Nilotic
EthnicityNilotic peoples
Geographic
distribution
Southwestern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, northeastern Congo (DRC), northern/eastern Uganda, western/southern Kenya and northern Tanzania
Native speakers
14 million[1]
Linguistic classificationNilo-Saharan?
Subdivisions
Glottolognilo1247
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.

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 voiceless p t c k (q)
voiced b 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:[9]

ClassificationLanguage12345678910
Eastern, BariBariɡɛ́lɛ̀ŋmʊ̀rɛ́kmʊ̀sálàɪ́ŋwànmʊ̀kánàtbúkɛ̀rbúryòbúdö̀kbʊ́ŋwànpúwö̀k
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, LotuxoLopitF/ M nàbóìtóì / lòbóìtóìlòhórìk, ariklòhúnìklóŋwánmìyét (litː < 'hand')ilehatarik (5 + 2)hotohunɪk (5 + 3)hotoŋwan (5 + 4)tomon
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, LotuxoLotuho (Lotuxo) (1)ábótèáréhèhúníheáŋwànmìyyàt (litː < 'hand')ɪ́llehàtmɪk (5 + 2)hùtohunɪk (5 + 3)hùtoŋwan (5 + 4)tòmmòn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, LotuxoLotuho (Lotuxo) (2)ʌ̀bóíté / âbotyeʌ̀ríxèy / árrexaixúnixòì / xunixoiaŋwânmíèt < 'hand'ɪ́llɛ́xáttàrɪ̀k (5 + 2)xóttóxúnìk (5 + 3)xɔ́ttɔ́ŋwàn (5 + 4)tɔ́mɔ̀n
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-MaaMaasainabô (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-MaaSamburunaɓô (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, TesoTeso (Ateso) (1)ìdʸòpétìɑɾèíwúnííwóŋóníkɑ̀ɲíkɑ̀ɲɑ̂pè (5 + 1)íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂ɾè (5 + 2)íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wùní (5 + 3)íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wòŋòn (5 + 4)ítòmòn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, TesoTeso (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, TurkanaKaramojong (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, TurkanaKaramojong (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, TurkanaNyangatoma-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, TurkanaToposapéìáréìʊ́nìɔ́ŋwɔ́nkànì̥ < 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, TurkanaTurkanaa-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, ElgonKupsabiny (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, ElgonSabaot (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, MarkwetaCherang'anyàkɛ́ɛ́ŋkɛ̀ʌ́yíínsómòkáŋwaanmúútlɔ̀tɪsápsìsítsʌ́ɡʌ́ltámán
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, MarkwetaEndo (Marakwet)ɒ́kɔ́ːŋɔərèːɲsómókɒ́ŋwɒ̀nmùːtlɔ́tɪ́sɔ́psisíːtsɔkɔ̀ːltɒmɒn
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, NandiKeiyoàkɛ́ŋɡɛ̂ / àɛ́ŋɡɛ̂aɛ́ːŋ /aɛ́ːɲsɔ̀mɔ̂kàŋwànmʊ́ːtlɔ̂tɪ̀sâpsɪ̀sɪ́ːtsɔ́kɔ́ːltámán
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, NandiTugenàɣééɲɡéàééɲsómókàɲwánmúúttísápsìsíítsóɣóòltàmán
Southern, Kalenjin, OkiekAkie (Okiek)akɛɛnkɛayensomokaŋwànmʊ́ʊ́tílɛnápíʃanaísíêtnáúdotaman
Southern, Kalenjin, PokotPökoot (Suk)àkɔ́ɔ́ŋkɔ̀oɣë̀ë̀ŋ / òdë̀ë̀ŋsä́mä́kàŋwânmúutmúut ŋɡɔ́ àkɔ́ɔ́ŋɔ̀ (5 + 1)múut ŋɡɔ́ òdë̀ë̀ŋ (5 + 2)múut ŋɡɔ́ sä́mä́k (5 + 3)múut ŋɡɔ́ àŋwân (5 + 4)támàn
Southern, TatogaAsimjeeg Datooga (1)àkàlɛːlɛ̀ː / ák / (àqàlɛːlɛ̀ː)íjèɲsàmòɡwàŋwànmùːtísːpòsìsʃàɡàʃdàmàn
Southern, TatogaDatooga (2)ɑ̀ɡiíiyèeɲɑsɑ́mɑ̀ɡuɑ́ŋwɑ́nmʊ̀ʊtlɑ́íispɑ̀sísʃɑ́ɡɛ̀ɛʃdɑ̀mɑ́nɑ́mʊ́qʊ̀ʊʃ
Southern, TatogaDatooga (3)ʔàɡiíyèeɲasàmàɡuʔàŋwànmùuti ~ bánàakta mùutilàhìsbà ~ isbwàsìss ~ sìsʃàɡèeʃʃ ~ ʃàɡèeʃdàmáná múqùuʃ
Western, Dinka-Nuer, DinkaDinka Agaarʈɔ́krɔ́ʷdʲákŋʊ̀ʷânðíɟðɛ̀ʈemðɜ̀rʊ́ʷbɛ̀ʈðɔ̀ŋʊ́ʷànt̪íʲàːr
Western, Dinka-Nuer, DinkaDinka Padangtò̤kròwdyá̤kŋwánd̪yì̤cd̪ètémd̪ɔ̀rɔ́wbɛ̤́td̪ɔ̀ŋwánt̪yɛ́ɛ̀r
Western, Dinka-Nuer, NuerNuer (1)kɛ̀ːlrɜ̀ʷdɪʲɔ̂kŋʊ́ʷǎnðɪ́ʲɛ̀ɟbakɛ̀l (5 + 1)bàraʷ (5 + 2)bɛ̀dak (5 + 3)bɜ̀ŋʊ́ʷǎn (5 + 4)wɜ́ːl
Western, Dinka-Nuer, NuerNuer (2)kɛ́ɛ̀lrɛ̌wdyɔ̌kŋwánd̪yè̤cbʌ̤́kɛ̀l (5 + 1)bʌ̤rɔ̀w (5 + 2)bʌ̤̀dá̤k (5 + 3)bʌ̤́ŋwàn (5 + 4)wá̤l
Western, Luo, Northern, AnuakAnuak(Anyua) (1)àcíɛ̀làríyɔ̀àdʌ́kàŋwɛ́ɛ́nàbícàbícìɛ̀l (5+ 1)àbíríyɔ̀ (5+ 2)àbárà (5+ 3)àbíŋwɛ̀ɛ̀n (5+ 4)àpár
Western, Luo, Northern, AnuakAnuak (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, BorBelanda Borákɛɛ̂larɛ̂wàdéɡàŋwɛ́nàbícàbíc kúkɛ́l (5+ 1)àbíc kúrɛ̂w (5+ 2)àbíc kùdēēk (5+ 3)àbíc kúŋwɛ̂n (5+ 4)áfaàr
Western, Luo, Northern, JurLuwoáciɛ̄lɔ́á̟riɔ̄wá̟dá̟ɡáŋwɛ̄ːnàbī̟ːjábíciɛ̄l (5 + 1)ábɛ́riɔ̄w (5 + 2)á̟bɛ̟́dā̟ɡ (5 + 3)ábɛ́ŋwɛ̄ːn (5 + 4)āpāːr
Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, BurunBurun (Mayak)kɛɛl / kɛ̀ɛlrɛɛ / rɛ̄ɖʌk /ɖʌ̄kŋan / ŋānd̪oc / dōocɖowk /ɖɔ́ùkŋat̪ukɛl / ŋàtúkɛ́lŋunu / ŋɔ̀nʊ́ɟucukɛl / ɲùcúkɛ́lcaac / cáac
Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, MabaanMabaancyɛ́ɛlɔ̀yɛ́ɛwɔ̀ɗɔ́ɔ́ɡɔ́ŋáánɔ̀d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ 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, ShillukShillukàkjɛ̀láɾjɛ̀wádə̀káŋwɛ̀nábîcábîkjɛ̀l (5 + 1)abìɾjɛ̀w (5 + 2)àbîdèk (5 + 3)ábîŋwɛ̀n (5 + 4)pjáár
Western, Luo, Northern, ThuriThuriácîelaríòwádeèkàŋwɛɛ̀nàbíícabícbícèl (5+ 1)àbícbə́riə́ɔ̀w (5+ 2)àbícbídèk (5+ 3)àbíc bə́ŋwɛ́ɛn (5+ 4)ápaàr
Western, Luo, Northern, UnclassifiedPäri (Lokoro) (1)ácɛ̀lɔ́árìyɔ́ádòɡóáŋwɛ̀nɔ́ábìd͡ʒɔ́àbícɛ̀lɔ́ (5+ 1)àbírìyɔ́ (5+ 2)ábʌ̄rà (5+ 3)ábúŋwɛ̀nɔ́ (5+ 4)ápàr
Western, Luo, Northern, UnclassifiedPäri (Lokoro) (2)acyelo, tookaryo, ireekadöɡo, ɡalaaŋwenoabijo, kunatabicyelo (5+ 1), bukelabiryo (5+ 2), buryoabidö̈ɡo, aböra (5+ 3), bodökabuŋweno (5+ 4), buŋwanapar
Western, Luo, Southern, AdholaAdhola (1)ɑ́cêrɑ́rîoɑ́dêːkɑ́ŋʷênɑ́bîːcɑ̀ᵘcèr (5+ 1)ɑ̀bírîo (5+ 2)ɑ́bôːrò (5+ 3)ɑ̀búŋʷèn (5+ 4)ɑ́pɑ̂ːr
Western, Luo, Southern, AdholaAdhola (2)àcíɛlàríóàdeékàŋwɛɛ̂nàbîcàwúciɛ̄l (5+ 1)àbíirò (5+ 2)àbɔ́ɔ̀rò (5+ 3)àbúŋwɛ́n (5+ 4)ápāar
Western, Luo, Southern, KumamKumamɑ̀cɛ́lɑ̀réɑ̀dēkòŋwɔ́nkɑ̄ɲkɑ́ɲ ɑ̀pé (5 + 1)kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ré (5 + 2)kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀wūní (5 + 3)kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ŋɔ́n (5 + 4)tɔ̄mɔ́n
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, AlurAluràcìɛ̄làríɔ̀àdékàŋùénàbîcàbúcìɛ̀l (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,Acholiàcɛ̂làryɔ̂àdêkàŋwɛ̂nàbîcàbícɛ̀l (5 + 1)àbíryɔ̀ (5 + 2)àbórò (5 + 3)  ??àbóŋwɛ̀n (5 + 4)àpâr
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, LuoDholuoàcìɛ̄làríɔ̀àdékàŋùénàbîcàúcìɛ̀l (5+ 1)àbíríɔ̀ (5+ 2)àborôɔ́cíkɔ̀àpáàr

See also

Further reading

References

  1. "Nilo-Saharan languages summary | Britannica".
  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.
  • Creider, Chet A. (1989). The syntax of the Nilotic languages: Themes and variations. Berlin: D. Reimer. ISBN 3-496-00483-5.
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