A Descriptive Study on Keiga Language of the Nuba Mountains in Sudan

Abstract

The research aims to describe the Keiga Language. Issues such as the word formation and phonology in the Keiga language, were covered and lights were shed on the verbs and tenses. Contrastive studies were made between the Keiga language and Kakoolo group of languages with regard to, word formation and tenses. Lists of words for comparisons between the western group of Kakoolo (Keiga, Kamda and Tulishi) were prepared by the researcher. For more evidences of relationship between Keiga and the Nile Nubians two comparison words lists were prepared between Keiga & Andaadi and Keiga & Oshkeen. A tentative orthography of the Keiga language is proposed. The research reveals similarities and dissimilarities between Keiga and Kakoolo group of languages, and from the short two list contrasted with Oshkeeen and Andaadi of the Nile Nubian one can say without any shadow of doubt that, Keiga is a member of the Nile Saharan language family. From the other hand the study confirms that the Keiga language is highly endangered because most of its youngsters at displacing towns have shifted to Arabic language.