Ma’di, Southern

Dialects: Ogoko, Okollo, Rigbo. Reportedly more similar to Lugbara , than to Ma’di (Moyo) ,, which they do not understand. Ogoko and Rigbo dialects are more similar to Lugbara , than Okollo; intelligibility testing needed. Okollo considered most pure. Southern Ma’di dialects in Rigbo, Ogoko, and Okollo areas, should be considered Lugbara dialects (SIL 1992 Moru-Ma’di Survey Report). Lexical similarity: 85% between Ogoko dialect and Adjumani Ma’di ,, 83% between Okollo and Ogoko, 80% between Ogoko and Arua Lugbara, 80% between Ogoko and Moyo Ma’di, 78% between Ogoko and Moyo Ma’di, 76% between Okollo dialect and Arua Lugbara ,, 64% between Okollo and Moyo Ma’di, 59% between Okollo and Adjumani Ma’di , (Boone and Watson 1999).

Demographics: 60,000 (2010 SIL), increasing.

Language Use: Home, work, markets. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Lugbara [lgg], Swahili [swh].

Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Poetry.

Writing System: Unwritten

Nation of Origin: Uganda

Other Comments: Christian.