Reel language

Last updated

Reel
Thuɔk ë Rëël
Native to South Sudan
Ethnicity Atwot
Native speakers
116,000 (2017) [1]
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3 atu
Glottolog reel1238
ELP Reel

Reel, or Atwot, is a Nilotic language of South Sudan that is closely related to Nuer. They call themselves Reel; Atwot is their Dinka name.

Contents

Phonology

Consonants

Consonants [2]
Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Plosive Voiceless p t c k ʔ
Voiced b d ɟ ɡ
Trill r
Approximant w j

// alternates with [ s ], /c/ with [ ç ], and /p/ with [ ɸ ]. [3] /ʔ/ becomes [ ɦ ] near breathy vowels. [4]

Vowels

Vowels [5]
Front Central Back
Close i u
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Low a

Reid (2010) finds seven vowel phonemes, considering voice quality and vowel length as suprasegmental distinctions. [6] Vowels have two voice qualities (modal and breathy) [7] and three lengths (short, long, and overlong). [8]

Tones

Reel has three toneshigh, low, and falling. [9]

See also

Notes

  1. Reel at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  2. Reid 2010, p. 36.
  3. Reid 2010, p. 37.
  4. Reid 2010, p. 38.
  5. Reid 2010, pp. 54, 64.
  6. Reid 2010, p. 54.
  7. Reid 2010, p. 55.
  8. Reid 2010, p. 56.
  9. Reid 2010, p. 117.

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References