This book will be of interest to African-language specialists, especially those in Nilo-Saharan and Nilotic, those working in neighboring families (e.g. for diffusion phenomena), and to non-Africanists, especially phonologists.

This is the first monograph on the lexicon and phonology of the East Sudanic family of languages of east and northeast Africa, as defined by Joseph H. Greenberg and modified by the author. The book begins with a description of the family and its membership. There are approximately 54 separate languages, divided into nine families: Nubian, Nera, Nyima, Tama, Surma, Jebel, Temein, Daju, and Nilotic. The first four make up the k-family, retaining Nilo-Saharan 1 sg. independent pronoun with a velar element; the last five form the n-family, with innovated 1 sg. -n-. Nubian, Surma, and Nilotic are the largest families both in terms of separate languages and numbers of speakers, with some Nubian and Nilotic varieties approaching major-language status. Sketches of the phonologies of all languages are then presented. Three sets of proposed isoglosses are given in detail: 67 for all of East Sudanic, 174 for Ek, and 78 for En. An appendix presents several hundred East Sudanic fragments or sub-isoglosses. Three chapters are devoted to phonological analysis and various issues such as final consonants, vowel and consonant sequences, morpheme types, homophones, and diagnostic isoglosses defining families. Five indices of isoglosses and fragments, notes on chapters, and references take up 48 pages, and there is a final map and locater key. A sequel on morphology of the Ek family is being planned.

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