Introduction

Introduction

Reel is a Western Nilotic, Nilo-Saharan language related to Nuer (77% lexical similarity-Ethnologue) and Dinka (49% lexical similarity) and spoken in and around Rumbek and Yirol, in South Sudan. There are about 50,000 Reel living in these areas. There are reported to be two main dialects, which are fairly similar:  The eastern dialect (more influenced by Dinka) includes the sections Luääc, Akoot, Jilëk, and the western dialect includes the sections Kuɛk, Jekeyë (considered more pure). The Reel are culturally more similar to Dinka than to Nuer since they live among the Dinka.

In the Reel language, there are several different types of words:  nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, connectors, and others.  This dictionary lists many words and tells what kind of word each is.  It also gives the meaning of each word in English.  Each word is listed according to the order of the alphabet letters so that it is easier to find the words.  This book also shows how each word should be spelled.  The lessons of the Reel Consonant and Vowel Book  and the Reel Grammar Book should be learned and used along with this dictionary.

It is especially important for those writing books and translating Scripture to check the spelling of words using this book.  If all writers spell the way that words are written in this dictionary, it will be easier for readers to recognize each word when they read them.   Any words in this book that are not spelled correctly or have the wrong English meaning should be marked in pencil.  You should then tell the authors the correct spelling or meaning so that they can correct the next printing.