Acholi

A language of Uganda

Acoli, Acooli, Akoli, Atscholi, Dok Acoli, Gang, Log Acoli, Lwo, Lwoo, Lëbacoli, Shuli

Acholi

1,500,000 in Uganda (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation. Includes 34,200 Dhopaluo (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 1,588,000.

Location

Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Nwoya, Oyam, and Pader districts.

Language Maps

4 (Educational).

Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Lango-Acholi

Dialects

Dhopaluo (Chope, Chopi). Reported intelligibility with Lango [laj], Kumam [kdi], Jopadhola [adh], but percentages unknown. Lexical similarity: with Lango [laj], Kumam [kdi], Dhopadhola [adh], Thur [lth].

Typology

16 consonants, 9 vowels (but only 5 written); tonal.

Language Use

Home, market, church, office. Used by all. Most are young. Positive attitudes. Most also use English [eng]. Some also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Kuku [ukv], Thur [lth].

Language Development

Taught in primary schools through grade 3. Taught as subject in some secondary schools, as ‘Lwo’, sharing materials with Alur [alz], Jopadhola [adh], Kumam [kdi], and Lango [laj]. Taught as ‘Lwo’ at 1 university. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1986.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Acholi

Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 1947.

Other Comments

Christian.