Katla language

Katla
Kaalak
Native toSudan
RegionNuba Hills
EthnicityKatla, Gulud
Native speakers
25,000 Julud (2009)
Possibly 14,000 Katla (1984)
Dialects
  • Katla-Cakom
  • Katla-Kulharong
  • Julud
Language codes
ISO 639-3kcr
Glottologkatl1237  Katla
julu1237  Julud
ELPKatla

Katla (also Kaalak or Kwaalak) is a Katla language, closely related to a neighbouring language called Tima. Katla is generally classified as Kordofanian, which is not a uniform branch, and is native to the Nuba Mountains. While Jalad is seen a dialect there is a clear distinction between the two groups. Similarly one can distinguish Katla into east and west Katla dialects, it is believed to be spoken in 11 villages around Jebel Katla and their ethnicity is kàlàk.

The variety Julud is mutually intelligible with Katla-Kulharong but not with Katla-Cakom.