Nilotic Family

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The Nilotic Language Family

The Nilotic language family is a member of the larger Nilo-Saharan phylum (one of at least four major language phyla found on the African continent). The relationship between Nilo-Saharan and Nilotic might be roughly comparable to the relationship between Indo-European and West Germanic (the latter being comprised of English, Frisian, Flemish, Dutch and Afrikaans).

Presently, there are two competing theories about the internal structure of the Nilo-Saharan language family (Ehret 2001, Bender ...), but both place the Nilotic family within the Eastern Sudanic branch of Nilo-Saharan.

The Nilotic family contains some 29 to 53 languages. Determining the precise number of Nilotic languages depends on complex issues having to do with degree of mutual linguistic comprehension between speakers of the different varieties, and ethnic self-identity. Generally, linguists would say that if two language varieties are not mutually intelligible between their respective speakers, then the varieties should be called distinct languages (rather than dialects of a single language). However, intelligibility is a matter of degree (e.g., someone may understand another language variety at about 75%; does that make the two varieties dialects, or separate languages? If comprehension is at 70%, does that make them separate languages? )

       Democratic Republic of Congo

Within Nilotic, linguist Rainer Vossen distinguishes three sub-branches. These have been designated "Western," "Eastern," and "Southern." The labels refer to linguistic groupings, and not primarily to geographical distribution, though there is a rough geographical reality to the terms.

Long before there were written records, Nilotic peoples had migrated southward from the Nile River area into modern Tanzania.   Some Nilotic groups had intensive contact with Cushitic (Afro-Asiatic) peoples, as well as with Niger-Congo peoples, with mutual cultural and linguistic impact.

                      Ethiopia
Modernly, Nilotic languages are spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Most Western Nilotic languages are spoken in Sudan, but also extend into Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. Some Western Nilotic languages include Shilluk, Acholi, Dinka, Dholuo and Lango.

                         Kenya
Eastern Nilotic languages include Bari, Teso-Turkana and other closely related languages [or dialects], Otuxo, Maa, and now-extinct Ongamo. This branch of the family extends from Sudan down into Tanzania. Eastern Nilotic groups appear to have had extensive interaction with Southern Nilotic, and share many cultural and linguistic patterns in common. For example, in most languages of these groups, sentences begin with the verb and "Subject" and "Object" are distinguished by tonal patterns on nouns.

Southern Nilotic languages are spoken in Kenya and Tanzania. Some Southern Nilotic languages include Datoga, Pakot, Endo, Saboat, and Nandi. (The term "Kalenjin" is commonly applied to some of these languages.) Southern Nilotic groups appear to have had considerable contact with some Cushitic (Afro-Asiatic) language groups.

                         Sudan
Nilotic groups have experienced significant and sustained contact with Western influences over the past century due to colonialism, mission activities, western-oriented educational systems, establishment of international cities in their traditional areas, tourists, national government policies, etc. Yet other small groups have been, and are being, absorbed into larger language groups.

In the Twentieth century many Nilotic groups have faced new challenges. For decades, a number of Nilotic languages and cultures have experienced significant disruption due to war, famine, and movements to refugee camps in search of food, medical attention, and safety. This has been especially true for groups in the Sudan, northern DRC, and Uganda; many speakers of Western Nilotic languages are now found in Europe and the United States, as well as in refugee camps throughout East Africa.

                       Tanzania

All these event have significant implications for cultural and linguistic survival into the Twenty-first century.

At present, the number of speakers per Nilotic language ranges from about 3.5 million for Dholuo (found in western Kenya and Uganda), to 50 or fewer for Omotic and other highly endangered languages. Most Nilotic languages are somewhere in between these two extremes, with a few hundred thousand speakers.

                        Uganda

This page last updated September, 2001, by Doris L. Payne

Democratic Republic of Congo	Within Nilotic, linguist Rainer Vossen distinguishes three sub-branches. These have been designated "Western," "Eastern," and "Southern." The labels refer to linguistic groupings, and not primarily to geographical distribution, though there is a rough geographical reality to the terms. Long before there were written records, Nilotic peoples had migrated southward from the Nile River area into modern Tanzania. Some Nilotic groups had intensive contact with Cushitic (Afro-Asiatic) peoples, as well as with Niger-Congo peoples, with mutual cultural and linguistic impact.
Ethiopia	Modernly, Nilotic languages are spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Most Western Nilotic languages are spoken in Sudan, but also extend into Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. Some Western Nilotic languages include Shilluk, Acholi, Dinka, Dholuo and Lango.
Kenya	Eastern Nilotic languages include Bari, Teso-Turkana and other closely related languages [or dialects], Otuxo, Maa, and now-extinct Ongamo. This branch of the family extends from Sudan down into Tanzania. Eastern Nilotic groups appear to have had extensive interaction with Southern Nilotic, and share many cultural and linguistic patterns in common. For example, in most languages of these groups, sentences begin with the verb and "Subject" and "Object" are distinguished by tonal patterns on nouns. Southern Nilotic languages are spoken in Kenya and Tanzania. Some Southern Nilotic languages include Datoga, Pakot, Endo, Saboat, and Nandi. (The term "Kalenjin" is commonly applied to some of these languages.) Southern Nilotic groups appear to have had considerable contact with some Cushitic (Afro-Asiatic) language groups.
Sudan	Nilotic groups have experienced significant and sustained contact with Western influences over the past century due to colonialism, mission activities, western-oriented educational systems, establishment of international cities in their traditional areas, tourists, national government policies, etc. Yet other small groups have been, and are being, absorbed into larger language groups. In the Twentieth century many Nilotic groups have faced new challenges. For decades, a number of Nilotic languages and cultures have experienced significant disruption due to war, famine, and movements to refugee camps in search of food, medical attention, and safety. This has been especially true for groups in the Sudan, northern DRC, and Uganda; many speakers of Western Nilotic languages are now found in Europe and the United States, as well as in refugee camps throughout East Africa.
Tanzania	All these event have significant implications for cultural and linguistic survival into the Twenty-first century. At present, the number of speakers per Nilotic language ranges from about 3.5 million for Dholuo (found in western Kenya and Uganda), to 50 or fewer for Omotic and other highly endangered languages. Most Nilotic languages are somewhere in between these two extremes, with a few hundred thousand speakers.
Uganda