Central Sudanic languages
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Central Sudanic is a family of about sixty languages that have been included in the proposed Nilo-Saharan language family. Central Sudanic languages are spoken in the Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Congo (DRC). They include the pygmy languages Efé and Asoa.
Classification
Half a dozen groups of Central Sudanic languages are generally accepted as valid. They are customarily divided into East and West branches.
Blench (2023)
Blench cites the following classification:
| Central Sudanic | Eastern (Lendu–Mangbetu) Mangbutu–Lese (5) Mangbetu–Asua (2–3) Lendu–Ngiti (2–3) Moru–Madi (10) Birri (1) West (Bongo–Kresh) Bongo–Bagirmi (40 languages) Kresh (2) ? Sinyar–Formona |
| Eastern (Lendu–Mangbetu) | Mangbutu–Lese (5) Mangbetu–Asua (2–3) Lendu–Ngiti (2–3) Moru–Madi (10) |
| Mangbutu–Lese (5) | |
| Mangbetu–Asua (2–3) Lendu–Ngiti (2–3) Moru–Madi (10) | |
| Mangbetu–Asua (2–3) | |
| Lendu–Ngiti (2–3) Moru–Madi (10) | |
| Lendu–Ngiti (2–3) | |
| Moru–Madi (10) | |
| Birri (1) | |
| West (Bongo–Kresh) | Bongo–Bagirmi (40 languages) Kresh (2) ? Sinyar–Formona |
| Bongo–Bagirmi (40 languages) | |
| Kresh (2) | |
| ? Sinyar–Formona | |
Sinyar–Formona is sparsely documented and its placement in the western branch is "provisional".
Starostin (2016)
Starostin (2016) finds support for Eastern Central Sudanic (Lendu, Mangbetu, Lugbara, etc., concentrated in the northeast corner of DR Congo) but not for the western division, which would include Bongo–Bagirmi and Kresh scattered across Chad, the CAR, and South Sudan.
| Central Sudanic | Eastern (Lendu–Mangbetu) Mangbetu (2–3) Mangbutu–Lese (5) Lendu (2–3) Moru–Madi (10) Bongo–Bagirmi (40 languages) Birri–Kresh Birri (1) Kresh (2) |
| Eastern (Lendu–Mangbetu) | Mangbetu (2–3) Mangbutu–Lese (5) Lendu (2–3) Moru–Madi (10) |
| Mangbetu (2–3) | |
| Mangbutu–Lese (5) | |
| Lendu (2–3) | |
| Moru–Madi (10) | |
| Bongo–Bagirmi (40 languages) | |
| Birri–Kresh | Birri (1) Kresh (2) |
| Birri (1) | |
| Kresh (2) | |
Starostin (2011) notes that the poorly attested language Mimi of Decorse is suggestive of Central Sudanic, though he provisionally treats it as an isolate. Boyeldieu (2010) states that the inclusion of Kresh has yet to be demonstrated, but Starostin (2016) finds good support, with Birri being its closest relative.
Bender (1992)
Lionel Bender (1992) classifies the Central Sudanic languages as follows, with Central Sudanic bifurcating into a Peripheral branch and a Central branch.
- Central Sudanic Peripheral Moru–Madi Moru (Miza, etc.) Avukaya, Logo, Keliko Madi (Lokai, etc.) Mangbutu: Mamvu; Balese Mangbetu: Meje, Asua, Aka, Lombi Kresh: Kresh; Aja Baadha (a.k.a. Baledha, Lendu) Central Bagirmi-Sara Barma (Bagirmi) Sara-Mbay Sara-Ngambay, Sara Kaba Baka Yulu-Binga Fongoro Shemya (Sinyar) Bongoid Bongo Fer (Kara) Modo, Jur Beli
Numerals
Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
| Classification | Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lendu | Lendu | ɗì / di (by Rev. N.M. Mpanzu) | arɔ / aro | ɡ͡bɔ / ɡbo | θɔ / tho | mbə / mbu | aza / aza | àrʊ̀-ɡ͡bɔ / aruɡbo | àrʊ̀ / aru | ɗrɛ-ði / dredhi | ɗrɛ / dree |
| Lendu | Ngiti | aɪdí | ɔyɔ | ɪ̀ɓʊ | ɪ̀fɔ | imbo | aza | àrʊ̀ɓʊ̀ | àrʊ̀ | àrʊ̀ɡyèɪdí | ɪdrɛ |
| Mangbetu | Mangbetu | kana | sóóndrwé / sóóndrú | sɔ́ta | sɔ́sʉa | tɔ́zɛrɛna / sɔ́zɛrɛna | tɛ́nɡwɛkana / ɛ́tɛana | tónórwe / tónóru | bɔɡɨna | téndeléɡí | tɛ́ɛ́vhɛ́ |
| Mangbutu-Efe | Efe | édí | ɛ̀ɡbɛ̄ | tsínà | tsītɔ̀ | tsībú | tsínà tsínà (3 + 3) | tsínà tsītɔ̀ (3 + 4) | tsītɔ̀ tsītɔ̀ (4 + 4) | tsītɔ̀ tsībú (4 + 5) | ádíbȍsí |
| Mangbutu-Efe | Mvuba | eɗì | àkpe | ɛ̀tsɪrà | ɛ̀tsɪrɔ̀ | ɛ̀tsɪᵐbú | màⁿzà | làlòɗu | làlɔ̀ | àᵐbʊ̀tsɪhʊwa | àᵐʊ̀tsí |
| Moru-Madi | Moru | àlʊ̄ | rì | nā | sū | nd͡ʒī | nd͡ʒī drì àlʊ̄ (5+ 1) | nd͡ʒī drì rì (5+ 2) | nd͡ʒī drì nā (5+ 3) | nd͡ʒī drì sū (5+ 4) | ɓùtè |
| Moru-Madi, Central | Avokaya | àlō | rì | nā | sū | njī | njī-kázíyá | njī-drì-là-rì (5 + 2) | njī-drì-là-nā (5 + 3) | njī-drì-là-sū (5 + 4) | mūdrí (hands joined) |
| Moru-Madi, Central | Kaliko (Keliko) | àlō | ìrì | nā | sū | tàu | ázyá | ázîrí | àrò | órōmè | mūdrí (hands joined) |
| Moru-Madi, Central | Logo | àlo | rì | na | su | nzi | kází | nzi-drì-rì (5 + 2) | nzi-drì-na (5 + 3) | nzi-drì-su (5 + 4) | mudrí (hands joined) |
| Moru-Madi, Central | Lugbara (Lugbarati) | àlʊ̄ | ìrɪ̀ | nā | sū | tòwɪ́ | ázɪ́á | ázɪ́ìrɪ̀ | àrò | óròmɪ̀ | mōdrɪ́ |
| Moru-Madi, Central | Omi (Omiti) | àlō | ìrɪ̀ | nā | sū | tòwú | ázɪ́á | ázɪ́ɪ̀rɪ̀ | àrò | órōmɪ̀ | mūdrɪ́ |
| Moru-Madi, Southern | Maʼdi (1) | àlʊ̄ | (è)rì | (ī)nā | (ī)sū | tòú | ázɨ́á | tûdērì | àrɔ̀ | drítʃàlʊ̄ | mūdrí |
| Moru-Madi, Southern | Maʼdi (2) | àlʊ̄ | èrì ~ rì | ìnā ~ nā | ìsū ~ sū | tòú | ázɨ́á | tûdērì | àrɔ̀ | drítʃàlʊ̄ | mūdrí |
| Moru-Madi, Southern | Oluʼbo | àlʊ̄ | rì | nā | sū | tòú | ázɨ́á | tûdērì | àrɔ̀ | tɔ́rɔ̄mɛ̀ | mūdúrí |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Bongo-Baka, Baka | Baka | ké̘ɗò | ɡ͡bʀ͡ʙɛ̀ | ɔ̀tà | ɛ̀sɔ̀ | ìɲì | ìɲi dɔ̀à kéɽí (5, on it 1) | ìɲi dɔ̀à ɡ͡bʀ͡ʙɛ̀ (5, on it 2) | ìɲi dɔ̀à ɔ̀tà (5, on it 3) | ìɲi dɔ̀à ɛ̀sɔ̀ (5, on it 4) | sɔ̀kɔ́ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Bongo-Baka, Bongo | Bongo | kɔ̀tʊ́ | ŋɡɔ̀r | mʊ̀tːà | ʔɛ́w | múì | dɔ̀kɔtʊ́ (5 + 1) | dɔ́ŋɡɔr (5 + 2) | dɔ̀mʊ́tːà (5 + 3) | dɔ̀mʔɛ́w (5 + 4) | kɪ̀ː |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Bongo-Baka, Morokodo-Beli | Jur Mödö | kɔ̀tɔ́ | rḯyö́ | mòtá | sòwɔ́ | mùyí̈ | mòdɔ́ɔ́kɔ̀tɔ́ (5 + 1) | mòdɔ́mòrḯyö́ (5 + 2) | mòdɔ́ɔ́mòtá (5 + 3) | mòdɔ́mòsòwɔ́ (5 + 4) | ɓùtë́ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Kara | Yulu | kȁal(ə̏) | jōoy(ə̄) | mȍotȁ | ȕsȍ | mȕu | mȉtə̏ kȁal(ə̏) {? / one} | mȉtə̏ jōoy(ə̄) {? / two} | mȉtə̏ mȍotȁ {? / three} | mȉtə̏ ȕsȍ ~ mȉȕsȍ {? / four} | kpúu |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Bagirmi | Bagirmi (Bʼarma) | kɛ́ɗɛ̀ | sapi | mtá | só | mí | mìká | tʃílí | marta | doso | dòk kemɛ́ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Bagirmi | Kenga | kàlāŋ | dìó | mɔ̀tɔ́ | sɔ̄ː | mīː | mɛ̀cɛ́ | cīlí | mārtá | jɛ́rnàŋ | sīk |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Bagirmi | Naba (Bilala) | fèné /pènè | rìyó | mɔ̀tɔ́ / mátà | sɔ́ | móy | míʃà / máʃà | sī̄lí | rātá | rɔ̄fó | sí |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Bébot | káre | ɟó | mɨ̀té | sɔ́ː | mḭ́ː | mɛ̰hɛ | sɨrí | ɟiɟó (10 -2) | ɟikáre (10 -1) | dɔ̀ɡɨ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Bedjond | kárē | jōó | mə̀tá | sɔ́ | mí | mêhḛ́ | sīrí | jī jōó (10 -2) | jī kárē (10 -1) | dɔ̀ɡə̀ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Gulay | kérē | jōó | mùtœ́ | sɔ́ | mí | mèhé̯ | sìrí | sɔ́sɔ́ (4 + 4) | jī kérē (10 - 1) | dɔ̀ɡə̀ / kùtə̀ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Kaba (Kabba) (1) | kaára | jooà | moètaà | sóà | mïù | mïìsaàn | sirïù | jijooà (4 + 4) | jikaàra (10 - 1) | dóèkuè |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Kaba (Kabba) (2) | káɾā | dʒōó | mòtá | sɔ́ | mĩ́ | mĩ̀sã́n | sīɾí | dʒīdʒōó (4 + 4) | dʒīkáɾā (10 - 1) | dɔ̀kù |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Mango | kárē | jōó | mɨ̀tə́ | sɔ́ | mí | mèhẽ́ | sīrí | jī̄-nàɲ-jōó (10 - 2) | jī̄-nàɲ-kárē (10 - 1) | dɔ̀ɡɨ̀ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Mbay | kə́rā | jōó | mə̀tá | sɔ̄ɔ́ | mḭ̄́ḭ | kə́-bɔ̀y-dètə́ | tènə̀-mə̀tá (5 + 1) | jī-jōó (10 - 2) | jī-kə́rā (10 - 1) | kə̀lá |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Ngam | kóɡīí | dīyó | mə̀tá | sɔ́ | mí | mêhḛ́ | sīrí | sɔ́sɔ́ (4 + 4) | ndōhó | kùtə̀ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Ngambay (Sara Ngambai) | kàrā | jōó | mùndá | sɔ́ | mí | mìsã́ / màhã́ | sīrí | jī̄-này-jōó (10 - 2) | jī̄-này-kárā (10 - 1) | dɔ̀ɡə̀ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper | Sar (Sara) | kóɡīí | jōó | mə̀tá | sɔ́ | mí | mèhé̯ | sìrí | sɔ́sɔ́ (4 + 4) | ndōkó | kùtə̀ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper, Sara Kaba | Kaba Deme | ɗíyá | jó | mùtɔ́ | sɔ̀ɔ́ | mìí | mìi kàlí (5 + 1) | mìí já jó (5 + 2) | sàlānjā | dɔ̀ kám | dɔ̀ɡɔ̀ / kùtù |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Sara Proper, Sara Kaba | Kaba Na | kárē / hàré | jōó | mùtá | sɔ̀ɔ́ | mìí | màhá | mìtə́kə́jə́ | sàlīnjā | dàhábú | dɔ̀ɡɔ̀ |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Vale | Lutos | ɗóí | zíò | mútà | só | mí | mí zò ɗóí (5 + 1) | kál m͡bákàɗɛ̀ (8 - 1) | m͡bákàɗɛ́ | kál ɓú (10 - 1) | ɓú |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sara-Bagirmi, Sara, Vale | Vale | kīɗá | díyò | mùtá | sɔ́ | mí | míkìdí kīɗá (5 + 1) | míkìdí díyò (5 + 1) | ɗɔ̄ɗɔ̄sɔ́ (2 x 4) ?? | kàmnànɡà kīɗá (10 - 1) | ɓúfú |
| Bongo-Bagirmi, Sinyar | Sinyar | kàllà | róò | mùʈʈà | ùssà | mòy | mìccà | mòorsò | màartà | mànɖéy | ʈìyà |
| Kresh | Kresh (Gbaya) | ɓälã | rǒmó | tötö | sösö | sálã | sálã lẽmbẽ ɓälã (5 + 1) | sálã lẽmbẽ rǒmó (5 + 2) | sálã lẽmbẽ tötö (5 + 3) | sálã lẽmbẽ sösö (5 + 4) | kpú |
See also
- List of Proto-Central Sudanic reconstructions (Wiktionary)
- Central Sudanic word lists (Wiktionary)
Sources
- Blench, Roger. 2011. "Can Sino-Tibetan and Austroasiatic help us understand the evolution of Niger-Congo noun classes?", CALL 41, Leiden.
- Blench, Roger. .
- Blench, Roger. 2018. . Proceedings of the 13th Nilo-Saharan Conference University of Addis Ababa, 6 May 2017
- Starostin, George. , Journal of Language Relationship, v. 6, 2011, pp. 115–140.