Berta
Facts
- Language: Berta
- Alternate names: Beni Shangul, Bertha, Barta, Burta, Wetawit, Jebelawi
- Language code: wti
- Language family: Nilo-Saharan, Berta (SIL classification)
- Number of speakers: 146799
- Script: Latin script
More information:
Introduction
The Berta language is spoken by the group of the same name (Bertha or Berta people) in Sudan and Ethiopia, and is generally classified as a branch of Nilo-Saharan. It has the typical word order Subject Verb Object. It is a tonal language. It has significantly influenced some of the Eastern Jebel languages. The Arabic name "Beni-Shangul" (as in the Ethiopian province of Benishangul-Gumuz) derives from a Berta expression (with bele "mountain" misanalyzed as Arabic beni "sons".)
The verb
Person and tense are marked with suffixes.
Unlike many other Nilo-Saharan languages Berta doesn't have inclusive, exclusive, or dual form of pronouns.
Sample verb: Ɵiŋ-
| Present | Perfect | |
| Sg.1 | Ɵiŋlɪ́ɪ̀ | Ɵiŋali |
| Sg.2 | Ɵiŋŋó | Ɵiŋaŋo |
| Sg.3 | Ɵiŋné | Ɵiŋane |
| Pl.1 | Ɵiŋŋàa | Ɵiŋaŋa |
| Pl.2 | Ɵiŋχátú | ƟiŋaƟatu |
| Pl.3 | Ɵiŋmérée | Ɵiŋamere |