Ethnologue.com home

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
16th edition

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
US$ 100.00
Add to cart

Preview print edition

Most Recent
SIL Publications
Reduced Price SIL Publications


ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES
Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Africa > Uganda > Acholi

Acholi

A language of Uganda

ISO 639-3: ach

Population  1,170,000 in Uganda (2002 census). 12,089 speakers of Dhopaluo (Ladefoged, Glick and Criper 1972), 20,631 ethnic Chope (2002 census). Population total all countries: 1,215,000.
Region  North, Kitgum District; Adjumani and Pader districts. Also in Sudan.
Language map  Uganda, reference number 1
Alternate names   Acoli, Acooli, Akoli, Atscholi, Dok Acoli, Gang, Log Acoli, Lwo, Lwoo, Shuli
Dialects  Labwor, Nyakwai, Dhopaluo (Chopi, Chope).
Classification  Nilo-Saharan, Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic, Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Lango-Acholi
Language development  Bible: 1986.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  Ruhlen (1987) classifies Labwor as a separate language. Tonal, 5 vowels, 16 consonants. Mainly agriculturalists: finger millet, sorghum, maize, groundnuts, beans, sweet potatoes, cassava, cow peas, pigean peas, sesame, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, bananas, rice, cotton, sugarcane, sesame, and sunflower; Pastoralists: cattle (2005–2006 District Handbook). Christian, Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Sudan

Language name   Acholi
Population  45,000 in Sudan (2000).
Region  South, Opari District, Acholi Hills.
Language map  Sudan
Alternate names  Acoli, Acooli, Akoli, Atscholi, Dok Acoli, Gang, Log Acoli, Lwo, Shuli
Language use  All domains. All ages.