An initial sketch on Wali phonology (a Sudanese endangered language)

Abstract

This paper aims to provide an initial sketch of the phonology of Wali language (the Wali consonant and vowel
system). Interviews was the main tool of data collection where two wali males were the informants. The data
were elicited using the SIL Comparative African Wordlist (SILCAWL) by Snider and Roberts (2006). The data
were first recorded with 200 H4nPro Handy Recorder as audio files. Then the recordings were transcribed in
IPA and analyzed. It is found that the consonant system of Wali is similar to that found in Hill Nubian languages.
Wali has 19 consonants, they are divided into two major classes, obstruents and sonorants. In addition, the
inventory of Wali vowels consists of 8 vowels /a, o, e, ᴐ, ә, α, ᴜ, i/.