Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Central Sudanic: East Central: Moru-Madi
Grammar:GD: Crazzolara, J. P. 1960. A Study of the Logbara (Ma'di) Language. London: Oxford Univ Press.
Consonant system:
p t̪ k kp ʔ b ʔb d̪ ʔd̪ ɡ ɡb pf ts tr dr ɡ̌ f s h v z m n ñ ŋ ŋm l r
Stops:p b ʔb t̪ d̪ ʔd̪ k ɡ kp ɡb ʔ
Affricates:pf ts dz tr dr
Fricatives:f v s z h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ ŋm
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:
c̄ Nc b d ɡ ɡb dz dr v
Glides:j ʔj w ʔw
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:ɨ ǝ a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Long Vowels:v̄ all
Nasal Vowels:ã
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Diphthongs:diphthongs
Tones:hi mid lo (+6 ris/fall tones)
Noun Number:s p (only kinship terms)
Demonstratives:3
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO/SOV NA GN/NG ND N-NUM POSS-N/N-POSS
Prep/Post:POST
Number:1302
Language:Mangbetu
Location:NE Zaire
Population:100,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Central Sudanic: East Central: Mangbetu-Asua
Grammar:GD: Larochette, J. 1958. Grammaire des dialectes mangbetu et medje. Tervuren: Annales du Musée Royal du Congo Belge.
Other Sources:LA
Consonant system:
p t̪ ṭ k kp ʔ b ɓ d̪ ḍ ɗ̣ ʄ ɡ ɡb ts dz f θ s h v ð z ẓ m n ñ ŋ l P B v̊ ɾ ṛ
Stops:p b ɓ t̪ d̪ ṭ ḍ ɗ̣ ʄ k ɡ kp ɡb ʔ
Affricates:ts dz
Fricatives:f v θ ð s z ẓ h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:P B v̊ ɾ ṛ
Modified Consonants:
c̄ p t k kp Nc b d ḍ ɡ ɡʷ cʷ p ŋɡ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Tones:
hi lo ris fall
Stress:penult
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:2 + ref
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG/GN ND N-NUM POSS-N/N-POSS
Prep/Post:POST
Number:1303
Language:Asua
Location:NE Zaire
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Central Sudanic: East Central: Mangbetu-Asua
Consonant system:
Number:1304
Language:Mamvu
Location:NE Zaire
Population:60,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Central Sudanic: East Central: Mangbutu-Efe
Other Sources:
LA WALS
Consonant system:
p t̪ ṭ k kp ʔ b ɓ d̪ ḍ ɗ̣ ʄ ɡ ɡb ts dz f θ s h v ð z ẓ m n ñ ŋ l P B v̊ ɾ ṛ
Stops:p b ɓ t̪ d̪ ṭ ḍ ɗ̣ ʄ k ɡ kp ɡb ʔ
Affricates:ts dz
Fricatives:f v θ ð s z ẓ h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:P B v̊ ɾ ṛ
Modified Consonants:Nc b d ɡ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i I ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u ʋ ɔ
Tones:hi mid lo
Demonstratives:2 + ref
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG/GN N-NUM POSS-N
Prep/Post:POST
Number:1305
Language:Mangbutu
Location:Zaire
Population:8,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Central Sudanic: East Central: Mangbutu-Efe
Consonant system:
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Number:1306
Language:Ndo
Alternate Name:Oke'bu
Location:NE Zaire
Population:13,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Central Sudanic: East Central: Mangbutu-Efe
Other Sources:WPF
Consonant system:
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Number:1307
Language:Balendru
Alternate Name:Lendu
Location:NE Zaire (Djugu)
Population:180,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Central Sudanic: East Central: Balendru
Other Sources:
Tucker, A. N. 1940. The Eastern Sudanic Languages, vol 1. London: Oxford Univ Press. LA
Consonant system:
p t̪ k kp b ɓ d̪ ɗ̣ (ɟ) ʄ ɡ ɡb ts č dz ɡ̌ f θ s š (h) v ð z ž m n̪ ñ l (ľ) r
Stops:p b ɓ t̪ d̪ ɗ̣ (ɟ) ʄ k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:ts dz č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f v θ ð s z š ž (h)
Nasals:m n̪ ñ
Laterals:l (ľ)
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:Nc b d ɡ ɡb ɡ̌ z
Glides:j (ʔj) w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:(ɔ̃)
Syllable:rˈ zˈ
Tones:hi mid lo
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:3
Pronouns:
1 4ie 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO (def aspect)/SOV (indef aspect) AN GN DN NUM-N/N-NUM POSS-N/(N-POSS)
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:1308
Language:Berta
Location:W Ethiopia
Population:50,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Berta
Dictionary:Bender, M. Lionel. 1989. "Berta Lexicon," in Topics in Nilo-Saharan Linguistics, ed. by M. Lionel Bender, Hamburg, Helmut Buske, 271-304.
Grammar:
Cerulli, E. 1947. "Three Berta Dialects in Western Ethiopia," Africa ??. Triulzi, A., A. A. Dafallah and M. L. Bender. 1976. "Berta," in NSLE, 513-32.
Other Sources:LA
Consonant system:
p t̪ t̪ʔ k kʔ b d̪ ḍ ɡ tsʔ čʔ ɡ̌ f θ s š x h ð z ɣ m n ñ ŋ l r
Stops:p b t̪ t̪ʔ d̪ ḍ k kʔ ɡ
Affricates:tsʔ čʔ ɡ̌
Fricatives:f θ ð s z š x ɣ h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:c̄ m l ... Nc b d ɡ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i e
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o
Long Vowels:v̄ all
Tones:hi lo
Stress:phonemic
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:3 + ref
Articles:def
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG/GN ND N-NUM N-POSS N+A+D+Num
Prep/Post:PREP/POST
Number:1309
Language:Kunama
Location:Eritrea
Population:40,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Kunama
Grammar:Castelnuovo del Zappa, Giuseppe-Fermo da. 1938. Grammatica della lingua cunama. Asmara.
Other Sources:LA
Consonant system:
t̪ k b d̪ ɡ č ɡ̌ f s š h m n ñ ŋ l r
Stops:b t̪ d̪ k ɡ
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f s š h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:c̄ t d k s m n l
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i e
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o
Long Vowels:v̄
Tones:hi lo
Stress:phonemic
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:2
Pronouns:
1 4die 4ie 2 5d 5 3 6d 6
Syntax:SOV NA NG/GN DN/ND N-POSS/(POSS-N [kinship terms])
Prep/Post:POST
Number:1310
Language:Bega
Alternate Name:Gumuz
Location:Ethiopia
Population:53,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Komuz: Gumuz
Other Sources:WALS
Consonant system:
Syntax:SVO
Number:1311
Language:Anej
Alternate Name:Gule
Location:N Sudan
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Komuz: Koman
Consonant system:
Comments:Most speakers are bilingual in Arabic.
Number:1312
Language:Kwama
Alternate Name:Northern Mao
Location:Ethiopia
Population:14,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Komuz: Koman
Consonant system:
Number:1313
Language:Opo
Location:Ethiopia
Population:2,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Komuz: Koman
Consonant system:
Number:1314
Language:Komo
Location:E Sudan
Population:6,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Komuz: Koman
Other Sources:LA
Consonant system:
p pʔ t tʔ k kʔ ʔ b ɓ d ɗ ɡ s sʔ š h m n l r
Stops:p pʔ b ɓ t tʔ d ɗ k kʔ ɡ ʔ
Fricatives:s sʔ š h
Nasals:m n
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:
cʷ p d k ɡ s š cj
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:ǝ a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ṽ
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Diphthongs:diphthongs
Tones:hi mid lo normal
Demonstratives:1
Pronouns:
1 4ie 2 5 3mfn 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG ND N-POSS
Number:1315
Language:Twampa
Alternate Name:Uduk
Location:Sudan (Upper Nile)
Population:5,000
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: Komuz: Koman
Other Sources:LA
Consonant system:
p t̪ t tʔ k kʔ b ɓ d̪ d ɗ ɡ č ɡ̌ ɸ s h ɣ m n ñ ŋ l r
Stops:p b ɓ t̪ d̪ t tʔ d ɗ k kʔ ɡ
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:ɸ s ɣ h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:
r̄ cj cʷ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Long Vowels:(v̄)
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Diphthongs:ai
Demonstratives:3 + ref
Pronouns:
1 4ie 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA/(AN) NG ND/(DN) N-POSS
Number:1316
Language:Meroitic
Location:Egypt
Population:extinct
Classification:Nilo-Saharan: ?
Other Sources:Greenberg, Joseph H. 1971. "Nilo-Saharan and Meroitic," in CTIL 7, 421-42.
Consonant system:
Comments:This is the language of the ancient Meroitic kingdom of Egypt and the Sudan. It's classification as Nilo-Saharan remains controversial.
Number:1317
Language:Ancient Egyptian
Location:Egypt
Population:c. 2,500 B.C.
Classification:Afro-Asiatic: Ancient Egyptian
Grammar:
Sander-Hansen, C. E. 1963. Ågyptische Grammatik. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz. Donadoni, Sergio. 1963. Appunti di grammatica egiziana. Milan: Istituto Editoriale Cisalpino. du Bourguet, Pierre. 1971. Grammaire égyptienne. Louvain: Peeters. černy, Jaroslav. 1975. A Late Egyptian Grammar. Rome: Biblical Institute Press.
Consonant system:
p t k q ʔ b d ɡ č ɡ̌ m n r
Stops: p b t d k ɡ q ʔ
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Nasals:m n
Vibrants: r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e a
Front Vowels:i e
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u
Noun Number:s d p
Gender:m f
Demonstratives:2
Articles:def indef
Pronouns:
1 4 2mf 5 3mf 6
Syntax:VSO NA NG DN/ND NUM-N/(N-NUM [2]) N-POSS D+Num+N+A
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:1318
Language:Coptic
Location:Egypt
Population:extinct (19th c.)
Classification:Afro-Asiatic: Ancient Egyptian
Dictionary:
Cerny, J. 1976. Coptic Etymological Dictionary. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Press.
Grammar:
Elanskaja, A. I. 1964. Koptskij jazyk. Moscow: Nauka. Kosack, Wolfgany. 1974. Lehrbuch des Koptischen. Graz: Akademische Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt.
Other Sources:
Houghton, Herbert Pierrepont. 1959. The Coptic Verb. Leiden: E. J. Brill. Knudsen, Ebbe E. 1961. "Saidic Coptic Vowel Phonemes," Acta Orientalia 26, 29-42.
Consonant system:
p t k b d ɟ ɡ č ɡ̌ s š x h β v m n l r
Stops: p b t d ɟ k ɡ
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:β v s š x h
Nasals:m n
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
Front Vowels:i e
Central Vowels:ǝ a
Back Vowels:u o
Long Vowels:ī ē ū ō
Syllable:CV(C)(C)
Stress:penult
Noun Number:s p
Gender:m f
Demonstratives:2
Articles:def indef
Pronouns:
1 4 2mf 5 3mf 6
Syntax:SVO NA DN NUM-N POSS-N/N-POSS
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:1319
Language:Proto-Berber
Location:N Africa
Classification:Afro-Asiatic: Berber
Other Sources:
Prasse, Karl-G. 1972-74. Manuel de grammaire touaregue, 3 vols. Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag.
