So, I love culture. Anthropology. Languages. Am no expert, but I try. I think everyone should learn a few more languages in their lifetime. I speak and understand several Kenyan Languages. And one advantage is, it makes it easier for you to learn languages from other countries and get by easier, when doing your business or just…chilling.
With a standard understanding of Swahili and another Bantu language, maybe Gikuyu, Giriama, Taita, Gusii or any of the Mijikenda or Luhya dialects, you would find many languages in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi all the way to Sauzi easy to learn.
For Plain Nilotics, I hear Maasai and Samburu are quite close. Teso, Turkana and Karamoja are also significantly related.
Today, I just realized I could get by quite well in Northern Uganda with my Basic Luo skills.
Language is an intriguing phenomena that extrapolates the dynamics of human relations
Ayudo ni Acholi gi Luo gin closer than I thought. Infact, Acholi gi luo en gimoro achiel. Differences tin. Kikunyiera kakaandiko. Ang’eyo dholuo matin.
Adhola, Alur and Lang’o of Uganda are also very close to Dholuo.
For those who understand Dholuo, check out the extreme similarities with Acholi. Almost word by word.
Acholi
[ATTACH=full]85602[/ATTACH]
Luo Versions
Which ? - Mane ?
Who ? - Ng’a
What ? - ang’o ?
Why ? - Pingo ? na’ang’o…(confirm)
How many ? Adi ?
Far : Mabor
The others are very similar or just slight variations
Counting in Acholi
[ATTACH=full]85603[/ATTACH]
Luo
1 Achiel, 2 Ario, 3 Adek, 4 An’gwen, 5 Abich, 6 Auchiel, 7 abirio, 8 aboro, 9 Ochiko, 10 Apar…90% similar
Some more Acholi words with high similarity with Kenyan Luo.
[ATTACH=full]85604[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=full]85605[/ATTACH]
Infact, Acholi Language is also known as Luo. So, next time I visit Gulu, I’ll just try pretend that I already know some Acholi and just use my Dholuo. Na niombe nisipigwe masweep na RKO.
*Mahali iko makosa, samehea. Am not a first language speaker of dholuo.
Haya, We aom kuon moro kae kech nega. Wanere.