Page Type: languageDatooga | Ethnologue

TCC ISO 639-3

Datooga

A language of Tanzania

ISO 639
tcc
Alternate Names
Datog, Datoga, Tatog, Tatoga, Taturu, “Mangati” (pej.)
Population
161,000 (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009). Includes 23,000 Taturu.
Location:
Dodoma, Manyara, Singida, and Tabora regions; Mara region: Bunda and Serengeti districts. Mainly north volcanic highlands near Mount Hanang (Barabaig dialect).
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Southern, Tatoga
Dialects
Bajuta (Bajuuta), Gisamjanga (Gisamjang, Gisamjank, Kisamajeng), Barabayiiga (Barabaig, Barabaik, Barabayga, Barbaig), Tsimajeega (Asimjeeg, Isimijeega, Isimijega, Isimjeeg), Rootigaanga (Rotigeenga, Rotigenga), Buraadiiga (Buradiga, Bureadiga), Bianjiida (Biyanjiida, Utatu), Darorajek (Daragwajega, Darorajega), Salawajega, Gidang’odiga, Bisiyeda, Ghumbiega. Sabaot [spy] is probably most similar. Barabaik and Kisamajeng dialects are very similar and are completely inherently intelligible. There are several other dialects or ethnic groups: Darorajega, Gidang’odiga, Bisiyeda, Daragwajega, Salawajega, Ghumbiega, and Mangatiga. Lexical similarity: 50% with Kalenjin [kln] languages and Omotik [omt] of Kenya.
Typology
VSO; prepositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals after noun heads; question word final; 4 prefixes, 5 suffixes on verb; case marked by tone; verb affixes mark person, number; tonal.
Language Use
Vigorous. Used by all. Also use Iraqw [irk]. Also use Lambya [lai]. Also use Nyaturu [rim]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Hadza [hts].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 1%. NT: 2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Datooga
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
‘Mangati’ or ‘Ole-Mangati’ is Maasai, enemies. Taturu is the Sukuma name. There is intermarriage with the Iraqw. Datooga orthography is different from Swahili [swh]. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Dodoma, Manyara, Singida, and Tabora regions; Mara region: Bunda and Serengeti districts. Mainly north volcanic highlands near Mount Hanang (Barabaig dialect).