Berta languages
| Berta | |
|---|---|
| Funj | |
| Geographic distribution | Ethiopia, Sudan |
| Linguistic classification | Nilo-Saharan?
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | wti |
| Glottolog | bert1248 |
The Berta languages, or Funj, traditionally considered dialects of a single language, are Gebeto (Berta proper), Fadashi, and Undu. They are either a small family (or language isolate) of their own, or a primary branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family.
Berta 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 "rock/stone" misanalyzed as Arabic beni "sons").