The Aringa language, also known as Low Lugbara, is closely related, and sometimes considered a dialect of Lugbara. In fact, among the Lugbara of Uganda, it is one of the five clans (Ayivu clan, Vurra clan, Terego clan, Maracha clan, and Aringa clan).[3] Some scholars classify the Lugbara language itself as a dialect of the Maʼdi language, though this is not generally accepted.[4] An SIL survey report concluded that the Okollo, Ogoko, and Rigbo dialects, called "Southern Maʼdi", should be classified as dialects of Lugbara.
/l/ can be heard as a lateral flap [ɺ] within dialectal variation.[6]
/t͡s, d͡z/ are heard as [t͡ʃ, d͡ʒ] within dialectal variation.
/tʳ, dʳ/ can also be heard as retroflex [ʈɽ, ɖɽ] within free variation.
/ʔj/ can also be heard as an implosive [ʄ] and /ⁿz/ can be heard as [ⁿd͡z], within free variation.
A labial affricate [p͡f] may occur within dialectal variation, [ŋ] only rarely occurs among different dialects.
Orthography
Lugbara was first written by Christian missionaries in 1918, based on the Ayivu dialect. In 2000, a conference was held in the city of Arua in northwestern Uganda regarding the creation of a standardised international orthography for Lugbara.[7]
The Simplified Lugbara alphabet has 28 letters. there is no q or x, and there are four letters for glottalized consonants, namely: ʼb as in ʼbua, ʼd as in ʼdia, ʼw as in ʼwara, and ʼy as in ʼyeta.
In education
In 1992, the Government of Uganda designated it as one of five "languages of wider communication" to be used as the medium of instruction in primary education; however, unlike the other four such languages, it was never actually used in schools.[7] More recently it was included in the curriculum for some secondary schools in the West Nile region, including St. Joseph's College Ombaci and Muni Girls Secondary School, both in Arua District.[citation needed]
Vocabulary
Numbers
Number
Translation
0.
Toko/ ogbo
1.
Alu
2.
Iri
3.
Na
4.
Su
5.
Towi/ tawu
6.
Azia
7.
Aziri
8.
Aro
9.
Oromi
10.
Mudri/ modri
11.
Mudri drini alu
12.
Mudri drini iri
13.
Mudri drini na
20.
Kali iri
21.
Kali iri drini alu
22.
Kali iri drini iri
23.
Kali iri drini na
30.
Kali na
40.
Kali su
100.
Turu alu
500.
Turu towi
900.
Turu oromi
5,000.
Alifu towi
4M.
Milioni su
7B.
Bilioni aziri
12T.
Trilioni mudri drini iri
Greetings and other phrases
Lugbara
English
Mi ifu ngoni?
How did you wake up?/ Good morning!
(Mi) ngoni?
How (are you)?
(Ma) muke!
(I'm) fine!
Ma azoru!
I'm sick!
Mi aa ngoni?
How did you stay?
Ayiko ni ma fu!
Happiness is killing me!/ I'm happy!
Abiri ni ma fu(fu)!
Hunger is killing me!/ I'm hungry!
Sa(w)a si?
What time is it?
Etu alu oʼbitisi.
7:00 a.m. [To tell time, you mention the number on the opposite side of the clock. Etu iri is 8 o'clock, etu na is 9 o'clock, etc.]
Etu mudri drini alu
5:00 p.m.
Mi efi!
Come in!
Ife mani yi!
Give me water!
Kirikiri!
Please!
Ada!
True!
Inzo!
Lies!
Iko ma aza!
Help me!
Ine!
See!
Mi a'bua ozi si?
How much do you sell bananas?
Ajeni si?
How much [is the price]?
A le Obangulu!
I want mashed whiteants!
Ma mu Gili Gili-a ngoni?
How do I get to Gili Gili?
Arojo ngoa?
Where is the drugshop/clinic/hospital?
Mi ru a'di-i?
What is your name?
Ma ru Aiko-i!
I'm called Aiko!
Te mi-i?
How about you?
Mi omve ma Letasi!
You call me Letasi!
Awaʼdi fo!
Thanks!
A le mi!
I love you!/I need you!/I want you!
Mi ma asi (ni).
You are my heart.
Ma enga Ediofe-a.
I'm from Ediofe.
Ma mu kanisa-a.
I'm going to church.
Mi ma agi!
You are my friend!
Ma mu Ojapi-a ngoni?
How do I get to Ojapi?
Masikiti ngoa?
Where is the mosque?
Mi ma ji Ragemu-a ra?
Can you take me to Ragem?
Iji ma Ringili-a!
Take me to Ringili!
'Ba mucele ozi ngoa?
Where is rice sold?
Aje/ andru/ drusi/ drozi
Yesterday/ today/ tomorrow/ the day after tomorrow
Ila muke!
Sleep well!
A le ra!
I do want! [The word 'ra' after a verb denotes positivity.]
A le ku!
I don't want! [The word 'ku' after a verb denotes negativity.]
The simplest way to refer to months (Mba in Lugbara) is to use numbers, for example January is Mba Alu, February is Mba Iri, May is Mba Towi and so on. But below is the other Latinized (and seasonal) way of mentioning them.
Januari/ Oco ʼdupa sere (January)
Feburili/ Kuluni (February)
Marici/ Zengulu (March)
Aprili/ Ayi - Wet season (April)
Mayi/ Ayi Eti (May)
Juni/ Emveki (June)
Julayi/ Eri (July)
Agoslo/ Iripaku (August)
Sebitemba/ Lokopere (September)
Okitoba/ Abibi (October)
Novemba/ Waa (November)
Desemba/ Anyu fi kuma (December)
Common signs
Lugbara
English
Agupi
Men
Oku
Women
Colours
Eka, Ika by Terego (red)
Foro foro (gray)
Foroto (grayish)
Imve (white)
Imve silili, imve whilili, imve sisirili (very pure white)
Imvesi-enisi (black and white)
Ini (black)
Inibiricici, inicici, inikukuru (very dark)
Food
Lugbara
English
Mucele
Rice
Fun(y)o
Groundnut
Gbanda/ Ola
Cassava
Osu
Bean, Kaiko in Terego dialect
Burusu/ Buruso
Guinea pea
Kaka
Maize
Ago
Pumpkin
Anyu
Simsim
Ondu
Sorghum
Maaku
Potato
(M)ayu(ni)
Yam
Onya
Whiteant
Ope
Guinea fowl
Au
Chicken
Eza
Meat
Ti eza
Cow meat
Ndri eza
Goat meat
Eʼbi
Fish
Kawa
Coffee
Majani
Tea
I'di
Porridge
Kpete
Beer
Mbasala
Onion
Nyanya
Tomato
Cikiri/ Osu nyiri
Chick pea
Lugbara AI
Lugbara AI refers to Artificial Intelligence technology or machines that use Lugbara. The Sunbird Translate system[8] can automatically take text from Lugbara.[9] It includes locally relevant topics such as healthcare, agriculture and society.[10] With its partners including Makerere University AI Lab, Sunbird AI (a Ugandan startup) has built open Lugbara datasets, translation and speech systems. It is also used by banks.[11]
Furthermore, other developers are also working on projects.[12]
^Gordon, Raymond (2005). "Lugbara language". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
^Boone, Douglas; Watson, Richard (1999). "Moru–Maʼdi Survey Report"(PDF). SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 1999-001. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
^Blackings, Mairi; Nigel Fabb (2003). A Grammar of Maʼdi. Mouton de Gruyter. p. 1. ISBN3-11-017940-7.
^Alo, Anguandia (2014). Lugbarati Phonology and Orthography Standardization. Editions du Soleil Levant.
^Crazzolara, Pasquale J. (1960). A study of the Logbara (Maʼdi) language: grammar and vocabulary. London & New York: Oxford University Press.
