The Nilotic

Nilotic languages

The Nilotic languages are a group of Eastern Sudanic languages spoken across a wide area between southern Sudan and Tanzania by the Nilotic peoples, particularly associated with cattle-herding...

 Luo languages, or Lwoian, are a dozen languages spoken by the Luo peoples in an area ranging from southern Sudan

Sudan

Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...

 via Uganda

Uganda

Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...

 to southern Kenya

Kenya

Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...

, with Dholuo

Dholuo language

The Luo language, Dholuo or Luo proper, is the eponymous language of the Luo group of Nilotic languages, spoken by about 4.4 million Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania, who occupy parts of the eastern shore of Lake Victoria and areas to the south...

 extending into northern Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

 and Alur

Alur language

Alur is spoken in northwestern Uganda and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Alur people.Dialects*Jokot*Jonam *Mambisa*Wanyoro- Phonetics :VowelsAlur has 9 vowels....

 into the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...

. They form one of the two branches of Western Nilotic

Western Nilotic languages

The Western Nilotic languages are one of the three primary branches of the Nilotic languages, themselves belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subfamily of Nilo-Saharan...

, the other being Dinka–Nuer. The Southern Luo varieties are mutually intelligible, as is Mabaan–Burun, and apart from ethnic identity these might be considered single languages.

The following subclassification of the Luo languages is based on SIL

SIL International

SIL International is a U.S.-based, worldwide, Christian non-profit organization, whose main purpose is to study, develop and document languages, especially those that are lesser-known, in order to expand linguistic knowledge, promote literacy, translate the Christian Bible into local languages,...

's Ethnologue

Ethnologue

Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...

, with the exception of Bodho:

• Northern
  • Shilluk
    Shilluk language
    The Shilluk Language, or Chollo, is a Nilotic language spoken by the Shilluk people of South Sudan. It is closely related to Luo. Dhɔg Cɔllɔ is widely spoken throughout the Shilluk Kingdom and it is the official language of Shilluk and the residents in Shilluk Kingdom.-Written language:Tyɛlli...
    
     (South Sudan)
  • Anuak
    Anuak language
    Anuak or Anywa is a Nilotic language of the Nilo-Saharan language family. It is spoken primarily in the Western part of Ethiopia by the Anuak. Other names for this language include: Anyuak, Anywa, Yambo, Jambo, Yembo, Bar, Burjin, Miroy, Moojanga, Nuro.Anywa does not have phonemic fricatives.-...
    
     (South Sudan, Ethiopia) [Southern Luo?]
  • Belanda Bor
    Belanda Bor language
    Belanda Bor is a Luo language of South Sudan. Most speakers also use Belanda Viri, which is a Ubangian language and not at all related....
    
     (South Sudan)
  • Thuri
    Thuri language
    Thuri is a Luo language of South Sudan. The number of speakers is unknown; 6,600 were reported in 1956 .Bodho is said to be a dialect, but has also been reported to be closer to Luwo....
    
     (South Sudan)
  • Jur languages
    • Luwo
      Luwo language
      Dheluo is a language spoken by Jo Luo people of Bahr el Ghazal region in South Sudan. The language is most prominently spoken in western and northern parts of Bahr El Ghazal. These people are one of the Luo peoples of East Africa.- Sample phrases :...
      
       (South Sudan)
    • Bodho (South Sudan)
  • Mabaan–Burun
    • Burun
      Burun language
      Burun is a Luo language of Sudan. It forms a dialect continuum with Mabaan....
      
       (Sudan)
    • Mabaan languages* (South Sudan, Sudan)
      • Mabaan
        Mabaan language
        Mabaan, or Southern Burun, is a Luo language of South Sudan. It forms a dialect continuum with Burun....
        
         (Sudan – South Sudan border)
      • Jumjum
        Jumjum language
        Jumjum is a Luo language of South Sudan. It forms a dialect continuum with Mabaan....
        
         (South Sudan)
  • ? Päri (classification unsure) (South Sudan)
• Southern
  Southern Luo
  Southern Luo is a dialect cluster of Uganda and neighboring countries. Although Southern Luo dialects are mutually intelligible, there are six ethnically and culturally distinct varieties languages which are generally classified as separate languages....
  
  (Uganda and neighboring countries)

* Distinguish Maban languages

Maban languages

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

.

External links

• The Luo branch of Western Nilotic on Ethnologue