Samburu | Ethnologue

A language of Kenya

ISO 639: saq
Alternate Names: Burkeneji, E Lokop, Lokop, Nkutuk, Sambur
Autonym: Sampur
Population: 366,000 (2019 census), increasing. , based on ethnicity, including Ilchamus and Njemps 33,000 (2019 census).
Location:: Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties: Lake Turkana east towards Marsabit.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-Maa
Dialects: Ilchamus (Chamus, Ilcamus), Njemps. Lexical similarity: 94%–88% with the Chamus dialect, 89%–77% with Maasai [mas], 59% with Ngasa [nsg] (Ongamo), 82% between Chamus and Maasai [mas].
Language Use: Home, social gatherings, religion. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by El Molo [elo], Rendille [rel].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: Samburu: 15%–25%, Chamus: 40%. Radio. Videos. NT: 2018.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Samburu
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Nomadic. There is some question as to whether Chamus (Ilchamus) is a dialect of Samburu or a separate language. Traditional religion, Christian.

Location: Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties: Lake Turkana east towards Marsabit.