Tama language

Nilo-Saharan language spoken in Chad and Sudan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tama, or Tamongobo, is the primary language spoken by the Tama people in Ouaddai, eastern Chad and in Darfur, western Sudan.[2] It is a Taman language which belongs to the Eastern Sudanic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. Miisiirii is often considered a dialect, though it is not particularly close.

NativetoChad, Sudan
RegionWadi Fira, West Darfur, South Darfur
EthnicityTama, Kimr[1]
Native speakers
460,000 (2022–2023)[1]
Quick facts Native to, Region ...
Tama
Tamongobo
Native toChad, Sudan
RegionWadi Fira, West Darfur, South Darfur
EthnicityTama, Kimr[1]
Native speakers
460,000 (2022–2023)[1]
Dialects
  • Tama
  • Orra
  • Girga
  • Haura
  • Erenga
  • Murase
  • Mileere
  • Madungore
Unwritten
Language codes
ISO 639-3tma
Glottologtama1331
Linguasphere05-DAA-aa
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Linguistic map of the non-Arab peoples of Darfur, showing the extent of the Taman languages in Sudan.

Demographics

Tama is spoken by 63,000 people in Dar Tama, a well irrigated area near Guéréda that extends from Kebkebiya village to nearby Sudan. There are two nearly identical dialects, one spoken in the northern and central areas, and another one spoken in the south.[3]

Phonology

Consonants

More information Labial, Dental ...
Labial Dental Alveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar Glottal
Stop voiceless t̪ k
voiced b d̪ ɟ g
implosive ɓ ɗ̪
Fricative f s ʃ h
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Rhotic r ɽ
Lateral l ɭ
Approximant w j
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Vowels

More information +ATR, -ATR ...
+ATR -ATR
Front Central Back Front Central Back
Close i u ɪ ʊ
Mid e o ɛ ɔ
Open ʌ̈ a
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Vowel length is also distinctive.[4]

References

External links

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