Dahalo language

Spoken in

• Afro-Asiatic languages Cushitic languages Dahalo

Dal

Dahalo (more precisely: [ ɗaháálo ], proper name of the language: [ ʔáfo gúħooni ] " the language of the people "; Also: Sanye ) is an endangered Cushitic language in Kenya, which is spoken by about 400 people (as of 1992 ). Second language is Swahili (see bilingualism ).

The term is understood Dahalo Although the members of this ethnic group, but did not use themselves. Part of the Dahalo calls himself [ ɗáko ].

The classification of the Dahalo within the Cushitic language family is controversial, it is to südkuschitischen or ostkuschitischen subunit counted.

The consonant system of this language is quite extensive. It is noticeable especially that in Dahalo occur two dental clicking sounds, which is actually characteristic of the Khoisan languages: [ | ] and [ n | ].

Examples ( from Tosco 1991):

• [ | Íngiliʕe ] "Star"
• [ n | aba ] "forest"