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Language Family

Kalenjin

Nilo-Saharan › Nilotic › Southern Nilotic › Kalenjin
About this language family
A family of a dozen Southern Nilotic languages spoken in western Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. The term comes from an expression meaning 'I say (to you)'. Classified into four branches: Central (Nandi-Markweta), Northern (Pokot, Marakwet), Elgon-Mau (Sabaot, Kupsabiny), and Okiek-Akie.
Sub-families (4)
Central Kalenjin
Also known as Nandi-Markweta. Includes Kipsigis and the Plateau Central cluster (Nandi, Tugen, Keiyo…
4 languages
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Elgon-Mau Kalenjin
Mount Elgon cluster including Sabaot and Kupsabiny (Sebei).
1 language
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Northern Kalenjin
Linguistically divergent northern branch: Marakwet (Markweeta) and Pokot.
2 languages
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Okiek-Akie
Aboriginal hunter-gatherer linguistic branch: Okiek (Mau Forest) and Akie (Tanzania).
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Languages (1)
Kalenjin
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Classification
Nilo-Saharan
└ Nilotic
└ Southern Nilotic
└ Kalenjin
At a glance
Sub-families4
Languages1
ParentSouthern Nilotic
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