Ganda - Luganda - oluGanda
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Categories: Languages, Uganda
On this page... (hide)
- 1. Classification / Classification
- 2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique
- 3. Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs
- 4. Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte
- 5. Usage / Utilisation
- 6. Orthography / Orthographe
- 7. Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC
- 8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation
- 9. Comments / Remarques
- 10. References / Références
1. Classification / Classification
Ganda (oluGanda, Luganda) belongs to the Nyoro-Ganda family of Bantu (Guthrie E15) (Webbook)
Ethnologue gives the classification as: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Nyoro-Ganda (J.10)
Soga (Lusoga, Olusoga), Kenyi (Lukenyi), and Gwere (Lugwere, Olugwere) are among other languages that are closely related (same classification).
2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique
It is spoken north of the northwestern shore of Lake Victoria in Buganda Province, Uganda. (Webbook)
3. Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs
According to information compiled from Ethnologue:
- Luganda
- 3,015,980 (1991 census)
- 1,000,000 second-language speakers (1999 WA)
- Others:
- Gwere: 275,608 (1991 census)
- Kenyi: 390,115
- Ruli: 68,010 (1991 census)
- Soga: 1,370,845 (1991 census)
4. Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte
According to information compiled from Ethnologue:
- Luganda (Lexical similarity 71% to 86% with Soga, 68% with Gwere)
- Kooki (Olukooki) (The Kooki dialect may be extinct)
- Sese (Olusese)
- Luvuma
- Ludiopa
- (Luvuma, Ludiope may be dialects)
- Gwere (Lexical similarity 68% with Ganda, 64% with Soga)
- Kenyi (Lexical similarity 81% with Soga, 71% to 86% with Ganda, 64% with Gwere, 58% with Saamia)
- Soga (Lexical similarity 81% with Kenyi, 71% to 86% with Ganda, 64% with Gwere, 58% with Saamia ... Politically distinct from Ganda)
- Tenga (Lutenga) (Lexical similarity 82% with Ganda)
- Lamogi (Lulamogi) (79% to 82% lexical similarity with Tenga, ... 88% with Soga, 82% with Gwere)
- Gabula (Lugabula)
- (Lusiki is apparently extinct)
Ruruli seems to be between Ganda and Runyakitara
- Ruli (Lexical similarity 79% between Eastern and Western Ruli, 71% with Nyoro (closest)
- Eastern Ruli / Nakasongola (influenced by Ganda / lexical similarity 70% with Ganda)
- Western Ruli / Kuyanoongo (influenced by Nyoro)
IDRC and CASAS (n.d.) did some research on interintelligibility of Luganda and Lusoga.
5. Usage / Utilisation
Ganda is a regional language in Uganda, the official vernacular language of education in many school districts, and a lingua franca. Broadcasts are heard in Uganda. The Roman Catholic Church of Uganda publishes Musizi in Luganda. (Webbook)
Language of wider communication. The most widely spoken second language in Uganda next to English. ... Used in primary schools. (Ethnologue)
6. Orthography / Orthographe
6.1 Status / Statut
A standardized Latin-based orthography for Ganda was devised in 1947. The present status of this orthography is unknown. (Webbook, with modification) [this needs updating!]
A brief discussion entitled "Elements of Luganda Orthography" has some information at http://www.buganda.com/luganda.htm#elem . Note also the link to "Empandiika y'Oluganda Entongole" (Standard Orthography of Luganda, 1947) http://www.buganda.com/authogra.htm
6.2 Sample Alphabet / Alphabet exemple
Two versions are indicated in Wikipedia. The first includes an extended character "ŋ" and the second substitutes that with "'ng" since the former was not on typewriters or ASCII fonts:
- a b c d e f g i j k l m n ny ŋ o p r s t u v w y z
- a b c d e f g i j k l m n 'ng ny o p r s t u v w y z
As reported by Hartell (1993) and presented in Systèmes alphabétiques at http://sumale.vjf.cnrs.fr/phono/AfficheTableauOrtho2N.php?choixLangue=luganda :
- a b ch d e f g i j k l m n ny ŋ o p s t u v w y z
Sample text on the "Language Museum" site: http://www.language-museum.com/g/ganda.htm
7. Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC
7.1 Fonts / Polices
Most standard fonts will do. However if the ŋ (letter "eng") is used, a Unicode font would be necessary (fortunately this character is available in many fonts).
7.2 Keyboard layouts / Dispositions de clavier
7.3 Content on computers & internet / Contenu en informatique et sur l'Internet
a) General and educational web content
- EKIWANDIIKO EKY'ABANTU BONNA EKIFA KU DDEMBE LY'OBUNTO (Universal Declaration of Human Rights): http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/lap1.htm
- Wikipedia in Luganda at http://lg.wikipedia.org/ (it has a small amount of content as of 5-2007)
- Engeri Y'okuyiga N'obukodyo Bwakwo (Study Guides in Luganda) http://www.studygs.net/luganda/
- A Luganda text, audio and image manual is available at http://www.iwtc.org/luganda.html (from International Women's Tribune Centre, appears to be about computer use)
b) Development-related web content (apparently materials that can be printed)
- The Ugandan District Information Portal has a partly localised version of its site at http://www.dip.go.ug/luganda/ . It also has some PDF materials in Luganda:
- Brochures
- "Omulimu gwamatendekero aganonyereza nokusomesa ebyobulimi, mu kulwanyisa ebiwuka nendwadde zebirime" (about research institutes) http://www.dip.go.ug/materials/luganda/Research_Institutions_Brochure_Luganda.pdf
- "Okukola sumbusa ez’ebijanjalo" (bean somosas) http://www.dip.go.ug/materials/luganda/Bean_Samosa_Brochure_Luganda.pdf
- "Okulembeka amazzi ag’okufukirira enmiro n’ebirala" (water harvesting) http://www.dip.go.ug/materials/luganda/water_harvesting_brochure_LUGANDA.pdf
- Posters
- "Amenvu gafulemu obumpwakipwanki" http://www.dip.go.ug/materials/luganda/Bananas_Chart_1_LUGANDA.pdf
- "Wewale enjala ng’osimba ebitooke eby’embala ebirongoosemu ebigumira ebiwuka" (banana pests poster) http://www.dip.go.ug/materials/luganda/Banana_pests_poster_LUGANDA.pdf
- "Yongera okufuna ensimbi!" (improved bananas) http://www.dip.go.ug/materials/luganda/improved_Banana_Poster_LUGANDA.pdf
- "Simba FHIA 17" (banana uses) http://www.dip.go.ug/materials/luganda/Fhia_17_Poster_LUGANDA.pdf
- Brochures
- There was some material regarding agriculture available online (site is defunct; seeking more info):
c) Diverse other web content
- Tema Modersmal http://modersmal.skolutveckling.se/luganda/
- "Slent Night" in Luganda http://silentnight.web.za/Translate/luganda.htm
7.4 Localized software / Logiciels localisés
ICT Translations Uganda released a Mozilla Web browser in Luganda, called "Kayungirizi." This has not yet been updated. (For the old webpage, see http://www.translate.or.ug/
There is a FOSS localization project called Safari-OS which includes Luganda. See http://khmeros.info/download/SafariOS.pdf
There is an orgainization that is apparently working on localizing Linux and GNU called "Kompyuta ne Yuganda." See http://www.kizito.uklinux.net/
7.5 Language codes / Codes de langue
Luganda / Ganda
- ISO 639-1: lg
- ISO 639-2: lug
- ISO 639-3: lug
Gwere
- ISO 639-3: gwr
Kenyi
- ISO 639-3: lke
Ruli
- ISO 639-3: ruc
Soga
- ISO 639-3: xog
7.6 Other / Autre
- Online Luganda Dictionary http://www.gandaancestry.com/dictionary/dictionary.php
- Frases en Luganda http://www.ikuska.com/Africa/Lenguas/luganda/frases.htm
- Number System of Ganda http://www.sf.airnet.ne.jp/~ts/language/number/ganda.html
8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation
8.1 Individuals (experts) / Individuelles (experts)
James Lunghabo Wire
8.2 Institutions / Institutions
- ICT Translations Uganda http://www.translate.or.ug (site not working)
- Kompyuta ne Yuganda http://www.kizito.uklinux.net/ (subdomain not working)
- Lusoga Language Authority (LULA)
8.3 On the internet / Sur la toile
- Luganda Scientific Terminologies Research http://www.luganda.com/ (site does not seem to have been updated recently)
9. Comments / Remarques
Given the importance of this language in Uganda, it is a logical priority for localisation, and is already the object of software translation efforts and some content development.
Are localisations for Ganda useful for other closely related languages? Has the issue of interintelligibility been pursued since the CASAS/IDRC research?
Given the work being done on Lusoga, should that be separated out to another page? Then how to treat the other languages in this group? Wikipedia redirects Kenyi/Kenye to Lusoga; Ruli/Ruuli and Gwere are apparently very close to each other.
10. References / Références
Chanard, Christian (2006), Systèmes alphabétiques des langues africaines, LLACAN, CNRS, http://sumale.vjf.cnrs.fr/phono/
Dwyer, David (1997), Webbook of African Languages, http://africa.isp.msu.edu/afrlang/hiermenu.html (page on "Ganda (oluGanda)," http://africa.isp.msu.edu/afrlang/ganda_root.htm )
Hartell, Rhonda L., ed. (1993), The Alphabets of Africa. Dakar: UNESCO and SIL. (The French edition, published the same year, is entitled Alphabets de Langues Africaines).
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS) (n.d.), "Report of the Evaluation of the Democratization of ICT Content for Africa Pilot Project" http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/10373084350EvalDemoContentAfrica.pdf
Omniglot, "Ganda (LùGáànda)," http://www.omniglot.com/writing/ganda.php
______, "Soga (Lusoga)," http://www.omniglot.com/writing/soga.htm
SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Ganda," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/lug
______, "Gwere," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/gwr
______, "Kenye," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/lke
______, "Ruuli," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/ruc
______, "Soga," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/xog
SIL International, "ISO 639 Code Tables," http://www-01.sil.org/iso639-3/codes.asp
U.S. Library of Congress, "ISO 639.2: Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages: Alpha-3 codes arranged alphabetically by the English name of language," http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/English_list.php
Wikipedia, "Gwere language," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwere_language
______, "Luganda," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luganda
______, "Luganda," https://lg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luganda
______, "Ruuli language," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruuli_language
______, "Soga language," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soga_language
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