Masaaba

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A language of Uganda

ISO 639-3
myx
Alternate Names
Gisu, Lugisu, Lumasaaba, Masaba
Population

1,120,000 (2002 census), increasing.

Location

East, Mbale, Manafwa, Budua, and Sironko districts, Mount Elgon area.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Masaba-Luyia (E.31)
Dialects

Lubuuya (Buuya), Ludadiri (Dadiri), Lufumbo, Luteza, Luwalasi, Luyobo. Intelligibility of Dadiri and Buuya 83%. Central and Southern varieties of Buuya 93%. Lexical similarity: 62% with Saamia [lsm], 52% with Isukha [ida], 50% with Logooli [rag].

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Swahili [swh].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Low. Orthography guide published but inadequate for dialectal variants. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. NT: 1977–2011.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Masaaba
Writing
Latin script, used since 1977.
Other Comments

Ludadiri is the main Northern variety; Lubuuya is the main Central or Southern variety. Christian.