilotic people are people indigenous to the South Sudan and the East Africa who speak the Nilotic languages. They inhabit South Sudan and the Gambela Region of Ethiopia, while also being a large minority in Kenya, Uganda, the north eastern border area of Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania. The Nilotic peoples consist of the Dinka, the Nuer, the Shilluk, the Luo peoples, the Alur, the Anuak, the Ateker peoples, the Kalenjin people and the Karamojong people also known as the Karamojong or Karimojong,Chaga people, Ngasa people, Datooga, Samburu, and the Maa-speaking peoples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koman languages</span> Family of languages used along the Sudan–Ethiopia border

The Koman languages are a small close-knit family of languages located along the Ethiopia–Sudan border with about 50,000 speakers. They are conventionally classified as part of the Nilo-Saharan family. However, due to the paucity of evidence, many scholars treat it as an independent language family. Among scholars who do accept its inclusion within Nilo-Saharan, opinions vary as to their position within it.

The Eastern Nilotic languages are one of the three primary branches of the Nilotic languages, themselves belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subfamily of Nilo-Saharan; they are believed to have begun to diverge about 3,000 years ago, and have spread southwards from an original home in Equatoria in South Sudan. They are spoken across a large area in East Africa, ranging from Equatoria to the highlands of Tanzania. Their speakers are mostly cattle herders living in semi-arid or arid plains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saharan languages</span> Small language family in the East Sahara desert

The Saharan languages are a small family of languages across parts of the eastern Sahara, extending from northwestern Sudan to southern Libya, north and central Chad, eastern Niger and northeastern Nigeria. Noted Saharan languages include Kanuri, Daza, Teda, and Zaghawa. They have been classified as part of the hypothetical but controversial Nilo-Saharan family.

The Western Nilotic languages are one of the three primary branches of the Nilotic languages, along with the Eastern Nilotic languages and Southern Nilotic languages; Themselves belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subfamily of Nilo-Saharan. The about 22 Western Nilotic languages are spoken in an area ranging from southwestern Ethiopia and South Sudan via northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and northern Uganda to southwestern Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuliak languages</span> Family of languages

The Kuliak languages, also called the Rub languages, are a group of languages spoken by small relict communities in the mountainous Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Sudanic languages</span> Proposed language family

In most classifications, the Eastern Sudanic languages are a group of nine families of languages that may constitute a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. Eastern Sudanic languages are spoken from southern Egypt to northern Tanzania.

The Maa languages are a group of closely related Eastern Nilotic languages spoken in parts of Kenya and Tanzania by more than a million speakers. They are subdivided into North and South Maa. The Maa languages are related to the Lotuko languages spoken in South Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Sudanic languages</span> Nilo-Saharan language family of Central Africa

Central Sudanic is a family of about sixty languages that have been included in the proposed Nilo-Saharan language family. Central Sudanic languages are spoken in the Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Cameroon. They include the pygmy languages Efé and Asoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadu languages</span> Small language family of southern Sudan

The Kadu languages, also known as Kadugli–Krongo or Tumtum, are a small language family of the Kordofanian geographic grouping, once included in Niger–Congo. However, since Thilo Schadeberg (1981), Kadu is widely seen as Nilo-Saharan. Evidence for a Niger-Congo affiliation is rejected, and a Nilo-Saharan relationship is controversial. A conservative classification would treat the Kadu languages as an independent family.

The Surmic languages are a branch of the Eastern Sudanic language family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maban languages</span> Language family of Central Africa

The Maban languages are a small family of languages which have been included in the hypothetical Nilo-Saharan language family.

The Northern Eastern Sudanic, Eastern k Sudanic, Ek Sudanic, NNT or Astaboran languages may form a primary division of the proposed Eastern Sudanic family. They are characterised by having a /k/ in the first person singular pronoun "I/me", as opposed to the Southern Eastern Sudanic languages, which have an /n/. Nyima has yet to be conclusively linked to the other languages, and would appear to be the closest relative of Ek Sudanic rather than Ek Sudanic proper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talodi–Heiban languages</span> Proposed branch of Niger–Congo of southern Sudan

The Talodi–Heiban languages are a proposed branch of the hypothetical Niger–Congo family, spoken in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. The Talodi and Heiban languages are thought to be distantly related by Dimmendaal, though Glottolog 4.4 does not accept the unity of Talodi–Heiban pending further evidence.

Shemya is the language of the Sinyar people. It is a Central Sudanic language spoken in Chad and formerly in Darfur, Sudan. It is variously spelled Shamya, Shamyan, Shemya, Sinya, and known as Symiarta, Taar Shamyan, Zimirra.

The Burun languages are a branch of the Nilotic languages. They include:

Proto-Niger–Congo is the hypothetical reconstructed proto-language of the proposed Niger–Congo language family.

References

  1. ↑ "Nilotic; Ethnologue".
  2. ↑ "the definition of Nilotic". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  3. ↑ Payne, Doris. "Nilotic Family". pages.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  4. ↑ Barnard, Alan; Spencer, Jonathan (1996). Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Taylor & Francis. p. 10. ISBN   9780415099967.
  5. ↑ Ki-Zerbo, Joseph (1981). Methodology and African Prehistory. UNESCO. p. 306. ISBN   9789231017070.
  6. ↑ Roger Blench (2012) Nilo-Saharan language list
  7. ↑ George Starostin (2015) The Eastern Sudanic hypothesis tested through lexicostatistics: current state of affairs (Draft 1.0)
  8. ↑ Dimmendaal, Gerrit Jan. 1988. "The lexical reconstruction of proto-Nilotic: a first reconnaissance." Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere (AAP) 16: 5-67.
  9. ↑ Chan, Eugene (2019). "The Nilo-Saharan Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.
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