A Long Walk to Water Lecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms, characters, and contextual background concepts covered in the introductory lecture on A Long Walk to Water.

Naya

A fictional character representing the real-life struggles and water-fetching routines of many young girls in Southern Sudan.

Salva

A real person and one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, whose childhood experiences during the 1985 Sudanese war form a true narrative in the book.

Drought

An extreme seasonal period without rainfall, making water a rare and precious resource in Southern Sudan.

Nile

A major river in Africa that uniquely flows from south to north.

Civilians

Innocent, non-military people, millions of whom lost their homes and had their villages destroyed during the war between northern and southern Sudan.

Lost Boys

A group of over $20,000$ young boys, mostly between the ages of 7 and 15, who were separated from their families due to war and walked barefoot for thousands of miles to reach safety.

Refugee

A person who is displaced from their home due to war or danger and flees to seek safety elsewhere, such as in refugee camps.

Dual Narrative

A story format that follows two different narrative threads, such as one unfolding in 2008 with Naya and another unfolding in 1985 with Salva.

Dinka

The Southern Sudanese tribe that Salva belongs to and whose language he speaks at home.

Arabic

The official language of the Sudanese government in the north, which Salva was taught at school.

Salva's Father

A successful and respected village judge in Southern Sudan who owned many head of cattle.

Bush

The wild, uncultivated countryside where the teacher instructed the schoolboys to run and hide, warning them to stay away from the villages during the attack.