Luo languages

The dozen Luo, Lwo or Lwoian languages are spoken by the Luo peoples in an area ranging from southern Sudan to southern Kenya, with Dholuo extending into northern Tanzania and Alur into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They form one of the two branches of the Western Nilotic family, the other being the Dinka–Nuer. The Southern Luo varieties are mutually intelligible, and apart from ethnic identity they might be considered a single language.

Not to be confused with Luo dialect or Luwo language.
For the language of Kenya and Tanzania known as Luo, see Dholuo. For the unclassified language of Atta in Cameroon, see Luo language (Cameroon).
Luo
Lwo
EthnicityLuo peoples
Geographic
distribution		southwestern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, northeastern Congo (DRC), northern Uganda, southwestern Kenya, northern Tanzania
Linguistic classificationNilo-Saharan?
Subdivisions
Glottologluob1235

The time depth of the division of the Luo languages is moderate, perhaps close to two millennia. The division within the Southern Luo language dialect cluster is considerably shallower, perhaps five to eight centuries, reflecting migrations due to the impact of the Islamization of the Sudan region.[1]

Bibliography
  • Gilley, Leoma G. 2004. "The Lwoian family." Occasional Papers in the Study of Sudanese Languages, 9, 165–174.

References
  1. Bethwell Allan Ogot, History of the Southern Luo: Volume 1, Migration and Settlement.
  2. Reh, Mechthild (1996): Anywa Language: Description and Internal Reconstructions. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe, p. 5.
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