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{{Short description|Moribund Kuliak language spoken in Uganda}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|name=Soo
|name=Soo
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|familycolor=Nilo-Saharan
|familycolor=Nilo-Saharan
|fam2=[[Kuliak languages|Kuliak]]
|fam2=[[Kuliak languages|Kuliak]]
|fam3=[[Nyang'i language|Nyang'i]]–Soo
|dia1=Tepes
|dia1=Tepes
|dia2=Kadam
|dia2=Kadam
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'''Soo''' or '''So''' is the [[Kuliak languages|Kuliak]] language of the [[Tepes people]] of northeastern [[Uganda]]. The language is [[Moribund language|moribund]], with most of the population of 5,000 having shifted to [[Karamojong language|Karamojong]], and only a few dozen elderly individuals are still able to speak Soo. Soo is divided into three major dialects: Tepes, Kadam (Katam), and Napak (Yog Toŋi).
'''Soo''' or '''So''' is the [[Kuliak languages|Kuliak]] language of the [[Tepes people]] of northeastern [[Uganda]]. The language is [[Moribund language|moribund]], with most of the population of 5,000 having shifted to [[Karamojong language|Karamojong]], and only a few dozen elderly individuals are still able to speak Soo. Soo is divided into three major dialects: Tepes, Kadam (Katam), and Napak (Yog Toŋi).


There are between 3,000 and 10,000 ethnic Soo people (Carlin 1993). They were historically hunter-gatherers, but have recently shifted to pastoralism and subsistence farming like their Nilotic and Bantu neighbors.<ref>Beer (2009: 1)</ref> Beer (2009: 2) found that most So villages have only one speaker remaining. Thus, the speakers rarely have a chance to active use the Soo language.
There are between 3,000 and 10,000 ethnic Soo people (Carlin 1993). They were historically hunter-gatherers, but have recently shifted to pastoralism and subsistence farming like their Nilotic and Bantu neighbors.<ref name="Beer 2009: 1">Beer (2009: 1)</ref> Beer (2009: 2) found that most Soo villages have only one speaker remaining. Thus, the speakers rarely have a chance to actively use the Soo language.


==Dialects==
==Dialects==
Soo dialects are spoken on the slopes of the following three mountains in east-central Uganda just to the north of [[Mount Elgon]].<ref>Carlin, Eithne. 1993. ''The So Language''. (Afrikanistische Monografien (AMO), 2.) Institut für Afrikanistik, Universität zu Köln.</ref>
Soo dialects are spoken on the slopes of the following three mountains in east-central Uganda just to the north of [[Mount Elgon]].<ref>Carlin, Eithne. 1993. ''The So Language''. (Afrikanistische Monografien (AMO), 2.) Institut für Afrikanistik, Universität zu Köln.</ref>
*'''Tepes dialect''' (also called '''Tepeth'''), on the slopes of [[Mount Moroto]] in [[Moroto District]], Uganda. It is spoken in the Kakingol, Lea, and Tapac valleys on the slopes the Mount Moroto.<ref>Beer (2009: 2)</ref> The dominant language in the area is Karimojong. Most Tepes people have assimilated both linguistically and culturally with the [[Karimojong language|Karimojong people]].<ref>Carlin (1993: 6)</ref> Villages include Akeme, Nabuin, and Mokora,<ref>Carlin (1993: 7-8)</ref> as well as Naripo Kakole.<ref>Beer (2009: 2)</ref>
*'''Tepes dialect''' (also called '''Tepeth'''), on the slopes of [[Mount Moroto]] in [[Moroto District]], Uganda. It is spoken in the Kakingol, Lea, and Tapac valleys on the slopes the Mount Moroto.<ref name="Beer 2009: 2">Beer (2009: 2)</ref> The dominant language in the area is Karimojong. Most Tepes people have assimilated both linguistically and culturally with the [[Karimojong language|Karimojong people]].<ref name="Carlin 1993: 6">Carlin (1993: 6)</ref> Villages include Akeme, Nabuin, and Mokora,<ref>Carlin (1993: 7-8)</ref> as well as Naripo Kakole.<ref name="Beer 2009: 2"/>
*'''Kadam dialect''', on the slopes of [[Mount Kadam]] in [[Nakapiripirit District]], Uganda. Villages include Nakapeliethe and Nakaapiripirit.<ref>Carlin (1993: 8)</ref> Kadam data is primarily available in Heine (m.s.).<ref>Heine, Bernd. m.s. ''The So Language of Eastern Uganda''.</ref> The dominant language in the area is [[Pokot language|Pokot]].<ref>Carlin (1993: 6)</ref> According to Carlin (1993), Mount Kadam has the highest concentration of ethnic So people.
*'''Kadam dialect''', on the slopes of [[Mount Kadam]] in [[Nakapiripirit District]], Uganda. Villages include Nakapeliethe and Nakaapiripirit.<ref>Carlin (1993: 8)</ref> Kadam data is primarily available in Heine (m.s.).<ref>Heine, Bernd. m.s. ''The So Language of Eastern Uganda''.</ref> The dominant language in the area is [[Pokot language|Pokot]].<ref name="Carlin 1993: 6"/> According to Carlin (1993), Mount Kadam has the highest concentration of ethnic So people.
*'''Napak dialect''', on the slopes of [[Mount Napak]] in [[Napak District]], Uganda (no speakers found as of 1993).
*'''Napak dialect''', on the slopes of [[Mount Napak]] in [[Napak District]], Uganda (no speakers found as of 1993).


There are fewer than 60 elderly speakers of all three dialects combined.<ref>Beer (2009: 1)</ref>
There are fewer than 60 elderly speakers of all three dialects combined.<ref name="Beer 2009: 1"/>


Carlin (1993: 2-3) notes that there are only minor differences between the Tepes and Kadam dialects, which are mutually intelligible.
Carlin (1993: 2-3) notes that there are only minor differences between the Tepes and Kadam dialects, which are mutually intelligible.
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===Interrogatives===
===Interrogatives===
So interrogatives are:<ref name="Beer2009"/>
So interrogatives are:<ref name="Beer2009"/>
* Who/What: /ic/
* Who/What: /{{lang|teu|ic|italic=no}}/
* When: /ita/
* When: /{{lang|teu|ita|italic=no}}/
* Where: /eoko/
* Where: /{{lang|teu|eoko|italic=no}}/
* Why: /ikun/
* Why: /{{lang|teu|ikun|italic=no}}/
* How: /gwate/
* How: /{{lang|teu|gwate|italic=no}}/
* How Many/How Much: /intanac/
* How Many/How Much: /{{lang|teu|intanac|italic=no}}/


===Tenses===
===Tenses===
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*/-tɛz/: inchoative marker
*/-tɛz/: inchoative marker
*/-uk/: locative marker
*/-uk/: locative marker
*/-ok/: instrumentive marker
*/-ok/: instrumental marker
*/-a/: goal marker
*/-a/: goal marker
*/kun-/: dative pronouns
*/kun-/: dative pronouns
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{{Languages of Uganda}}
{{Languages of Uganda}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kuliak languages]]
[[Category:Kuliak languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Uganda]]
[[Category:Languages of Uganda]]

Latest revision as of 22:47, 28 February 2024

Soo
Tepes
RegionUganda
Ethnicity5,000 (2007)[1]
Native speakers
50 (2012)[1]
Dialects
  • Tepes
  • Kadam
  • Napak
Language codes
ISO 639-3teu
Glottologsooo1256
ELPSoo

Soo or So is the Kuliak language of the Tepes people of northeastern Uganda. The language is moribund, with most of the population of 5,000 having shifted to Karamojong, and only a few dozen elderly individuals are still able to speak Soo. Soo is divided into three major dialects: Tepes, Kadam (Katam), and Napak (Yog Toŋi).

There are between 3,000 and 10,000 ethnic Soo people (Carlin 1993). They were historically hunter-gatherers, but have recently shifted to pastoralism and subsistence farming like their Nilotic and Bantu neighbors.[2] Beer (2009: 2) found that most Soo villages have only one speaker remaining. Thus, the speakers rarely have a chance to actively use the Soo language.

Dialects

[edit]

Soo dialects are spoken on the slopes of the following three mountains in east-central Uganda just to the north of Mount Elgon.[3]

  • Tepes dialect (also called Tepeth), on the slopes of Mount Moroto in Moroto District, Uganda. It is spoken in the Kakingol, Lea, and Tapac valleys on the slopes the Mount Moroto.[4] The dominant language in the area is Karimojong. Most Tepes people have assimilated both linguistically and culturally with the Karimojong people.[5] Villages include Akeme, Nabuin, and Mokora,[6] as well as Naripo Kakole.[4]
  • Kadam dialect, on the slopes of Mount Kadam in Nakapiripirit District, Uganda. Villages include Nakapeliethe and Nakaapiripirit.[7] Kadam data is primarily available in Heine (m.s.).[8] The dominant language in the area is Pokot.[5] According to Carlin (1993), Mount Kadam has the highest concentration of ethnic So people.
  • Napak dialect, on the slopes of Mount Napak in Napak District, Uganda (no speakers found as of 1993).

There are fewer than 60 elderly speakers of all three dialects combined.[2]

Carlin (1993: 2-3) notes that there are only minor differences between the Tepes and Kadam dialects, which are mutually intelligible.

Grammar

[edit]

So grammar has been described by Beer, et al. (2009).[9]

Word order is VSO (verb–subject–object). So has rich verbal morphology.[9]

Pronouns

[edit]

So nominative and accusative pronouns are:[9]

Singular Plural
1st aja inja/izja
2nd bija bitja
3rd ica iɟa

Interrogatives

[edit]

So interrogatives are:[9]

  • Who/What: /ic/
  • When: /ita/
  • Where: /eoko/
  • Why: /ikun/
  • How: /gwate/
  • How Many/How Much: /intanac/

Tenses

[edit]

There are four verb tenses:[9]

  • past tense
  • present tense
  • future tense (general)
  • future tense (specific)

Affixes

[edit]

Some So affixes are:[9]

  • /kɔ-/: immediate future
  • /-ak/: passivity
  • /no-/: relative clause coordinator
  • /ɪn-/: general negation
  • /lan/: past negation
  • /ipa/: imperative negation
  • /-tɛz/: inchoative marker
  • /-uk/: locative marker
  • /-ok/: instrumental marker
  • /-a/: goal marker
  • /kun-/: dative pronouns
  • /-ak/: dative pronouns

Singular suffixes are /-at/, /an/, /-ɛn/, and /-it/.

Plural suffixes are /-in/, /-ɛk/, /-ɛz/, /-an/, /-ɛl/, /-ra/, /-ce/, /-ɔt/, and /-e/.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Soo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b Beer (2009: 1)
  3. ^ Carlin, Eithne. 1993. The So Language. (Afrikanistische Monografien (AMO), 2.) Institut für Afrikanistik, Universität zu Köln.
  4. ^ a b Beer (2009: 2)
  5. ^ a b Carlin (1993: 6)
  6. ^ Carlin (1993: 7-8)
  7. ^ Carlin (1993: 8)
  8. ^ Heine, Bernd. m.s. The So Language of Eastern Uganda.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Beer, Sam, Amber McKinney, Lokiru Kosma 2009. The So Language: A Grammar Sketch. m.s.
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