Page Type: languageSoga | Ethnologue

XOG ISO 639-3

Soga

Lusoga Autonym

A language of Uganda

ISO 639
xog
Alternate Names
Olusoga
Autonym
Lusoga
Population
2,960,000 (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation.
Location:
Bugiri, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kamuli, Luuka, Mayuge, and Namayingo districts; between Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga. Namutumba district (Lukono and Lusiginyi dialects).
Language Status
4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in Iganga, 4 other districts.
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Nyoro-Ganda (E.16)
Dialects
Tenga (Lutenga), Siki (Lusiginyi, Lusiki, Siginyi), Diope (Ludiope), Nholo (Lunholo), Kigulu (Lukigulu), Gweri (Lugweri), Luuka, Tembé (Lutembe), Gabula (Lugabula), Lukono (Kono). The Siki (Siginyi) dialect is mutually intelligible of Gwere [gwr] and Kenye [lke]. Lexical similarity: Tenga dialect; 82%–86% with Ganda [lug], 77%– 81% with Kenye [lke], 69%–78% with Lamoogi dialect of Gwere [gwr], 64% with Gwere [gwr], 58% with Olusamia [lsm]. Siki dialect; 83%–84% with Kenye [lke], and 79%–82% with Gwere.
Typology
For Tenga dialect: SVO; 5 vowels, 23 consonants; highly agglutinating; lexical and grammatical tone.
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use Ganda [lug]. Many also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Kenye [lke], Saamya-Gwe [lsm].
Language Development
Materials inadequate for dialectal variations (2021 SIL). Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2015. Agencies: Lusoga Language Development Academy; Basoga Cultural Research Centre.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Soga
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 1996.
Other Comments
Welmers (1973) and Ladefoged (1971) list Soga [xog], Gwere [gwr], and Kenyi (Kenye) [lke] separately. Kenye and Gwere may be dialects of Soga, Gwere being the most geographically distant. Only Tenga, the major and widely held standard dialect, has development in progress. The Siginyi dialect is largely undescribed and still unwritten. Speakers of Siginyi consider themselves a different ethnic group, though loosely part of the wider Soga Kingdom. These varieties are all very similar and largely intelligible.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Bugiri, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kamuli, Luuka, Mayuge, and Namayingo districts; between Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga. Namutumba district (Lukono and Lusiginyi dialects).