Kupsapiiny | Ethnologue

A language of Uganda

ISO 639: kpz
Alternate Names: Kuksabin, Kupsabiny, Sabiny, Sapei, Sebei
Autonym: Kupsapiiny
Population: 274,000 (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation.
Location:: Bukwa, Kapchorwa, and Kween districts; some in Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts; Kenya border area.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Southern, Kalenjin, Elgon
Dialects: Kupsapiiny West (Mbai, Tingey), Kupsapiiny East (Kongasis, Sor), Kupsapiiny Central (Kumosop, Kween, Mosop). Mutually intelligible with Sabaot [spy]. The eastern dialect spoken in Bukwo district is the variety most closely similar to Sabaot.
Typology: Agglutinative language with extremely complex morphology; 14 consonants and 20 vowels, contrasting both in length and in ATR; no vowel clusters; tonal: lexical tone carries so little functional load that it is not marked; grammatical tone carries a heavy load and is marked by 6 punctuation symbols (2020 I. Larsen).
Language Use: Home, markets. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use English [eng]. Many also use Swahili [swh].
Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Radio. Texts. NT: 1996.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kupsapiiny
Writing: Latin script [Latn], used since 1975, revised in 2011.
Other Comments: Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.

Location: Bukwa, Kapchorwa, and Kween districts; some in Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts; Kenya border area.