Glottolog sout2830 | ||
Subdivisions KalenjinOmotic–Datooga | ||
The Southern Nilotic languages are spoken mainly in western Kenya and northern Tanzania (with one of them, Kupsabiny or Sapiny, being spoken on the Ugandan side of Mount Elgon). They form a division of the larger Nilotic language family, along with the Western Nilotic languages and the Eastern Nilotic languages.
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Families
The Southern Nilotic Languages are a sub family of the Nilotic languages. The Nilotic Languages Belong to the Kir–Abbaian and Eastern Sudanic language families of the main Nilo-Saharan languages.
Subdivisions
The Southern Nilotic languages are generally divided into two groups, Kalenjin and Tatogoa, although there is some uncertainty as to the internal coherence of the Kalenjin branch. Southern Nilotic languages appear to have been influenced considerably by Cushitic (Afro-Asiatic) languages. The Kalenjin languages are spoken by the Kalenjin people. This family spreads all around Uganda and to some of Kenya. The Tatoga languages consist of the Omotik language and of the larger Datooga language, or more fitting, Datooga Dialect cluster.