Kordofanian languages

Geographic grouping of five language groups spoken in parts of Sudan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kordofanian languages

The Kordofanian languages are a geographic grouping of five language groups spoken in the Nuba Mountains of the South Kordofan region of Sudan: Talodi–Heiban languages, Lafofa languages, Rashad languages, Katla languages and Kadu languages. The first four groups are sometimes regarded as branches of the hypothetical Niger–Congo family, whereas Kadu is now widely seen as a branch of the proposed Nilo-Saharan family.

Quick Facts Geographic distribution, Ethnicity ...
Kordofanian
(geographic)
Geographic
distribution
Nuba Mountains of Sudan
EthnicityNuba
Native speakers
250,000–500,000[1]
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
  • Kordofanian
Subdivisions
Language codes
ISO 639-5kdo
ISO 639-3
GlottologNone
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History

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Perspective

In 1963, Joseph Greenberg added them to the Niger–Congo family, creating his Niger–Kordofanian proposal. The Kordofanian languages have not been shown to be more distantly related than other branches of Niger–Congo, however, and they have not been shown to constitute a valid group. Today, the Kadu languages are excluded, and the others are usually included in Niger–Congo proper.[2]

Roger Blench notes that the Talodi and Heiban families have the noun class systems characteristic of the Atlantic–Congo core of Niger–Congo but that the two Katla languages have no trace of ever having had such a system. However, the Kadu languages and some of the Rashad languages appear to have acquired noun classes as part of a Sprachbund rather than having inherited them. Blench concludes that Talodi and Heiban are core Niger–Congo whereas Katla and Rashad form a peripheral branch along the lines of Mande.[citation needed]

Heiban, Katloid, and Talodi are also grouped together in an automated computational analysis (ASJP 4) by Müller et al. (2013).[3] However, since the analysis was automatically generated, the grouping could be either due to mutual lexical borrowing or genetic inheritance.

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Clickable map of the language families, subfamilies, and languages spoken in the Nuba Mountains. Kordofanian includes Kadu and all of the Niger–Congo branches.

Talodi–Heiban languages

The Heiban languages, also called Koalib or Koalib–Moro, and the Talodi languages, also called Talodi–Masakin, are part of the Talodi–Heiban group.[4]

Lafofa languages

Lafofa (Tegem) was for a time classified with Talodi, but appears to be a separate branch of Niger–Congo.

Rashad languages

The number of Rashad languages, also called Tegali–Tagoi, varies among descriptions, from two (Williamson & Blench 2000), three (Ethnologue), to eight (Blench ms). Tagoi has a noun-class system like the Atlantic–Congo languages, which is apparently borrowed, but Tegali does not.

Katla languages

The two Katla languages have no trace of ever having had a Niger–Congo-type noun-class system.

Kadu languages

Since the work of Thilo C. Schadeberg in 1981, the "Tumtum" or Kadu branch is now widely seen as Nilo-Saharan.

Reconstruction

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Perspective

Quint (2020) suggests that Proto-Kordofanian can be reconstructed from the Heibanian, Talodian, Rashadian, Katloid, and Lafofa languages. His Proto-Kordofanian reconstructions are as follows:[5]

More information Gloss, Proto-Kordofanian ...
GlossProto-KordofanianTalodianHeibanianLafofaKatloid (Tima)Rashadian
bark 1 (n.) *-mVk- *t-ə-mək Koalib kìmùukùl [kìmùugùl] Orig kìmbàkɔ́l
bark 2 (n.) *k(V)VrE ~ *c(V)VrE c-iíri kúúr *g-ware
beat / hit *-bV- *-gob- / *kə-bɔ *-bid̪- ...biŋ Orig bí(r) / pù(ró)
belly *-VrVk ~ *-VɽVk *j-+-arag / *ca-rək *g-+-aare t̪-úur-i kúɽúún
bite / eat *-CVk *-gVjog / *kə-ɟɔ *-iy- ...jiɛ *yɛk
blood *(C)iCPV *ŋ-+-ittsug / *ŋ-ɪccʊk Katla ija ~ iya Rashad wiya
breast *CVmiC *j-+-intsig / *c-ə-mmik Tima kɨ̀míndì *d-miɲ
clothes *kErEC *k-ɛrɛt̪ *g-+-ered̪ Tagoi kɛr(ɛ́)w
dry *-OndV *-an d̪o *-unDo *-uddi
ear *kVnV *g-+-eenu / *k-ɛnu *g- / n-+-aani kɔ́.nɔ̀ Tagoi finin, Tegali (a)nuu
elephant *-VŋV(C) *d-+-oŋor yuːŋi *(fV)ŋVn
eye *?+-git *j-+-igg / *c-it Katla gɨgöt *y-ngid
foot / leg *-AkA(C) *ts-+-agag Koalib káakà [káagà] l-ia-ga *d-ɛgɛn
goat *Em(b)iT *w-+-emig / *u-mit ɛɛmi Tima címìd̪ *mbɨt
green / wet *-iklV ~ *ijlV *-iigla b-ʊ́ɒji-lli Tagoi -ijilú, Tegali -rígɛ̂l
hair *kaam ~ *gaam *d-+-ʊgaŋ / *NC-ŋən̪ Tima káàm *g-aam
head *gaCDP ~ *CPaCDP *j-+-ats, *c-ac Katla gas *g-aj
left (side) *-CVul- ~ *-CVur- *-gule / *-gulɛ *-awur kúlɪ *-awwir
mud *-ElO Koalib kèlòo Tima k-ʌ́ʌ́lu Orig ŋí̧lɔ́
near *-Et̪t̪OC *-iddu / *-t̪t̪o-t Koalib kɛ́ttɔ̀k [kɛ́t̪t̪ɔ̀k] Tima mɛ̀t̪ɛ́n Tagoi gattɔŋ / tɔgɔt
one *attV ~ *addV *-aDDe Tima àtíín Orig wàttá
rain *kaw ~ *kal *k-abɪk *g-+-aw k-állɔ́-y *(y)au
red *-OrdE *-oode[6] / *-d̪ɛ *-UUre Tima -rdí *-araw
sheep *kACVAC *t̪ʊ-ŋgat̪ Koalib káaŋàl βaːŋi (k)áŋàl Orig kàgóy
smoke (n.) *-uCLVBbV *g-+-ulu c-oor-í kʊ̀ʊ̀ɽʊ́n Tagoi k(ə)rək, Tegali tulɛ́
sun *-VCNV *j-+-iŋgi, *c-ə-ŋgi Ø-+*-aŋin kínèè *-aane
tongue *-d̪Vŋl(V) ~ *-d̪VlVŋ(V) *d̪-+-(V)lVŋe / *tʊ-ləŋɛ d̪-+*-ŋela l-íáŋ-i kìlíŋíì *d-aŋil(-ag)
vomit *-UdA ~ *-UwA -VddV / *uk-dɛ *-wey- lwâ-d̪aŋ... lwa -húwʌ̀ *VdVk
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Lexical isoglosses

Starostin (2018) lists the following common lexical isoglosses in the Kordofanian languages. Potential cognates are highlighted in bold.[7]

More information Proto-language, eye ...
Proto-language eye bone egg tooth ear tongue head I thou
Proto-Heiban *=ey *=uya *=ɛɲɔ(ŋ) *=iŋa-t̪ *=ɛːni *=ŋɛla *=da *(i)ɲ=i *(u)ŋ=a
Proto-Talodi *=igi *=umV *=uwi(ŋ) *=iɲi-t *=ɛːnu *=lʊŋɛ *=âs *ŋ=i *(u)ŋ=a
(Proto-)Lafofa =uami =uwɛ- =ɛːŋı liaŋi =ay ɲɛ- ŋɔ-
Proto-Katla-Tima *=igi *=uga *=iwɔɲ *=ɔnɔ *=liŋi *=as ɲɔŋ ŋaŋ
Proto-Rashad *=i(ŋ)gə *=uh *iye (?) *=iɲi-n *=əni-n *=ŋəla *=as *ŋ=i *ŋ=ɔ
Proto-Kadu *=yV *kuɓa *sule *=kini *=ɛːsɔ *ŋaɗɔ *=at̪u *aʔa *oʔo
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Comparative vocabulary

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Perspective

Sample basic vocabulary of the Heiban, Talodi, Rashad, and Lafofa branches:

Note: In table cells with slashes, the singular form is given before the slash, while the plural form follows the slash.

More information Language, eye ...
Languageeyeearnosetoothtonguemouthbloodbonetreewatereatname
Proto-Heiban[8]*ay / g-,j-*-aani*-ad̪alo / g-,j-; g-,n-*-ŋad̪ / li-,j-*-ŋela; *-iŋla ? / D-,d-*-uuɲu*-win / ŋ-*-uya / li-,ŋu- (WC); *-uɲ / ʔ-,j- (E)*-aaɽe / gu-,j- (WC)*-aw / ŋ-*-id̪d̪-*-iriɲ / j-
Proto-Talodi[9]*c-it / k-*k-ɛnu / 0-*k-ə-ɲɟɛ / 0-,n-*c-ə-ɲit / k-*tʊ̪ -ləŋɛ / ḷə-*t-̪ ɔn̪ / ḷ-*ŋ-ɪccʊk*c-ə-mma-ɲan̪ / m-*p-ɪda / k-*ŋ-ɪḷ,-ɪḷɪ*ḷə-ɡɔ*k-ə-ḷəŋan / 0- (or *...n̪)
Proto-Katloid[10]*g-ɪgɛd̪*-ɔnɔ*gɪ-lɛd̪*-laŋɛd̪*i-ju(u)*-ʌ-lV-
Tagoi[11]yígət / ŋə́gətfənín / fənédityídir / ŋə́dərtíɲən / ŋə́ɲəntáŋə́lak / yáŋə́lágɒtkajər / hájɛrətŋɔ́ykuh / huhkafɔ́ / hafɔ́ŋayyɛkpəŋən / fəŋən
Turjok[11]íŋgət / ŋ̀gətfəniín / fəníínətindər / ŋəndərM. tiɲin / ŋiɲintaŋəlk / yaŋəlak ~ yaŋəlɒgɔtkiɲjɛr / siɲjɛr(g)ɔtŋɔ́ykus / suskafɔ / safɔ́ŋaaypɛŋɛn / sɛŋɛn
Tagom[11]ŋgə́t̚ / ŋgə́denu ~ nũũ / núun ~ anuunndr̀ / ndr̀reɲîn / ɲîneaŋa / aŋún̩ɲjár / (a)ɲjáreóyá / óyo̍nuru / urûnlás / lásɛegayɛkɛŋɛn / ɛŋɛnɛ́ɛn
Tegem[12]ṭ-ì, ʤ-ì / m-kә́-ràŋ(ì) / a-ṭ-ɛ̀ɲ(ì) / k-l-iәŋ(ì)k-ɛɲi / ɛɲiɲɪ̀ṭ-uɔ̀m(ì) / m-kuwö(ì) / bɔɔ(ì)ɲììkɪ́rɪ̀kku-ruwә̀ŋ / a-
El Amira[12]lilaŋ / ɲimaŋwimut-aɲ / k-liŋkiɲɲituwamkwaɲipalith
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Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:[13]

More information Classification, Language ...
ClassificationLanguage12345678910
KatlaKatlaʈíʈʌ́kcíkʌ̀t̪ʌ́t̪ʌ̀ɡʌ́lʌ̀mɟɔ́ɡ͡bə́lɪ́nɟɔ́lʈɪ́nɟɔ́lɪ́kt̪ʌ́ŋɡɪ̀lɟʌ́lbʌ̀ʈɪ́nràk͡pác
KatlaTimaʌt̪een / at̪ɪɪniheekihwʌyihʌlʌmiduliinɪntədakwalɔŋɪnt̪at̪ɪŋɛɛlɪnt̪ɪŋɛrɛyint̪ʌhʌdʌkunihedʌkún
RashadTagoi (Orig)-wàttá / ùttáwùkkókwìttáwàrʊ̀mwʊ̧ràmɲérérʊ̀mʊ̀rɡʊ́tùppákʊ́mnàsá(n)kʊ́mán
RashadTegalim̪t̪arəkkʊ / rʊkkʊd̪akt̪a / d̪at̪t̪aaːrəmʊmməɲeˑɽeʊmmərkʊduˑpˑafəŋɪsanfəŋən
HeibanWarnang (Werni/Wernang)ŋɔ̀ʈʈɔ́rŋèrccáccényŋèrrátténŋèlàmlàŋŋera ŋoʈʈorŋera ŋoʈʈor ŋemabolo ŋoʈʈor (5+1?)ŋera ŋoʈʈor ŋemabolo ŋèrccáccény (5+2?)ŋelamlaaŋɔ (4 x 2 ?)ŋera ŋoʈʈor wanoe (1- ?)kiccukurrɐ
HeibanMoroɡóntolə́ɡə́tʃanlə́ɡɪ́tʃɪnmárlonðénə́ŋðénə́ŋ nəɡónto (5+ 1)ðénə́ŋ lə́ɡə́tʃan (5+ 2)ðénə́ŋ lə́ɡɪ́tʃan (5+ 3)ðénə́ŋ nəmárlon (5+ 4)rɛ́θ
HeibanTirakɛ̀nːɛkɪ̀ɽɪcànkɪ̀ɽɪcɪ́nmaɬɽʊ̀ðɛ́nɛ̀ɽɪ̀cín ɽɪ̀cɪ̀n (3+3)maɬɽʊ kɪ̀ɽɪcɪ̀n (4+3)ɔ́bːɔ̀ðɛ́nɛ̀ n̪maɬɽʊ̀ (5+4)ʊ́rːɪ̀
HeibanLarokʷɛ̀tɛ̀rɔ́mtə̀ɽìlkʷɔ̀ɾɔ̀ŋɔ́tʊ̀dìníɲə̀rlə̀lkʷɔ̀ɾátə̀ɾìl (4+3)ɗúbə̀tʊ̀dìní kʷɔ̀ɾɔ̀ŋɔ́ (5+ 4)
HeibanOtorowɛ̀dɔ́ŋkútènt̪èɽelkɔ̀ɽɔŋt̪ɔ̀ðːnɛɲɛ̄ɽɛlkɔ̀ɽɔ t̪eɽel (4+3)dúbət̪ɔ́ðːnɛ́ kɔ̀ɽɔŋ (5+ 4)dìː
HeibanKoalib (1)kwɛ́t:ɛkwiɽíntɛjɪɾkɔɽŋɔntuðníɲiɾlílkunəðɗuβəɗuβaβuŋakunəðɗiɗí
HeibanKoalib (2)-ɛ̀t̪t̪ɛ̀-iɽɐntɔɔɽɔltwaɽŋantoðneɲerlelɗòvɔ̀kkwóɽɔ̀nɗòvɔ̀kkwóppàkwúnɐ̀ttùrrírúi
TalodiDagikj-ɜlːʊj-ɛːɽaj-ɜt̪ːɜk̚bɽandɔsi-s-ɜlːʊ (litː one hand)na-j-ɜlːʊ (5 + 1)na j-ɛːɽa (5 + 2)na j-ɜt̪ːɜk̚ (5 + 3)na bɽandɔ (5 + 4)n̪ipɽa
TalodiAcheronbullukweɽʌkwʌt̪t̪ʌkbɽandozəɡuŋ zulluk (lit: 'one hand')zəɡuŋ zulluk na bulluk (5 + 1)zəɡuŋ zulluk na weɽʌk (5 + 2)zəɡuŋ zulluk na wʌt̪t̪ʌk (5 + 3)zəɡuŋ zulluk na bɽando (5 + 4)ɡurruŋ
TalodiLumuncʊ́lʊ́kʊ̂mɛ̀ɽámɽaβʊ́ɾʊ̀kmɔ́ʲɔ̀ɽɪ̀nmʊ́ɣʊ́lʊ̀kmɽakʊ́ɾʊ̀kmɛ́ɽɛ̀ɽàβʊ́ɾʊ̂k ( 3) ?mámɔ̀ɾmɔ̀ɾ (2 x 4) ?mʊ́ɣʊ́lláʲɔ̀ɽɪ̀n (5 + 4)mɑ̀tul
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See also

References

Bibliography

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