Nilo-Saharan Languages

Ehret and Bender: two different views Reconstruct the family through different methods, and come to different conclusions Both have positive and negative aspects to their work, but both still appear plausible theories Both use large lexical bases and pay strong attention to detail

Methodological Differences Bender Limited use of morphology in reconstruction Proposes reconstructed phonology based on averaging of sounds across languages Uses large amounts of sources Ehret Reconstructs a variety of proto-forms Proposes extremely complex proto-phonology Restricts use of sources, often has only one language source for a whole language family

Bender More conservative on etymology Compares words based on similarity in meaning and sound Does not focus as much on established correspondences Areal forms excluded Ehret Possibly over- imaginative etymologies Extremely attentive to phonetic detail Places high importance on established sound correspondences and proto-phonology Does not concern with areal forms

Bender’s organization of NS Nilo-Saharan SongaySaharanKuliak S-C (Satellite-Core) SatellitesCore MabaFor (Fur) Central Sudanic BertaKunama East Sudanic KomanGumuzKado

Ehret’s Organization of NS Nilo-Saharan Koman (Includes Gumuz) Sudanic Central SudanicNorthern Sudanic Kunama Saharan Saharo-Sahelian EnnedianBodelian Sahelian ForTrans-Sahel Western Sahelian Eastern Sahelian Zaghawa Berti TibuKanuri SongayMaban MabaRungaMimi Nara Western Astaboran NubianTamam Kir- Abbaian* Rub Ik Western Rub

Jebel West Jebel Gaam Cental Jebel Kir-Abbaian Bertha Kir Nuba Mts.Daju Surma- Nilotic SurmicNilotic Temein, Jirru Nyimang, Dinik Western NiloticEastern Nilotic Jii Burun Ateker Tung’a Bari Jyang- Naath Luo Lutokuo-Maa Southern Nilotic TatoKalenjin DatogaOmotik Lotuko Maa- Ongamo

Conclusions of comparison? There is almost nothing in common! They use many different names for sub- families, and organize the trees in drastically different ways

The sub families (as per Bender)

Songai (Songay, Songhai) –: North and South variants, with 6 and 4 dialects each –Spoken in Mali and Niger –Northern variants hybridized with Berber, Hausa, or Fulani

Saharan Kanuri-Kanembu (Borno): Mutually intelligible varieties Teda: Dialect cluster consisting of North (Teda or Tuda) and South (Daza and Tubu). No single self name Zagawa-†Berti: Northern Zagawa (Zaghawa) known as Bideyat).

Maba(n) Bora-Mabang (Maba) Masalit Aiki=Runga-Kibet Mimi of Gaudefroy-Demombynes (Mimi GD) Mimi of Nachtigal (= Mimi N)

For(an) For (Fur): Spoken in Darfur (country of the Fur) in Sudan Amdang: Spoken in Enclaves in Wadai, Chad border with Sudan, and into Darfur.

Berta Berta: dialect cluster in middle Ethio- Sudan border Area

Kunama Single language spoken in Southern Eritrea

Koman Twama (= Uduk) Komo Opo-Shita Kwama †Gule

Gumuz No single self-name. Spoken in Ethio- Sudan border area

Kuliak Nyangi: possibly extinct Ik Soo All spoken in Uganda

Kado Mudo-Yegang-Kufo Miri-Talla-Tolibi_Sangali Krongo-Talsa

East Sudanic Sub families Nubian, Surmic, Nera, Jebel, Nyima, Tama, Nilotic (Western, Eastern, and Southern)

Nubian Nobiin Middob Birgid Kenzi-Dongola Hill Nubian: eight dialect with many names

Surmic Majang Murle-Omo Murle-Didinga-Longarim Bale-Zilmanu-Olam Mursi Me’en Kwegu-Muguji Shabo (?)

Nera Single language, also known as Barya or Barea

Jebel Gaam Aka Kelo-Beni-Sheko Molo

Nyima Nyimang Dinik

Temein Ronge (Temein) Doni (= Jirru)-Dese(=Teis or Tesei)

Tama Erenga-Sungor Merarit

Daju Limited knowledge East: Shatt, Liguri West: Nyala-Lagowa, Nyolge, Mongo-Sila, and †Beygo

Nilotic:Western Nilotic –Northwest Nilotic: Burun, Mebaan –Northern Luo Colo, Anywa(Anuak, Anyuak), Jur Luo, Turi, Bor –Southern Luo Acoli, Kumam, Adola, Luo (Kenya Luo) –Dinka-Nuer Jieng (=Dinka), Naadh (=Nuer), Atuot

Eastern Nilotic Bari Teso-Turkana-Lotuko-Maa –Lotuko-Maa: Lotuko, Maa (Masai, Maasai), Ongamo (Ngasa) –Teso-Turkana: Toposa, Turkana, Teso, Karamojong

South Nilotic Omotik-Datooga: Omotik, Datooga Kalenjin: 4 dialect clusters Meroitic?

Central Sudanic Extremely fragmented, wide distribution, and lack of data make organization of this difficult Subfamilies Sara-Bagirmi, Bongo, Modo- Baka, Moru-Madi, Mangbutu-Efe, Mangbutu-Asua, Kresh, and Badha (Lendu)

Sara-Bagirmi Sara: confusing term applying to many peoples. –Sar, Mbay, Barma (Bagirmi), Kuka, Kenga. –Sara-Ngambay: Ngambay, Doba. –Sara Kaba: Kaba. –Ruto/Vale Yulu-Binga Fongoro Shemya Fer

Bongo Single language

Modo-Baka B’eli Baka Morokodo

Moru-Madi North(Moru): Moru Central(Avukaya): Avukaya, Logo, Keliko, High Lugbara, Low Lugbara South (Madi): Madi

Mangbutu-Efe Mangbutu Ndo Mamvu-Balese

Mangbetu-Asua Mangbetu (Unknown language group) Asua: Asua (Aka).

Kresh Aja

Badha (Lendu) Badha

Conclusions Two scholars came up with drastically different conclusions on the structure of the family –Sign of difficulties with the historical model? Much work needs to still be done: entire language families are still missing basic reference grammars