Tima
According to one frequently quoted source concerning information on languages of the world or figures about number of speakers, the Ethnologue (www.ethnologue.com), there were around 1,100 speakers (with a question mark) for Tima for the year 1956 (the latest published source on the language in this respect). According to more recent information, based on interviews by the research team with speakers of Tima, the current number of ethnic Tima probably ranges around 5,000. Around 4,000 of them live in four villages in the Nuba Mountains on and near Jebel Tima, around 10 miles southwest of the katla area. The names of these villages are represented here with orthographic as well as phonological symbols:
Käyyä kʌyyʌ
Märyäŋ mʌryʌŋ
Wayah wàyâh
Tɨmmä tɨmmʌ
The name Tima is used as an ethnonym by other inhabitants of the Nuba Mountains, including Arabic communities, and possibly is based on the name of one of the villages where this language is spoken. The same community is also known as Tamanik or Yibwa amongst neighbouring groups.
The word for the language is Dumurik, the people call themselves Kumurik (sg.) and Umurik (pl.). The area is called Lumurik. As the name Tima does not appear to have any derogatory or negative connotations, it is retained here.
