Kumam

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A language of Uganda

ISO 639-3
kdi
Alternate Names
Akokolemu, Akum, Ikokolemu, Ikumama, Kuman, Kumum
Population

174,000 (2002 census), increasing.

Location

Kaberamaido District, south of Lake Kwania.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic, Western, Luo, Southern, Kuman
Dialects

Mutually intelligible with Lango [laj] and Acholi [ach]. Lexical similarity: 82% with Acholi [ach], 81% with Lango [laj].

Language Use

Home, market. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Teso [teo] or Lango [laj].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 20% in English. Literacy campaign in progress. Used in primary schools, but no primers available. Poetry. Radio programs. NT.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kumam
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Ladefoged, Glick and Criper (1972) and Bender (1988 M. Bender) classify Kumam as Southern Luo; some linguists classify it in the Dinka group. Kumam oral tradition gives a Teso descent. Christian, Muslim.