Markwet (Markweta)

Markwet is a member of the Southern Nilotic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. It is spoken in western Kenya by about 180,000 people, mainly in the Almoo, Cherangany, Endoow, Sombirir and Markwet divisions in the north of Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

Markwet is also known as Marakwet, Markweeta or Markweta. There are two dialects or varieties of Markwet: Northern Markwet or Endo, and Southern Markwet or Sambirir. Markwet has a rich oral tradition with a large collection of folk tales. A way to write it with the Latin alphabet was developed by the Markwet Language Programe. There are literacy class in the Markwet community, and parts of the Bible have been translated into Markwet.

Markwet alphabet (Alpapeet nyepo kuutii Markweta)

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

Sample text

Miitō koonēētiisyō nyoo /kuuneetēy piich kusooman akisir nkōō kuutii Marakwet. Kiilchinii keey kooneetichoochēē pāyiisyoonoonēē kitya.

Source: https://marakwetlanguage.com/enb/taayuu

Translation

We have literacy classes that run in the community. The teachers dedicate their time and energies to ensure that the community have the required knowledge.

Source: https://marakwetlanguage.com/introduction

Sample videos in Markwet

Links

Information about the Markwet language and people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwet_language
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markweta
https://marakwetlanguage.com/
http://www.language-archives.org/language/enb
https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/enb
/> https://www.101lasttribes.com/tribes/marakwet.html
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/egUBo_oBeo4pJQ
https://www.govisitkenya.com/marakwet-people.html

Nilotic languages

Acholi, Adhola, Alur, Anuak, Ateso, Bari, Belanda Bor, Datooga, Dholuo, Dinka, Dongotono, Kakwa, Karamojong, Keiyo, Kipsigis, Kupsabiny, Lango (South Sudan), Lango (Uganda), Lopit, Lotuko, Maasai, Mandari, Markwet, Nandi, Nuer, Terik, Toposa, Turkana

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 30.10.24. Last modified: 30.10.24

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