Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Bongo–Bagirmi languages

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Geographic distribution:
  
CAR, Chad, South Sudan

Glottolog:
  
sara1341

Linguistic classification:
  
Nilo-Saharan? Central Sudanic Bongo–Bagirmi

Subdivisions:
  
Bongo–Baka Kara Bagirmi Sara Doba Kaba Vale Sinyar Yulu

The Bongo–Bagirmi or Sara–Bongo–Bagirmi languages are the major branch of the Central Sudanic language family with about forty languages. Principal groups include Bagirmi languages such as Naba and the Sara languages.

Languages

The Bongo–Bagirmi languages are for the most part poorly studied, and there is little agreement and to their internal classification. The table below is taken from Lionel Bender, as summarized in Blench (2000).

  • Bongo–Baka
  • Kara (= Tar Gula ?)
  • Sinyar (Shemya)
  • Bagirmi
  • Sara
  • Doba (Bedjond, Gor, Mango)
  • Kaba
  • Vale
  • Birri (likely to be closer to Kresh)
  • Fongoro?
  • Yulu (Yulu–Binga)

    • References

    Bongo–Bagirmi languages Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA