The Nihal European University in Sudan

Very few countries have such a wide variety of spoken languages as those found in Sudan. The number of languages and spoken dialects cannot be precisely assessed. There are around 142 languages spoken, not including dialects. In the region of Khartoum many languages are representing due to migration and the presence of many refugees and immigrants.

The linguistic situation in Sudan is not well defined and in a state of constant transformation. It is characterized by diversity and complexity. This complexity is due to several factors. For one there was a widespread migration of languages from differing origins and cultures. In addition it is connected with geographic distribution, the mixing of languages and the use of Arabic.

The linguistic wealth of the region as well as the political changes in Sudan which enable more scholars to study the languages are ideal preconditions for linguists wanting to research the diverse linguistic phenomena. Nonetheless many of these languages have hardly been studied and to a great extent remain undocumented.

Both the Sudanese government and the general public in Sudan are developing a growing perception of linguistic pluralism and the cultural-pluralistic nature of Sudan. As a result the local languages of Sudan have received more and more official attention.

With the founding of a Section for African Languages the Nihal European University in Sudan will create a new paradigm for research and teaching. The Section will focus particularly upon African cultures in Sudan as well as the linguistic and cultural contacts to neighbouring countries of African culture. We will endeavour to make descriptive studies of individual languages and comparative studies of multiple languages. These can be classified in one of three areas:

• Indigenous / proto-languages
• Foreign / immigrant languages
• Creoles

Research and teaching will be concentrated upon languages indigenous to the Sudan that are not primarily Semitic languages. In addition to the relevant literatures the areas of history and culture likewise play a role. Language and culture of ethnic groups and tribes will be examined comparatively. Languages from all directions of the country will thus be represented:

• Languages of North Sudan and bordering areas:
  Nubi languages, Cordofanic languages
• Languages of East Sudan and bordering areas:
  Amharic, Tigrinya, Beja
• Languages of South Sudan and bordering areas:
  Swahili, Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk, Zande, Nilotic languages
• Languages of East Sudan and bordering areas:
  Hausa, Fur languages, Maban languages, Nuba

The bachelor’s concentration in African Studies transmits basic disciplinary knowledge in African Studies, a solid training in a modern African vernacular and an additional African language, a cultural-scientific and historical background as well as analytical skills.

The Major Concentration

Students are required to take two mandatory languages, one of them an African language of the Sudan and an indigenous or proto-language of Sudan. A third African language is optional.

Students should be able to choose from the following:

• Foreign languages:
  Amharic, Hausa, Swahili, Tigrinya, Ge’ez
• Indigenous languages:
  Beni Aamir, Beja, Dinka, Fur, Masalit, Nuer, Shilluk, Zande

The degree programme will consist of the following general required courses:

• Introduction to African Studies
• Phonetics and Phonology
• Morphology and Syntax
• Semantics
• Lexicology
• Sociolinguistics
• Ethnolinguistics
• Practicums
• Field Research
• History of Sudan and Africa
• Language Contact in Sudan and Africa
• Oral Literature

Linguistic training in the chosen languages will take place in the following types of courses:

• Beginning
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Conversation
• Practical principles
• Area studies

The major concentration in African Studies can be combined with minor concentrations from faculties such as the Economics-Sociology Faculty or the Faculty for Media Studies and Communication Design.

The Minor Concentration

The minor concentration in African Studies can be combined with the major concentration in Arabic Studies or Environmental Engineering.

The Section for African Languages of the Nihal European University in Sudan will create a site for research of African minority languages and will promote their archiving and documentation. The following will serve as foci of research:

• Linguistic research
• Language documentation; the compilation of corpora; classification of languages; further clarification of the linguistic situation
• Language maintenance
• Field research; data collection; direct interviews with native speakers in the state of Khartoum, where many settled in the wake of migration
• Language contact; language transformation; influence of Arabic on African proto-languages; creoles, language contact phenomena between languages and cultures indigenous to the Sudan
• Sociolinguistics
• Ethnolinguistics
• Orally transmitted literature, documentation of the Sudan through poetry, prose, drama, drum language and folk music; the recording and creation of text anthologies of indigenous literature; translation of previously recorded texts
• Computational linguistics
• Extinct and ancient languages; Sudanese cultural history and African history in general

In all these efforts we will endeavour to cooperate with the Institute for Cultures Indigenous to the Sudan and the Institute for Cultural Pluralism and Intercultural Communication.

On the basis of data for similar departments and degree programmes we can assume that teaching and research in this section will require approximately six lecturers at various levels, four teaching assistants and seven to ten adjuncts with smaller loads. The requirements for space ought to be approximately 600 m², while equipment should also provided for establishing one or two language laboratories.