Alternate Names: Kpala, Kpara, Kparla, Kredj, Kreich, Kreish, Kresh
Dialects: Dongo, Gbaya-Dara, Gbaya-Gboko, Gbaya-Ndogo (Kresh-Ndogo), Gbaya-Ngbongbo (Kresh-Hofra), Naka (Kresh-Boro), Orlo (Woro). 8 tribes and dialects. Gbaya-Ndogo is prestigious and understood by all. Naka is largest and also well understood.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 16,000 in South Sudan (2013 SIL). Population total all countries: 48,000. L2 users: 4,000 in South Sudan.
Language Use: All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Sudanese Spoken Arabic [apd]. Used as L2 by Aja [aja], Mangayat [myj], Yulu [yul].
Language Development: Developed literacy materials in use. Taught in primary schools. Bible portions: 2003–2011.
Typology: SVO; prepositions; genitives, articles, relatives after noun heads; adjectives before, numerals usually before noun heads; CV, V, CCV (CVC rare); 5 tones.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: South Sudan
Other Comments: Different from Gbaya languages in the Niger-Congo family.