Reel language

Reel
Thuɔk ë Rëël
Native toSouth Sudan
EthnicityAtwot
Native speakers
116,000 (2017)
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3atu
Glottologreel1238
ELPReel

Reel, or Atwot, is a Nilotic language of South Sudan that is closely related to Nuer. They call themselves Reel; Atwot is their Dinka name.

Phonology

Consonants

Consonants
Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n̪ n ɲ ŋ
Plosive Voiceless p t̪ t c k ʔ
Voiced b d̪ d ɟ ɡ
Trill r
Approximant w lʲ j

/t̪/ alternates with [s], /c/ with [ç], and /p/ with [ɸ]. /ʔ/ becomes [ɦ] near breathy vowels.

Vowels

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i u
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Low a

Reid (2010) finds seven vowel phonemes, considering voice quality and vowel length as suprasegmental distinctions. Vowels have two voice qualities (modal and breathy) and three lengths (short, long, and overlong).

Tones

Reel has three tones—high, low, and falling.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Reel at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. ↑ Reid 2010, p. 36.
  3. ↑ Reid 2010, p. 37.
  4. ↑ Reid 2010, p. 38.
  5. ↑ Reid 2010, pp. 54, 64.
  6. ↑ Reid 2010, p. 54.
  7. ↑ Reid 2010, p. 55.
  8. ↑ Reid 2010, p. 56.
  9. ↑ Reid 2010, p. 117.

References