Central Sudanic languages

Nilo-Saharan language family of Central Africa

Central Sudanic

Geographic
distribution| CAR, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Cameroon

Native speakers

| ca. 15 million[1]
Linguistic classification| Nilo-Saharan?

* Central Sudanic

Proto-language| Proto-Central Sudanic
Subdivisions|

* Bongo–Bagirmi
* Mangbetu–Asoa
* Mangbutu–Lese
* Lendu
* Moru–Madi
* ? Birri-Kresh

Language codes
ISO 639-5| `csu`
Glottolog| `cent2225`

Central Sudanic languages in Africa

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, Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Cameroon. They include the pygmy languages Efé and Asoa.

Blench (2011) suggests that Central Sudanic influenced the development of the noun-class system characteristic of the Atlantic–Congo languages.[2]

## Classification

[edit]

Half a dozen groups of Central Sudanic languages are generally accepted as valid. They are customarily divided into East and West branches.

### Blench (2023)

[edit]

Blench cites the following classification:[3]

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

Sinyar-Formona is sparsely documented and its placement in the western branch is "provisional".

### Starostin (2016)

[edit]

Starostin (2016)[4] 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)

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)

[edit]

Lionel Bender (1992) classifies the Central Sudanic languages as follows, with Central Sudanic bifurcating into a Peripheral branch and a Central branch.[5]

* 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

[edit]

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:[6]

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 | Ma'di (1) | àlʊ̄ | (è)rì | (ī)nā | (ī)sū | tòú | ázɨ́á | tûdērì | àrɔ̀ | drítʃàlʊ̄ | mūdrí
Moru-Madi, Southern | Ma'di (2) | àlʊ̄ | èrì ~ rì | ìnā ~ nā | ìsū ~ sū | tòú | ázɨ́á | tûdērì | àrɔ̀ | drítʃàlʊ̄ | mūdrí
Moru-Madi, Southern | Olu'bo | 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

[edit]

* List of Proto-Central Sudanic reconstructions (Wiktionary)
* Central Sudanic word lists (Wiktionary)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nilo-Saharan; Ethnologue".
2. ^ Blench, Roger (2011). Can Sino-Tibetan and Austroasiatic help us understand the evolution of Niger-Congo noun classes? (PDF). CALL 41. Leiden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-18.
3. ^ Blench, Roger. 2023. In defence of Nilo-Saharan.
4. ^ George Starostin (2016) The Nilo-Saharan hypothesis tested through lexicostatistics: current state of affairs
5. ^ Bender, Lionel M. 1992. "Central Sudanic segmental and lexical reconstruction." Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere 29: 5-61.
6. ^ Chan, Eugene (2019). "The Nilo-Saharan Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.

## Sources

[edit]

* Blench, Roger. 2011. "Can Sino-Tibetan and Austroasiatic help us understand the evolution of Niger-Congo noun classes?",[1] CALL 41, Leiden.
* Blench, Roger. Central Sudanic overview.
* Blench, Roger. 2018. Core and peripheral noun morphology in Central Sudanic languages. Proceedings of the 13th Nilo-Saharan Conference University of Addis Ababa, 6 May 2017
* Starostin, George. On Mimi, Journal of Language Relationship, v. 6, 2011, pp. 115–140.

## External links

[edit]

For a list of words relating to Central Sudanic languages, see the Central Sudanic languages category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

* A map of Central Sudanic

* v
* t
* e

Central Sudanic languages

Part of the proposed Nilo-Saharan language family

Bongo–Bagirmi|

| Bongo–Baka|

* Baka
* Bongo

Morokodo–Beli|

* Jur Beli
* Jur Modo
* Mittu
* Morokodo

Kara|

* Furu
* Tar Gula
* Yulu

Bagirmi|

* Barma
* Beraku
* Disa
* Fer
* Gula
* Jaya
* Kenga
* Morom
* Naba

Sara|

| East|

* Kabba of Gore
* Laka
* Lau Laka
* Ngambay

|

Central|

* Doba

West|

* Dagba
* Gulay
* Horo
* Mbay
* Ngam
* Sar

Kaba|

* Kaba Deme
* Kaba Na
* Kulfa

Vale|

* Ruto
* Vale

Yulu|

* Yulu

Fongoro?|

* Fongoro

Sinyar?|

* Sinyar

Birri–Kresh|

| Birri|

* Birri

|

Kresh|

* Aja
* Dongo
* Furu
* Kresh (Dara–Gboko, Kresh–Hofra, Naka, Ndogo, Woro)

Lendu–Mangbetu|

| Mangbetu–Asoa|

* Asoa
* Lombi
* Mangbetu

|

Mangbutu–Lese|

* Bendi
* Lese
* Mamvu
* Mangbutu
* Mvuba
* Ndo

Lenduic|

* Lendu
* Ngiti
* Ndrulo

Moru–Madi|

| Moru|

* Moru

|

Central Ma'di|

* Aringa
* Avokaya
* Keliko
* Logo
* Lugbara
* Omi

Southern Ma'di|

* Ma'di
* Olu'bo

Mimi-D?|

* Mimi of Decorse

Italics indicate extinct languages

* v
* t
* e

Nilo-Saharan branches

Ethiopia-Sudan
border region|

* Berta
* Bʼaga
* Koman
* Gule ?
* Kuliak
* Kunama
* Ongota ?
* Shabo ?

Sahel region|

* Furan
* Kadu
* Maban
* Saharan
* Songhay

Central Sudanic|

* Birri ?
* Bongo–Bagirmi
* Kresh ?
* Lendu
* Mangbetu
* Mangbutu–Lese
* Moru–Madi
* Sinyar ?

Eastern Sudanic|

* Daju
* Eastern Jebel
* Nara
* Nilotic
* Surmic

"Astaboran"|

* Nubian
* Nyimang
* Tama
* Temein

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Israel

|

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