There are several main varieties, such as Padang, Rek, Agaar, Ciec, Malual, Apaak, Aliab, Bor, Hol, Nyarweng, Twic East and Twic Mayardit, which are distinct enough (though mutually intelligible) to require separate literary standards.
The underdots, [◌̤], mark the breathy voice series, represented in Dinka orthography by diaereses, ⟨◌̈⟩.
[3] Most Dinka verb roots are single, closed syllables with either a short or a long vowel.
Some inflections lengthen that vowel: The extensive use of tone and its interaction with morphology is a notable feature of all dialects of Dinka.
[3] In Bor proper, falling tone is not found on short vowels except as an inflection for the passive in the present tense.
[5] This language exhibits vowel ablaut or apophony, the change of internal vowels (similar to English goose/geese):[6] Linguists divide Dinka into five languages or dialect clusters corresponding to their geographic location with respect to each other: Northeastern and western: Western: South Central: Southeastern: Southwestern: Rek These would be largely mutually intelligible if it were not for the importance of tone in grammatical inflection, as the grammatical function of tone differs from one variety to another.
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[8] Dinka: Raan tök ëbɛn aye dhiëëth ka lääu nhöm kua thöŋ nhiim eyithiic.