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Lugbara language
Nilo-Saharan language From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lugbara, or Lugbarati, is the language of the Lugbara people. It is spoken in the West Nile region in northwestern Uganda, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Orientale Province with a little extension to the South Sudan as the Zande or Azande people.[2]
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Classification and dialects
The Aringa language, also known as Low Lugbara, is closely related, and sometimes considered a dialect of Lugbara. In fact, among the Lugbara of Uganda, it is one of the five clans (Ayivu clan, Vurra clan, Terego clan, Maracha clan, and Aringa clan).[3] Some scholars classify the Lugbara language itself as a dialect of the Maʼdi language, though this is not generally accepted.[4] An SIL survey report concluded that the Okollo, Ogoko, and Rigbo dialects, called "Southern Maʼdi", should be classified as dialects of Lugbara.
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Phonology
Vowels
- /ɛ, ɔ/ can also be heard as [e, o] as a result of vowel harmony.
- /a/ can have an allophone of [ʌ] when after sounds /k, ɡ/.[5]
Consonants
 | This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{langx}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used. (June 2022) |
- /l/ can be heard as a lateral flap [ɺ] within dialectal variation.[6]
- /t͡s, d͡z/ are heard as [t͡ʃ, d͡ʒ] within dialectal variation.
- /tʳ, dʳ/ can also be heard as retroflex [ʈɽ, ɖɽ] within free variation.
- /ʔj/ can also be heard as an implosive [ʄ] and /ⁿz/ can be heard as [ⁿd͡z], within free variation.
- A labial affricate [p͡f] may occur within dialectal variation, [ŋ] only rarely occurs among different dialects.
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Orthography
Lugbara was first written by Christian missionaries in 1918, based on the Ayivu dialect. In 2000, a conference was held in the city of Arua in northwestern Uganda regarding the creation of a standardised international orthography for Lugbara.[7]
The Simplified Lugbara alphabet has 28 letters. there is no q or x, and there are four letters for glottalized consonants, namely: ʼb as in ʼbua, ʼd as in ʼdia, ʼw as in ʼwara, and ʼy as in ʼyeta.
In education
In 1992, the Government of Uganda designated it as one of five "languages of wider communication" to be used as the medium of instruction in primary education; however, unlike the other four such languages, it was never actually used in schools.[7] More recently it was included in the curriculum for some secondary schools in the West Nile region, including St. Joseph's College Ombaci and Muni Girls Secondary School, both in Arua District.[citation needed]
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Vocabulary
Summarize
Perspective
Numbers
Greetings and other phrases
Relationships
Grandfather (aʼbi, aʼbipi)
Grandmother (dede, edapi, e'di)
Grandson (mvia)
Granddaughter (zia)
Father (ati, ata)
Mother (andri, andre, ayia)
Husband (agupi)
Wife (oku)
Son (agupiamva, mvi)
Daughter (zamva, zi)
Brother (adri)
Sister (amvi)
Uncles (paternal: atapuru [singular], atapuruka [plural]; maternal: adroyi [singular], adropi [plural])
Aunts (paternal: andrapuru [singular], andrapuruka [plural and in some cases maternal]; maternal: awupi [singular], awupika [plural]
Cousin (atapurumva)
Cousin brother(s) (atapuruka anzi); also adri, adripika
Cousin sister(s) (atapuruka ezopi); also amvi, amvupika
NB: Strictly speaking, the word cousin is alien in Lugbara culture. Cousins are brothers and sisters.
Nephews (adro anzi) - maternal nephews
Nieces (adro ezoanzi, ezapi) - maternal nieces
Father-in-law (anya)
Mother-in-law (edra)
Brother-in-law (oti, otuo)
Sister-in-law (onyere)
Days of the week
1 week (Sabatu alu, sabiti alu, yinga alu, yumula alu)
A day is called Oʼdu in Lugbara.
Sunday (Sabatu, sabiti)
Monday (Oʼdu alu)
Tuesday (Oʼdu iri)
Wednesday (Oʼdu na)
Thursday (Oʼdu su)
Friday (Oʼdu towi)
Saturday (Oʼdu azia, Sabato)
Calendar
The simplest way to refer to months (Mba in Lugbara) is to use numbers, for example January is Mba Alu, February is Mba Iri, May is Mba Towi and so on. But below is the other Latinized (and seasonal) way of mentioning them.
Januari/ Oco ʼdupa sere (January)
Feburili/ Kuluni (February)
Marici/ Zengulu (March)
Aprili/ Ayi - Wet season (April)
Mayi/ Ayi Eti (May)
Juni/ Emveki (June)
Julayi/ Eri (July)
Agoslo/ Iripaku (August)
Sebitemba/ Lokopere (September)
Okitoba/ Abibi (October)
Novemba/ Waa (November)
Desemba/ Anyu fi kuma (December)
Common signs
Colours
Eka, Ika by Terego (red)
Foro foro (gray)
Foroto (grayish)
Imve (white)
Imve silili, imve whilili, imve sisirili (very pure white)
Imvesi-enisi (black and white)
Ini (black)
Inibiricici, inicici, inikukuru (very dark)
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Food
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Lugbara AI
Lugbara AI refers to Artificial Intelligence technology or machines that use Lugbara. The Sunbird Translate system[8] can automatically take text from Lugbara.[9] It includes locally relevant topics such as healthcare, agriculture and society.[10] With its partners including Makerere University AI Lab, Sunbird AI (a Ugandan startup) has built open Lugbara datasets, translation and speech systems. It is also used by banks.[11]
Furthermore, other developers are also working on projects.[12]
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See also
References
Further reading
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