Eastern Jebel languages


The Eastern Jebel languages are a small subfamily belonging to the Eastern Sudanic subgroup of Nilo-Saharan. They are spoken in the hills of An Nil al Azraq province in eastern Sudan

Languages

The Eastern Jebel languages are:
Gaam has some 40.000–80,000 speakers, whereas the other three are threatened languages with much fewer speakers. Gaam was believed to be the only member of this group until more information about Aka, Kelo, and Molo was obtained by Bender; the latter three languages have been significantly influenced by Berta. Gaam is spoken in a compact area around the towns of Bau, Bobuk, Kukur, and Sawda in the Tabi Hills, roughly 11°15′–30′ N by 33°55′–34°10′ E.
The other three were spoken in isolated pockets to its south, but are now probably extinct: Aka in the Sillok Hills, Kelo in the Tornasi Hills on jebels Tornasi and Beni Sheko, and Molo at Jebel Malkan near the Ethiopian border.

Reconstruction

Proto-Eastern Jebel has been reconstructed by Bender.