Neha Patil (Editor)

Maban languages

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Subdivisions:
  
Mimi-N Maban proper

Glottolog:
  
maba1274

Geographic distribution:
  
Chad, South Sudan, Sudan, Central African Republic

Linguistic classification:
  
Nilo-Saharan? Maba–Kunama? Maban

The Maban languages are a small family of languages which have been included in the proposed Nilo-Saharan family. Maban languages are spoken in Chad, the Central African Republic, Sudan (Darfur), and South Sudan, and includes the following languages:

  • Mimi of Nachtigal
  • Maban proper
  • Kenjeje (Yaali, Faranga)
  • Masalit: Surbakhal, Masalit
  • Aiki (Runga and Kibet, sometimes considered separate languages)
  • Mabang: Karanga, Marfa, Maba

    • The languages attested in two word lists labelled "Mimi", collected by Decorse (Mimi-D) and Nachtigal (Mimi-N), have also been classified as Maban, though this has been contested. Mimi-N appears to have been remotely related to Maban proper, while Mimi-D appears to have not been Maban at all, with the similarities due to language contact with locally dominant Maba.

    References

    Maban languages Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA