Native to Uganda Native speakers 181,000 (2002 census) ISO 639-3 kpz | Ethnicity Sebei Writing system Latin script | |
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Language family Nilo-Saharan?
Eastern Sudanic
Nilotic
Southern Nilotic
Kalenjin
Elgon
Kupsabiny | ||
Kupsabiny (Sabiny), or Sebei, is a Kalenjin language of eastern Uganda.
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Speakers
There are about 180,000 people in the world who currently speak the language, most of them being native speakers of it. The number of speakers is currently growing and the language is considered developing. Although the language is spoken primarily by Sebei people, it is taught in many primary schools and even beyond to boost communication levels.
Language
The language of Kupsabiny is solely spoken in Uganda. The native speakers of the language are the Sebei people, an ethnic group who live in Uganda. Kupsabiny is a Nilotic language; along with many other languages of the Nilotic peoples. The language is highly tonal. There are 9 vowels and 14 consonants. The language is written with Latin script since 1975 (revised in 2010). Kupsabiny is taught in primary schools and is backed by literacy campaigns to help aid with communication across Uganda.
Related Languages
Kupsabiny and a dozen other languages form the Southern Nilotic branch of the Nilotic family. The closest relative of Kupsabiny is Sabaot, spoken across the border in Kenya.