Nuer belongs to the Nuer Group, East Sudanic branch of Chari-Nile, and is spoken in Upper Nile Province, the Sudan, and western Ilubabor Province, Ethiopia.
Grimes (1996; citing UBS 1991) estimates 840,000 speakers of Nuerin all countries; 500,000 speakers in the Sudan and 40,000 speakers elsewhere are noted in UBS (1982) and in Bender (1976).
Nuer is presumed to be a local first language.
Nuer has a rather standardized orthography, adopted at the Rejaf Language Conference in 1928 and since modified somewhat by missionaries.
Two sets of language materials appear to be needed. Most materials are presently in the eastern dialect. IRL plans to test materials in the future to determine how many sets would be necessary. UBS and SIL are presently sponsoring a religious materials project in "Union Nuer."
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