Bongo–Bagirmi languages

The Bongo–Bagirmi or Sara–Bongo–Bagirmi (SBB) languages are the major branch of the Central Sudanic language family with about forty languages. Principal groups include Bagirmi languages such as Naba and the Sara languages. They are spoken across CAR, Chad, South Sudan, Sudan and adjacent countries.

Languages
The Bongo–Bagirmi languages are for the most part poorly studied, and there is little agreement as to their internal classification. The table below is taken from Lionel Bender, as summarized in Blench (2000).


 * Bongo–Baka
 * Kara (= Tar Gula ?)
 * Sinyar (Shemya) ?
 * Bagirmi
 * Sara
 * Doba (Bedjond, Gor, Mango)
 * Kaba
 * Vale
 * Birri (likely to be closer to Kresh)
 * Fongoro (Formona) ?
 * Yulu (Yulu–Binga)

Sinyar and Fongoro may not be Bongo–Bagirmi or even Central Sudanic languages.

Classification
Boyeldieu (2006) classifies the Sara-Bongo–Bagirmi languages as follows.


 * Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi
 * Bongo
 * Modo, 'Beli, Baka
 * Western
 * Yulu
 * Core Western
 * Fer, Gula Koto
 * Gula Zura, 'Bu'bu, Gula Mere, Gula Sara
 * Nduga, Luto?
 * Sara
 * Peripheral: Ndoka, Wad, Bagiro, Na, Tiye, Kulfa, Simé, 'Dem
 * Central: Sar, Mbay, Ngambay, 'Bedjond, Kaba P.
 * Others: Bulala, Beraku, Kenga, 'Barma

Boyeldieu (2006) considers the homelands (Urheimats) of the language groups to be as follows.
 * Proto-Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi: Bahr el Ghazal / southwestern South Sudan, by the border with easternmost Central African Republic
 * Proto-Western Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi: north-central extreme of the Central African Republic
 * Proto-Sara: south-central Chad, along the border with northwestern Central African Republic

The Bongo–Bagirmi languages in the east are closer to other Central Sudanic languages, while the Sara languages in the west have diverged more from the typical Central Sudanic typological profile due to contact with Ubangian and other languages.

Plants
Proto-Sara–Bongo–Bagirmi plant names:

Fish
Proto-Sara-Bongo-Bagirmi fish names: