Ama

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A language of Sudan

ISO 639-3
nyi
Alternate Names
Inyimang, Nyima, Nyiman, Nyimang, Nyuwing
Population

70,000 (1982 SIL). Elderly and young children are monolingual.

Location

South Kordofan, Jebel Nyimang hills area, Mandal hills, Kalara, Koromiti, Nitil, Al Fous, Kakara, Hajar Sultan, Salara, Tundia, Fuony, and other villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Western, Nyimang
Dialects

Ama, Mandal (Male). 80% similarity between Ama and Mandal dialects. Lexical similarity: 59% with Afitti [aft].

Language Use

L1 widely used, even by children. All domains. All ages. Also use Sudanese Spoken Arabic [apd].

Language Development
Ama orthography and literacy materials developed. Grammar. Bible portions: 1950.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ama
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Called Nyuwing by some Hill Nubian languages; people on the Mandal Hills (Sobay (Sud), Adlan, Bade, Kule, Wulal) used to speak the Kudur dialect of Dilling [dil], but now only speak Ama.