Ama

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Sudan

ISO 639-3
nyi
Alternate Names
Inyimang, Nyima, Nyiman, Nyimang, Nyuwing
Autonym
Ámá
User Population

158,000 (2017). Elderly and young children are monolingual.

Location

South Kordofan state: Al Fous, Fuony, Hajar Sultan, Kakara, Kalara, Koromiti, Nitil, Salara, Tundia, and other villages in Jebel Mandal range, Nyimang hills.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Northern (k languages), Nyimang
Dialects

Ama, Mandal (Male). 80% similarity between Ama and Mandal dialects. Lexical similarity: 59% with Afitti [aft].

Language Use

L1 widely used, even by children. All domains. Used by all. Also use Standard Arabic [arb], especially in education.

Language Development

Ama orthography and literacy materials developed. Literature. Bible portions: 1950.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ama
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Called Nyuwing by some Hill Nubian languages; people on the Mandal Hills (Sobay (Sud), Adlan, Bade, Kule, Wulal) used to speak the Kudur dialect of Dilling [dil], but now only speak Ama.