Eastern Jebel languages

Last updated
Eastern Jebel
Geographic
distribution
Sudan
Linguistic classification Nilo-Saharan?
Proto-language Proto-Eastern Jebel
Glottolog east2386
EJebel.png
Map of the Eastern Jebel Languages and dialects, in An Nil al Azraq province

The Eastern Jebel languages are a small subfamily belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subgroup of Nilo-Saharan. They are spoken in the hills of An Nil al Azraq province in eastern Sudan (the name "Jebel" is simply Arabic for "mountain".)

Contents

Languages

The Eastern Jebel languages are:

Gaam has some 40,000–80,000 speakers, whereas the other three are threatened languages with far fewer speakers. Gaam was believed to be the only member of this group until more information about Aka, Kelo, and Molo was obtained by Bender; the latter three languages have been significantly influenced by Berta. Gaam is spoken in a compact area around the towns of Bau, Bobuk, Kukur, Gabanit, and Sawda in the Tabi Hills, roughly 11°15′–30′ N by 33°55′–34°10′ E.

The other three were spoken in isolated pockets to its south, but are now probably extinct: Aka in the Sillok Hills, Kelo in the Tornasi Hills on jebels Tornasi (Kayli village) and Beni Sheko, and Molo at Jebel Malkan near the Ethiopian border.

Reconstruction

Proto-Eastern Jebel has been reconstructed by Bender (1998). [1]

See also

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References

  1. Bender, M. Lionel. 1998. The Eastern Jebel Languages of Sudan. Afrika und Übersee 81: 39-64.

Bibliography