Bade language

Last updated
Bade
Native to Nigeria
Region Yobe State, Jigawa State
Native speakers
360,000 (2020) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 bde
Glottolog bade1248
ELP

Bade (also spelled Bede, Bedde, or Bode) is a West Chadic language spoken by the Bade people in Yobe State and Jigawa State, Nigeria. Their traditional ruler is the Emir of Bade. Similar to many other Western African languages, Bade is a vulnerable language at great risk of extinction. [2] With 356,000 speakers, [3] the language and the culture of the Bade people have suffered over the last several years. As the language continues to fade, the culture and historic value associated with the language perishes as well. The local dialect is shifting from Bade to Hausa. [3] Across West Africa, the impact on local communities through the loss of the indigenous tongues will be significant. The endangerment of the Bade language represents the worldwide language diversity that is at risk. [4] Many African languages have only received little linguistic attention, impacting these African languages. [5]

Contents

Classification

Bade is classified under the following categories: Afro-Asiatic, Chadic, West, B, B.1, Bade Proper. [3]

History

While historical information about the Bade language is limited in scope, many words in the Bade language take root in the Kanuri language. [6] The Kanuri language is primarily spoken in West Africa, including: Nigeria and Chad. Bade and Ngizim have borrowed a number of words from the Kanuri language. [6] According to traditional accounts, the Bade language itself originates from the Badr of Yemen and Muhammad purportedly drove the Bade people out after a failure to pray. [6] Currently, as one of the many Nigerian endangered languages, bade serves as a local dialect. In general, Nigerian languages comprise the wealth of linguistic diversity that exists in the country. [7] Over the years, colonization has also played a role in the deteroriation of local languages, which Bade happens to be among, that for now, most of the Bade villages are becoming Hausa speaking villages. [8]

Geographic distribution

The speakers of the Bade language are centered in Nigeria. It is spoken in the northern part of Yobe State, Nigeria. [9]

Official status

The language is not the official language of Nigeria or any other country.

Dialects/varieties

There are three dialects of the Bade language that coincide with regions: [3]

Phonology

Most West Chadic languages have a similar consonant inventory separated into eight major groups: labialized laryngeal, laryngeal, labialized velar, velar, lateral, alveopalatal, alveolar, and labial. [10] In the Bade/Ngizim languages, the glottal stop plays no role, but the vowel hiatus relies on elision and coalescence. The sounds also feature a "yawning" and has a shift from fricative to stop. [10]

Grammar

The grammar for the Bade language is consistent with the Ngizim language. [10]

Morphology and syntax

The Bade/Ngizim languages slightly differ from other Chadic languages. [10] Bade and Ngizim have long vowels in closed syllables. Mid vowels also have a restricted use compared to other vowels. Mid vowels will rather appear as loanwords from other languages. [10] The language preserves diphthongs in both native and loanwords.

Vocabulary

The Bade language has strong influence from the Kanuri language. There are many loanwords from Kanuri to West Chadic languages, including Bade. [11] Bade is commonly grouped with the Ngizim language. As an example, the word "healthy" is "nga" in the Kanuri language and 'ngā' in the Ngizim language. [11] More recently, the Hausa language has influenced the Bade language. [12]

Fish names

Below are some fish names of the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands in Bade, along with their Hausa and Manga Kanuri equivalent names. Note that many of the species have not been observed recently, due to the drying up of the region. [13]

Scientific nameEnglishBadeHausaMangaPresent in 2003?
fish (general)Vunakonkíífííbúnì
kur cibil ?
awgirinkanze
amimiwalkúr̃úƙúllìì
Hepsetus odoe African pike njig duwaŋkiribuniNo
Labeo coubie African carp No
Synodontis spp. catfish ƙùrúngùùNo
Citharinus citharus , Citharinus latus lutefish kalafanbáánààpalewalNo
Hemichromis bimaculatus , Hemichromis fasciatus jewelfish bakar
Heterotis niloticus bonytongue ufdakon, ebugancenbárgììbayaYes
Mormyrus macrophthalmus patima kururunburar buzu
Labeo senegalensis African carp gadabdanbúrdòòbәskәmNo
Marcusenius ihyuysi gulendagarilamsaYes
Epiplatys spp., Aplocheilichthys spp. killifish/panchax, toothed carp ak dakwandankya, akunu
Barbus spp.buk zәmәndigila, bakin burdobәskәm, cilimonly seen near Geidam
Brycinus leuciscus African tetras wasandindukurimәɗiNo
Oreochromis aureus (formerly Tilapia aurea ) tilapia kafakundugurukawowoYes
Parachanna obscura snakehead mudugundúmnóódumnoNo
Clarias submarginatus catfish dundin
Clarotes sp. ? ?dùrùdúrùù
Labeo sp. African carp ɗán dáátàà
Citharinus citharus , Citharinus latus lutefish fàlfàlfálfàl
Sarotherodon galileus (formerly Tilapia galilaea ) tilapia kafakun hetafárín walaholoYes
Protopterus annectens lungfish ambungáìwááambuYes
Heterobranchus bidorsalis mәsangara raka (?) ?
Polypterus spp. bichir fishawiɗongàrgázáá, garzabàràkádíNo
Lates niloticus Nile perch kaɓәlingííwár̃ rúwááɓáríyààɓariyaNo
Mormyrus isidori  ?hààlàɓà
Clarias sp. catfish aalanjàrííariYes
Brycinus macrolepidotus African tetras  ?kándáurákàà ?No
Ichthyborus besse  ? but cf. ‘otter’kàren rúwáá
Tilapia spp. tilapia ɗiɗikirkárfásááYes
Distichodus spp.grasseaterkaskasankáwsàà cihaki
Tetraodon fahaka pufferfish kuɗiɗin mәfkәtәn, məkfətənkómbáníkubeNo
Dasyatis garouaensis dotted ray wurjik duwankunaman rúwáá
Mormyrus rume elephantsnout fish, trunkfish lámsàà
Parailia pellucida kalaparlaparlaparYes
Schilbe spp. butter catfish ganunlûlúú mai kayalulu
Chrysichthys sp.mai barewa
Tilapia zilii tilapia kafakun suk jijinmai gidan gaci karfasa shurikawowoYes
Heterobranchus spp. ?mài leemu ?
Malapterurus electricus electric catfish mjaŋ, njanmínjíryáámuuYes
Bagrus filamentosus silver catfish mumfal [?]
Bagrus bayad , Bagrus docmak silver catfish masamaninmúskòòmazambaleYes
Marcusenius cyprinoides takɗopayapayaNo
Alestes baremoze African tetras zantarin saaronsááróósaraŋNo
Oreochromis niloticus (formerly Tilapia nilotica ) tilapia andalonsakiyakawowoYes
Mormyrus sp.sááwáyàà
Siluranodon auritus  ?sháŋsháŋ (given as Synodontis sp. in other sources) ?
Clarias sp. catfish mәsantárwáɗáábigiriYes
Marcusenius abadii kurinyintáátàr̃lamsaYes
Campylomormyrus tamandua tәrwәn, sawayentola, kánzáyíítólà, sawayaYes
Hydrocynus vittatus tigerfish dlayad, dleyal, jik duwantságííjayNo
Brycinus nurse African tetras zharwon, saronƙááwàráádedaNo
Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus , Chrysichthys auratus dumdumi, gajakanƙàrááyááŋgayaYes
Auchenoglanis occidentalis , Auchenoglanis biscutatus catfish kazhakatyàunííŋgayaYes
Gymnarchus niloticus mәzәmanzááwààkaazNo

Writing system

The Bade language uses a Latin script writing script. [3] The Latin script is the most widely used writing system in the world, serving as the system for the English language as well. [14]

Bade alphabet [15]
Ə A B Ɓ C D Ɗ E F G H I J K L M N Ŋ O P R S T U V W Y ʼY Z
əabɓcdɗefghijklmnŋoprstuvwyʼyz

The letter R̃ is only used in the Gashua dialect.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chadic languages</span> Branch of the Afroasiatic languages

The Chadic languages form a branch of the Afroasiatic language family. They are spoken in parts of the Sahel. They include 150 languages spoken across northern Nigeria, southern Niger, southern Chad, the Central African Republic, and northern Cameroon. By far the most widely spoken Chadic language is Hausa, a lingua franca of much of inland Eastern West Africa, particularly Niger and the northern half of Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hausa language</span> Chadic language of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and neighbouring countries

Hausa is a Chadic language that is spoken by the Hausa people in the northern parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Benin and Togo, and the southern parts of Niger, and Chad, with significant minorities in Ivory Coast. A very small number of speakers also exist in Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanuri language</span> Saharan dialect continuum of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon

Kanuri is a Saharan dialect continuum of the Nilo–Saharan language family spoken by the Kanuri and Kanembu peoples in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, as well as by a diaspora community residing in Sudan.

Labial–velar consonants are doubly articulated at the velum and the lips, such as. They are sometimes called "labiovelar consonants", a term that can also refer to labialized velars, such as the stop consonant and the approximant.

Defaka is an endangered and divergent Nigerian language of uncertain classification. It is spoken in the Opobo–Nkoro LGA of Rivers State, in the Defaka or Afakani ward of Nkọrọ town and Ịwọma Nkọrọ. The low number of Defaka speakers, coupled with the fact that other languages dominate the region where Defaka is spoken, edges the language near extinction on a year-to-year basis. It is generally classified in an Ijoid branch of the Niger–Congo family. However, the Ijoid proposal is problematic. Blench (2012) notes that "Defaka has numerous external cognates and might be an isolate or independent branch of Niger–Congo which has come under Ịjọ influence."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yobe State</span> State of Nigeria

Yobe is a state located in northeastern Nigeria. A mainly agricultural state, it was created on 27 August 1991. Yobe State was carved out of Borno State. The capital of Yobe State is Damaturu, and its largest city by population is Potiskum. While by the largest by land area is Fune, Potiskum Local Government Area is a place of Farmers and marketers, the largest cattle market in Africa is located in Potiskum.

Haɗejiya is a Hausa town in eastern Jigawa State, northern Nigeria. The population was approximately 105,628 in 2006. Hadejia lies between latitude 12.4506N and longitude 10.0404E. It shared boundary with Kiri Kasama Local Government from the East, Mallam Maɗori Local Government from the North, and Auyo Local Government from the West. The Hadejia Local Government consist of eleven (11) political wards namely: Atafi, Dubantu, Gagulmari, Kasuwar Ƙofa, Kasuwar Kuda, Matsaro, Majema, Rumfa, Sabon Garu, Ƴankoli and Yayari. Inhabitants are dominantly Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri with some other groups such as Tiv, Yoruba, Igbo, Igala etc. The dominant occupation of the inhabitants is crop-farming and animal rearing which a considerable percentage, engaged in trading, fishing and services including civil service. The people of Haɗeja are largely Muslims, although some follow indigenous belief systems. The town lies to the north of the Hadejia River, and is upstream from the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands. Hadejia is an internationally important ecological and sensitive zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of Nigeria</span> Languages of the country and its peoples

There are over 525 native languages spoken in Nigeria. The official language and most widely spoken lingua franca is English, which was the language of Colonial Nigeria. Nigerian Pidgin – an English-based creole – is spoken by over 60 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Chadic languages</span> Afro-Asiatic language branch of West Africa

The West Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken principally in Niger and Nigeria. They include Hausa, the most populous Chadic language and a major language of West Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angas languages</span>

The Angas, Angas–Sura, or Central West Chadic languages are a branch of West Chadic languages spoken in Plateau State, north-central Nigeria.

Ɗuwai (Dó:aí) is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Jigawa and Kano States, Nigeria.

Ngizim is a Chadic language spoken by the Ngizim people in Yobe State, Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bole–Tangale languages</span> West Chadic language

The Bole–Tangale languages are a branch of West Chadic languages that are spoken in various states of northeastern Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karai-karai</span> Nigerian language spoken in West Africa

Karai-karai is a language spoken in West Africa, most prominently North eastern Nigeria. The number of speakers of Karai-karai is estimated between 1,500,000 to 1,800,000 million, primarily spoken by the ethnic Karai-Karai people. It is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken principally in Nigeria with communities in Bauchi State, Yobe State, Gombe State and other parts of Nigeria. Many Karai-karai words share a common origin with the Northwest Semitic languages of Hebrew and Arabic. The Karai-karai language is most closely related to the Ngamo and Bole languages which are both considered derivatives of the Karai-karai language.

Bole is a West Chadic language spoken in Nigeria. Dialects include Bara and Fika, spoken in the Fika Emirate.

Ngamo is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Nigeria. The native Ngamo language has two major dialects, viz, Gudi Ngamo and Yaya Ngamo. These dialects are spoken by the various clans both within and outside Gadaka. Ngamo is a member of the West Branch of Chadic and is hence related to Hausa, the dominant language throughout northern Nigeria. Ngamo’s closest linguistic relatives are, however, its neighbors, Karekare, Bole, and Maka.

Gashua is a community in Yobe State in northeastern Nigeria, on the Yobe River a few miles below the convergence of the Hadejia River and the Jama'are River. Average elevation is about 299 m. The population in 2006 was about 125,000. The hottest months are March and April with temperature ranges of 38-40o Celsius. In the rainy season, June–September, temperatures fall to 23-28o Celsius, with rainfall of 500 to 1000mm.

Polci is an Afro-Asiatic language of Bauchi State, Nigeria. It is part of the Barawa cluster, which is in turn part of the West Chadic language family.

Russell G. Schuh was an American linguist known for his extensive work on Chadic languages, especially Hausa and West Chadic languages.

Yerwa Kanuri or Central Kanuri is a variety of the Kanuri language spoken mainly in adjacent parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad as well as by a diaspora community residing in Sudan. It is spoken by the Yerwa Kanuri who are the largest subgroup of Kanuri people in West and Central Africa today. Yerwa Kanuri is the largest of the Kanuri varieties, it is also used for both oral and written communication in Cameroon and is classified within the Saharan branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. The Yerwa Kanuri variety of the Kanuri language in Nigeria is written using the Ajami script of the Arabic alphabet.

References

  1. Bade at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  2. Blench, R (2007). "Endangered Languages".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Enthnologue Bade".
  4. Whalen, D.H. (2012). "Endangered language families". Language. 88: 155–173. doi:10.1353/lan.2012.0012. hdl: 10125/5017 . S2CID   143898338.
  5. Lupke, Friederike (2009). "At the margin - African Endangered Languages in the Context of Global Endangerment Discourses" (PDF). African Research & Documentation . 109: 15–41. doi:10.1017/S0305862X00016472. S2CID   142849572.
  6. 1 2 3 Schuh, R.G. (2003). "The linguistic influence of Kanuri on Bade and Ngizim" (PDF). Maiduguri Journal of Linguistic and Literary Studies: 55–89.
  7. Conrad Max Benedict, B (1993). "Democratisation of Language Use in Public Domains in Nigeria". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 31 (4): 639–656. doi:10.1017/s0022278x00012283. S2CID   155020713.
  8. Novak, Amy (2008). "Who speaks? Who listens?: The problem of address in two Nigerian trauma novels". Studies in the Novel. 40 (1–2): 31–51. doi:10.1353/sdn.0.0013. S2CID   49386578.
  9. Schuh, Russell (2009). "Yobe Languages Research Project".
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Schuh, Russell (2002). "Overview of Bade/Ngizim of Phonology" (PDF).
  11. 1 2 Schuh, Russell (2002). "The Phonology and Morphology of Bade and Ngizim". Archived from the original on 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
  12. Schuh, Russell (1997). "Changes in Obstruent Voicing in Bade/Ngizim" (PDF).
  13. Blench, Roger (2020). "Changing fisheries ecology in the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands" (PDF).
  14. "Latin".
  15. Dagona & Schuh 2009, p. vii.

Sources

Further reading