Dinka, South Central

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A language of South Sudan

ISO 639-3
dib
Alternate Names
Central Dinka
Autonym
Thuɔŋjäŋ
User Population

851,000 (2017).

Location

Mainly Lakes state, except Wulu county southwest; Unity and Warrap states: small border areas.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Transitional Constitution, Article 6(1)).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Western, Dinka-Nuer, Dinka
Dialects

Aliap (Aker, Aliab, Thany), Ciec (Ador, Ajak, Chiech, Cic, Ciem, Kwac), Gok (Cok, Gauk), Agar. Gok dialect is influenced by Southwestern Dinka [dik]. Lexical similarity: 90% with Southeastern Dinka [dks]. A member of macrolanguage Dinka [din].

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Reel [atu].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50%. Taught as subject in some primary schools through grade 3. The Ministry of Education, supported by donors, has started a pilot project to develop materials for teaching Dinka (all 4 varieties together) as a subject and as language of instruction up to grade 3 in some schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1866–2018.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dinka, South Central
Writing

Latin script [Latn].