Acholi

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A language of Uganda

ISO 639-3
ach
Alternate Names
Acoli, Acooli, Akoli, Atscholi, Dok Acoli, Gang, Log Acoli, Lwo, Lwoo, Lëbacoli, Shuli
Autonym
Acholi
Population

1,500,000 in Uganda (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation. Includes 34,200 Dhopaluo (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 1,527,000.

Location

Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Nwoya, Oyam, and Pader districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Lango-Acholi
Dialects

Dhopaluo (Chope, Chopi). Reported intelligibility with Lango [laj], Kumam [kdi], Dhopadhola [adh], but percentages unknown. Lexical similarity: with Lango [laj], Kumam [kdi], Dhopadhola [adh], Thur [lth].

Typology

16 consonants, 9 vowels (but only 5 written); tonal.

Language Use

Home, market, church, office. Most are young. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Thur [lth].

Language Development
Taught in primary schools. Taught in secondary schools, as a subject. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1986.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Acholi
Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 1947.

Other Comments

Christian.

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