1. Nilo-Saharan Languages

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. The sub families (as per Bender)

10. 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

11. 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).

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

13. 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.

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

15. Kunama Single language spoken in Southern Eritrea

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

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

18. Kuliak Nyangi: possibly extinct Ik Soo All spoken in Uganda

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

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

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

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

23. Nera Single language, also known as Barya or Barea

24. Jebel Gaam Aka Kelo-Beni-Sheko Molo

25. Nyima Nyimang Dinik

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

27. Tama Erenga-Sungor Merarit

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

29. 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

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

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

32. 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)

33. 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

34. Bongo Single language

35. Modo-Baka B’eli Baka Morokodo

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

37. Mangbutu-Efe Mangbutu Ndo Mamvu-Balese

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

39. Kresh Aja

40. Badha (Lendu) Badha

41. 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