Gule is an extinct language formerly spoken by the inhabitants of Jebel Gule in Sudan's Blue Nile State, with an estimated 1,000 speakers recorded in 1983 before the community shifted to Arabic by the late twentieth century. The last linguistic attestation dates to 1932, leaving a thin evidence base. Gule was historically classified among the Koman languages, but Harald Hammarstrom judged the evidence for that link insufficient, and a 2026 study by Raoul Zamponi identifies it unambiguously as a language isolate, though the classification remains disputed given how little data survives. It was also known as Anej, Fecakomodiyo and Hamej.
Facts
RegionJebel Gule, Blue Nile State, Sudan 1 Speaker Count Proto-Language StatusClassified by some as one of the Koman languages, but Zamponi (2026) identifies Gule as a language isolate; poorly attested, with Hammarstrom judging the evidence insufficient for Koman classification, while others accept it as Koman though too poorly attested to help reconstruct that family 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia: Gule Language
Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph 2, sentence 1
The language was spoken by the inhabitants of Jebel Gule in Blue Nile State, Sudan.
Lead paragraph 2, sentence 2
Speakers had shifted to Arabic by the late 20th century.
Lead paragraph 1, sentences 2 to 4
Although it has been classified as one of the Koman languages, Zamponi (2026) unambiguously identifies Gule as a language isolate. It is poorly attested, and Hammarström judges the evidence to be insufficient for classification as Koman. Others however accept it as Koman, though too poorly attested to be much help in reconstructing that family.
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