Kalenjin languages

Kalenjin
Geographic distribution	western Kenya, eastern Uganda, northern Tanzania
Linguistic classification	Nilo-Saharan? Eastern Sudanic Nilotic Southern Nilotic Kalenjin
Language codes

The Kalenjin languages are a group of twelve related Southern Nilotic languages spoken in Kenya, eastern Uganda and northern Tanzania. The term Kalenjin comes from a Nandi expression meaning 'I say (to you)'. Kalenjin in this broad linguistic sense should not be confused with Kalenjin as a term for the common identity the Nandi-speaking peoples of Kenya assumed halfway the twentieth century; see Kalenjin and Kalenjin language.

The Kalenjin languages are generally distinguished into four sub-branches. There is less certainty regarding internal relationships within those four main branches. The following internal classification is based on the Ethnologue, 15th edition (2005):

• Elgon languages
  • Kupsabiny (Uganda)
  • Sabaot (Kenya)
• Nandi-Markweta languages
  • Markweta languages
    • Endo language (Kenya)
    • Talai language (Kenya)
  • Nandi languages
    • Aramanik language (Kenya)
    • Kalenjin language (Kenya)
      • (including Kipsigis, Nandi, Terik, and Keiyo dialects)
    • Kisankasa language (Tanzania)
    • Mediak language (Tanzania)
    • Mosiro language (Tanzania) (considered a subdivision of Akiek by Rottland (1982) and Sommer (1992))
    • Tugen language (Kenya)
• Okiek language (Kenya, Tanzania)
  • Kinare dialect (extinct)
  • Sogoo dialect (endangered)
  • Akiek dialect (endangered)
• Pökoot language (Kenya)

References

• Rottland, Franz (1982) Die Südnilotischen Sprachen: Beschreibung, Vergleichung und Rekonstruktion (Kölner Beiträge zur Afrikanistik vol. 7). Berlin: Dietrich Reimer. (See esp. map 1 on p. 31, and the 'Sprachbeschreibung' of the Kalenjin languages on pp. 69–143.)

External links

• Kalenjin - English Dictionary
• A Kalenjin website
• Kalenjin branch on the Ethnologue.
• Endo phonology