Kupsapiiny

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A language of Uganda

ISO 639-3
kpz
Alternate Names
Kuksabin, Kupsabiny, Sabiny, Sapei, Sebei
Autonym
Kupsapiiny
User Population

274,000 (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation.

Location

Bukwa, Kapchorwa, and Kween districts; some in Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts; Kenya border area.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Southern, Kalenjin, Elgon
Dialects

Kupsapiiny West (Mbai, Tingey), Kupsapiiny East (Kongasis, Sor), Kupsapiiny Central (Kumosop, Kween, Mosop). Mutually intelligible with Sabaot [spy]. The eastern dialect spoken in Bukwo district is the variety most closely similar to Sabaot.

Typology

Agglutinative language with extremely complex morphology; 14 consonants and 20 vowels, contrasting both in length and in ATR; no vowel clusters; tonal: lexical tone carries so little functional load that it is not marked; grammatical tone carries a heavy load and is marked by 6 punctuation symbols (2020 I. Larsen).

Language Use

Home, markets. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use English [eng]. Many also use Swahili [swh].

Language Development

Radio. NT: 1996–2020.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kupsapiiny
Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 1975, revised in 2011.

Other Comments

Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.