Nilotic languages


The ??Nilotic languages are a group of related languages spoken across a wide area between South Sudan and Tanzania by the Nilotic peoples, who traditionally practice cattle-herding.

Etymology

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

Demographics

, 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.

Subdivisions

According to linguist Joseph Greenberg, the language family is divided up into three subgroups:
Before Greenberg's reclassification, Nilotic was used to refer to Western Nilotic alone, with the other two being grouped as related "Nilo-Hamitic" languages.
Blench treats the Burun languages as a fourth subgroup of Nilotic. In previous classifications, the languages were included within the Luo languages. Starostin treats the Mabaan-Burun languages as "West Nilotic" but outside the Luo level.

Reconstruction

Over 200 Proto-Nilotic lexical roots have been reconstructed by Dimmendaal.
Dimmendaal reconstructs the proto Nilotic consonants as follows:

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
ClassificationLanguage12345678910
Eastern, Bariɡɛ́lɛ̀ŋmʊ̀rɛ́kmʊ̀sálàɪ́ŋwànmʊ̀kánàtbúkɛ̀rbúryòbúdö̀kbʊ́ŋwànpúwö̀k
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, LotuxoF/ M nàbóìtóì / lòbóìtóìlòhórìk, ariklòhúnìklóŋwánmìyét ilehatarik hotohunɪk hotoŋwan tomon
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo ábótèáréhèhúníheáŋwànmìyyàt ɪ́llehàtmɪk hùtohunɪk hùtoŋwan tòmmòn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo ʌ̀bóíté / âbotyeʌ̀ríxèy / árrexaixúnixòì / xunixoiaŋwânmíèt < 'hand'ɪ́llɛ́xáttàrɪ̀k xóttóxúnìk xɔ́ttɔ́ŋwàn tɔ́mɔ̀n
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-Maanabô, obô, nebô aré, aàre/ɔáre uní, okúni oŋwán, oóŋwan ímíêtílɛ̂ / íllɛ̂naápishana, oópishana ísíêt < Kalenjinnaáudo, oódó tɔ́mɔ̂n < Kalenjin
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-Maanaɓô, oɓô, noɓô aré, waáre uní, okúni onɠwán, oónɠwan ímɟêt / ímʄêtílêsápâísɟêt / ísʄêt < Kalenjinsâːltômôn < Kalenjin
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Teso ìdʸòpétìɑɾèíwúnííwóŋóníkɑ̀ɲíkɑ̀ɲɑ̂pè íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂ɾè íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wùní íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wòŋòn ítòmòn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Teso -diope-árèy-únì-oŋôn-kaɲ < 'hand'kaɲ kape kaɲ karey kaɲ kauni kaɲ kaoŋon tɔ́mɔ̀n
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana ɲípéíŋíááréíŋúúníŋóómwánŋííkan ŋíkan ka péí ŋíkan ka áréí ŋíkan ka úní ŋíkan ko ómwán ŋítomón
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana ɛpeiŋiareiŋiuniŋiomwɔnŋikan < handŋíkàn kà-pei ŋíkàn kà-arei ŋíkàn kà-uni ŋíkàn kà-omwɔn ŋítɔ̀mɔ́n
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkanaa-péy ̀ŋa-áréy ̀ŋa-uní ̀ŋa-omwɔn ̀ŋa-kànɪ ŋa-kanɪ̀ ka-pey ŋa-kanɪ̀ ka-arey ŋa-kanɪ ka-uni ŋa-kanɪ ka-omwɔn ŋa-tɔ̀mɔn
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkanapéìáréìʊ́nìɔ́ŋwɔ́nkànì̥ < handkànì̥ kà-péì kànì̥ kà-àréì kànì̥ kà-ʊ́ní kànì̥ kà-ɔ́ŋwɔ́n tɔ̀mɔ́ní̥
Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkanaa-péy ̀ŋa-áréy ̀ŋa-úní ̀ŋa-ómwɔ̀n ̀ŋa-kànɪ̥ < handŋa-kanɪ ka-péy ŋa-kanɪ ka-áréy ŋa-kanɪ ka-úní ŋa-kanɪ ka-ómwɔ̀n ŋa-tɔ̀mɔn
Southern, Kalenjin, Elgonaɡeenɡe äyëëny sömök anɡʼwan müüt müüt äk aɡeenɡe müüt äk äyëëny müüt äk sömök müüt äk anɡʼwan taman
Southern, Kalenjin, Elgonakeenke āyēēnɡʼ sōmōk anɡʼwan mūūt / muut lo tisab sisiit sokool taman
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Markwetaàkɛ́ɛ́ŋkɛ̀ʌ́yíínsómòkáŋwaanmúútlɔ̀tɪsápsìsítsʌ́ɡʌ́ltámán
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Markwetaɒ́kɔ́ːŋɔərèːɲsómókɒ́ŋwɒ̀nmùːtlɔ́tɪ́sɔ́psisíːtsɔkɔ̀ːltɒmɒn
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Nandiàkɛ́ŋɡɛ̂ / àɛ́ŋɡɛ̂aɛ́ːŋ /aɛ́ːɲsɔ̀mɔ̂kàŋwànmʊ́ːtlɔ̂tɪ̀sâpsɪ̀sɪ́ːtsɔ́kɔ́ːltámán
Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Nandiàɣééɲɡéàééɲsómókàɲwánmúútlótísápsìsíítsóɣóòltàmán
Southern, Kalenjin, Okiekakɛɛnkɛayensomokaŋwànmʊ́ʊ́tílɛnápíʃanaísíêtnáúdotaman
Southern, Kalenjin, Pokotàkɔ́ɔ́ŋkɔ̀oɣë̀ë̀ŋ / òdë̀ë̀ŋsä́mä́kàŋwânmúutmúut ŋɡɔ́ àkɔ́ɔ́ŋɔ̀ múut ŋɡɔ́ òdë̀ë̀ŋ múut ŋɡɔ́ sä́mä́k múut ŋɡɔ́ àŋwân támàn
Southern, Tatoga àkàlɛːlɛ̀ː / ák / íjèɲsàmòɡwàŋwànmùːtláísːpòsìsʃàɡàʃdàmàn
Southern, Tatoga ɑ̀ɡiíiyèeɲɑsɑ́mɑ̀ɡuɑ́ŋwɑ́nmʊ̀ʊtlɑ́íispɑ̀sísʃɑ́ɡɛ̀ɛʃdɑ̀mɑ́nɑ́mʊ́qʊ̀ʊʃ
Southern, Tatoga ʔàɡiíyèeɲasàmàɡuʔàŋwànmùuti ~ bánàakta mùutilàhìsbà ~ isbwàsìss ~ sìsʃàɡèeʃʃ ~ ʃàɡèeʃdàmáná múqùuʃ
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Dinkaʈɔ́krɔ́ʷdʲákŋʊ̀ʷânðíɟðɛ̀ʈemðɜ̀rʊ́ʷbɛ̀ʈðɔ̀ŋʊ́ʷànt̪íʲàːr
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Dinkatò̤kròwdyá̤kŋwánd̪yì̤cd̪ètémd̪ɔ̀rɔ́wbɛ̤́td̪ɔ̀ŋwánt̪yɛ́ɛ̀r
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Nuer kɛ̀ːlrɜ̀ʷdɪʲɔ̂kŋʊ́ʷǎnðɪ́ʲɛ̀ɟbakɛ̀l bàraʷ bɛ̀dak bɜ̀ŋʊ́ʷǎn wɜ́ːl
Western, Dinka-Nuer, Nuer kɛ́ɛ̀lrɛ̌wdyɔ̌kŋwánd̪yè̤cbʌ̤́kɛ̀l bʌ̤rɔ̀w bʌ̤̀dá̤k bʌ̤́ŋwàn wá̤l
Western, Luo, Northern, Anuak àcíɛ̀làríyɔ̀àdʌ́kàŋwɛ́ɛ́nàbícàbícìɛ̀l àbíríyɔ̀ àbárà àbíŋwɛ̀ɛ̀n àpár
Western, Luo, Northern, Anuak aciel / acíɛ̀lariio̤ / aríɪàwada̤k / adʌ́ɡaŋween / aŋwɛ́ɛnabi̤i̤c / abíiɟabi̤ciel / abícíɛ̀l abi̤riio̤ /abíríɪàw aba̤ra / abʌ́rʌ́ abi̤ŋween / abíŋwɛ̀ɛn apaar / apáar
Western, Luo, Northern, Borákɛɛ̂larɛ̂wàdéɡàŋwɛ́nàbícàbíc kúkɛ́l àbíc kúrɛ̂w àbíc kùdēēk àbíc kúŋwɛ̂n áfaàr
Western, Luo, Northern, Juráciɛ̄lɔ́á̟riɔ̄wá̟dá̟ɡáŋwɛ̄ːnàbī̟ːjábíciɛ̄l ábɛ́riɔ̄w á̟bɛ̟́dā̟ɡ ábɛ́ŋwɛ̄ːn āpāːr
Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, Burunkɛɛl / kɛ̀ɛlrɛɛ / rɛ̄ɖʌk /ɖʌ̄kŋan / ŋānd̪oc / dōocɖowk /ɖɔ́ùkŋat̪ukɛl / ŋàtúkɛ́lŋunu / ŋɔ̀nʊ́ɟucukɛl / ɲùcúkɛ́lcaac / cáac
Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, Mabaancyɛ́ɛlɔ̀yɛ́ɛwɔ̀ɗɔ́ɔ́ɡɔ́ŋáánɔ̀d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wílin nè cyɛ́ɛlɔ̀ d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè yɛ́ɛwɔ̀ d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè ɗɔ́ɔ́ɡɔ́ d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè ŋáánɔ̀ ínyáákkɛ̀n
Western, Luo, Northern, Shillukàkjɛ̀láɾjɛ̀wádə̀káŋwɛ̀nábîcábîkjɛ̀l abìɾjɛ̀w àbîdèk ábîŋwɛ̀n pjáár
Western, Luo, Northern, Thuriácîelaríòwádeèkàŋwɛɛ̀nàbíícabícbícèl àbícbə́riə́ɔ̀w àbícbídèk àbíc bə́ŋwɛ́ɛn ápaàr
Western, Luo, Northern, Unclassified ácɛ̀lɔ́árìyɔ́ádòɡóáŋwɛ̀nɔ́ábìd͡ʒɔ́àbícɛ̀lɔ́ àbírìyɔ́ ábʌ̄rà ábúŋwɛ̀nɔ́ ápàr
Western, Luo, Northern, Unclassified acyelo, tookaryo, ireekadöɡo, ɡalaaŋwenoabijo, kunatabicyelo, bukelabiryo, buryoabidö̈ɡo, aböra, bodökabuŋweno, buŋwanapar
Western, Luo, Southern, Adhola ɑ́cêrɑ́rîoɑ́dêːkɑ́ŋʷênɑ́bîːcɑ̀ᵘcèr ɑ̀bírîo ɑ́bôːrò ɑ̀búŋʷèn ɑ́pɑ̂ːr
Western, Luo, Southern, Adhola àcíɛlàríóàdeékàŋwɛɛ̂nàbîcàwúciɛ̄l àbíirò àbɔ́ɔ̀rò àbúŋwɛ́n ápāar
Western, Luo, Southern, Kumanɑ̀cɛ́lɑ̀réɑ̀dēkòŋwɔ́nkɑ̄ɲkɑ́ɲ ɑ̀pé kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ré kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀wūní kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ŋɔ́n tɔ̄mɔ́n
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Aluràcìɛ̄làríɔ̀àdékàŋùénàbîcàbúcìɛ̀l àbírɔ́ àboônà àbúŋwɛ̄ɛ̄n àpáàr
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Lango-Acholiàcíèlàríòàdékàŋwɛ̂nàbîcàbícíèl àbíìrɔ́ àboôrà àbúŋwɛ́n àpáàr
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Lango-Acholiàcɛ̂làryɔ̂àdêkàŋwɛ̂nàbîcàbícɛ̀l àbíryɔ̀ àbórò ??àbóŋwɛ̀n àpâr
Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Luoàcìɛ̄làríɔ̀àdékàŋùénàbîcàúcìɛ̀l àbíríɔ̀ àborôɔ́cíkɔ̀àpáàr