Lugbara language
Encyclopedia
Lugbara 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. 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. 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.
The Aringa language
, also known as Low Lugbara, is closely related, and sometimes considered a dialect of Lugbara. Some scholars classify the Lugbara language itself as a dialect of the Ma'di language
, though this is not generally accepted. An SIL survey report concluded that the Okollo, Ogoko, and Rigbo dialects, called 'Southern Ma'di', should be classified as dialects of Lugbara.
Lugbara people
The Lugbara are an ethnic group who live mainly in the West Nile region of Uganda and in the adjoining area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. It is spoken in the West Nile
West Nile sub-region
West Nile sub-region is a region in north-western Uganda that consists of the districts of Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Maracha-Terego, Moyo, Nebbi and Yumbe...
region in northwestern Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
's Orientale Province. Lugbara was first written by Christian missionaries
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
in 1918, based on the Ayivu dialect. In 2000, a conference was held in the city of Arua
Arua
Arua is a town in Arua District, Northern Uganda. An important local commercial centre, it is a base for a large refugee population from Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is an aid distribution centre for those nations.-Location:...
in northwestern Uganda regarding the creation of a standardised international orthography
Orthography
The orthography of a language specifies a standardized way of using a specific writing system to write the language. Where more than one writing system is used for a language, for example Kurdish, Uyghur, Serbian or Inuktitut, there can be more than one orthography...
for Lugbara. In 1992, the government of Uganda designated it as one of five "languages of wider communication" to be used as the medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
in primary education; however, unlike the other four such languages, it was never actually used in schools.
The Aringa language
Aringa language
Aringa, also known as Low Lugbara, is a Central Sudanic language spoken by the Aringa people in the West Nile region of Uganda. It is related to the language spoken by the Lugbara and Madi peoples....
, also known as Low Lugbara, is closely related, and sometimes considered a dialect of Lugbara. Some scholars classify the Lugbara language itself as a dialect of the Ma'di language
Madi language (Sudan and Uganda)
The Ma'di language is a found in Uganda and South Sudan. . The Madi people refer to their language as Ma'di ti literally: Ma'di mouth....
, though this is not generally accepted. An SIL survey report concluded that the Okollo, Ogoko, and Rigbo dialects, called 'Southern Ma'di', should be classified as dialects of Lugbara.