Luwo (Luo, Dheluwo), is a language spoken by the Luwo people of Bahr el Ghazal region in South Sudan. The language is predominantly spoken in the western and northern parts of Bahr el Ghazal. The Luwo form a majority in the Jur River County.
The language is part of the Luo languages of East Africa and is especially related to the languages of South Sudan such as Anuak language and Päri with whom it forms a dialect cluster.[Reh, Mechthild (1996): Anywa Language: Description and Internal Reconstructions. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe. p.5]
Etymology
The Luwo language is spoken by the
Luwo (or Jur Col), an ethnic group in
South Sudan. Jur is exonym adopted from the local
Dinka language whose speakers are the Luwo's northern and eastern neighbours.
Its original Dinka usage, non-cattle-holding non-Dinka, was not particular to the Jur. Jur Col ("black Jur") is today used to disambiguate Luwo from other Jur groups.
Status
Dhe Luwo is currently a developing language. Meaning that the language is developing its written language, standard dialect and undergoing modernization.
Phonology
Consonants
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/k/ can sometimes be heard as ɣ in intervocalic position.
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/ŋ/ can sometimes be heard as h in intervocalic position among speakers of the eastern dialects.
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/r/ can be heard as a tap ɾ in word-final position.
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All consonant sounds except the voiced stops /b, d̪, d, ɟ, ɡ/ and the two glides /w, j/ can occur as geminated Cː.
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Labialization Cʷ may occur among all consonants except /d̪, ɟ, n̪, n, r, w, j/.
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Palatalization Cʲ may occur among consonants /t, c, d̪, ɡ, m, l/.
Vowels
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Sample phrases
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| Hello (How are you?) | Mahdhia (Ni dih)? |
| I am fine (nothing bad) | Gihn me raaj tooro. |
| What is your name? | Nyingi nga'a? |
| My name is Dimo. | Nyinga Dimo. |
| Child | Nyithiin |
| Boy | Nyidhohg |
| Girl | Nyakuo |
| God is great. | Juag Duohng. |
| Good | Ber |
| Thank you! | Kori! |
| I am happy. | Ciwnya med. |
