Datooga

Datooga is a member of the Southern Nilotic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. It is spoken by about 88,000 people near Lake Eyasi in the northern of Tanzania, particularly in the Mbulu District in the west of the Manyara Region, in the Karatu Distritc in the south of the Arusha Region, and in the north of the Singida Region.

Datooga is also known as Datog, Datoga, Taturu, Mang'ati, Tatoga or Tatog. The name Mang'ati is used in Swahili, and comes from a Maasai word meaning 'enemy', as the Datooga people are the historical enemies of the Maasai - something the Datooga are proud of. Dialects include Asimjeeg, Gisamjanga, Buradiga, Bianjida, Rotigenga and Barabaiga. The Barabaiga dialect is spoken by about half the Datooga people. Some dialects are sufficiently divergent that they are classified as separate languages by some scholars.

There is a little written material in the Barabaiga, Gisamjanga and Asimjeeg dialects using the Latin alphabet, however, few Datooga are literate in their own language.

Datooga alphabet

Datooga alphabet)

Download an alphabet chart for Datooga (Excel)
Download details of the Datooga alphabet and pronunciation provided by Wolfram Siegel (PDF)

Sample text

Gwayeesha saawa, “Iyoamwaashchi ASEETA gooyeenyi, “Ghweandeanya gheawungaagu nung' eakghaambiida. Nung' ghwahidu sugoocheanduumeadaang'u.
Gooneasa daghwardeanya galeagasean;
samseasa riing'eegaasa, gawuurji gidasisamiisiindi siida mideawa siileedeanya; ak ea Adiigealeasa jeeda simsimda.”

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/3050/LUK.11.BG15

Translation

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.11.KJV

Sample Videos

Links

Information about Datooga
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datooga_language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datooga_people
https://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/channumerals/Datooga.ht
http://www.orvillejenkins.com/profiles/datooga.html

Nilotic languages

Acholi, Adhola, Alur, Anuak, Ateso, Bari, Belanda Bor, Datooga, Dholuo, Dinka, Dongotono, Kakwa, Karamojong, Keiyo, Lango, Lopit, Lotuko, Maasai, Mandari, Markwet, Nuer, Toposa, Turkana

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 01.10.24. Last modified: 29.10.24

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