Berta languages
| Berta | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: | Ethiopia, Sudan |
| Linguistic classification: |
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| Subdivisions: | |
| ISO 639-3: | wti |
| Glottolog: | bert1248[1] |
The Berta languages, or Wetawit, 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").