Beromic languages

Last updated
Beromic
Plateau II
Geographic
distribution		 Nigeria
Linguistic classification Niger–Congo?
Glottolog iten1244

The four Beromic languages are a branch of the Plateau languages spoken in central Nigeria by approximately 1 million people.

Contents

Classification

The following classification is taken from Blench (2008).

Blench (2019) also includes Nincut. [1]

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019). [1]


LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for language Endonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for language Exonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)
Aten Ten, Etiensg Àtên, pl. NìtènGanawuri, Jal6,710 (1963 Census): est. 40,000 (Kjenstad 1988); est. 40,000 (Blench 2003) Plateau State, Barkin Ladi LGA; Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
Berom Gyel–Kuru–Vwang; Fan–Foron–Heikpang; Bachit–Gashish; Du–Ropp–Rim–Riyom; Hoss (?). Nincut is treated as a separate language.Birom, BerumCèn Bèromsg. Wòrom, pl. Berom, Birom (Du dialect)Afango, Akuut, Baho, Gbang, Kibbo, Kibo, Kibbun, Kibyen, SineShosho, Shaushau (not recommended)54,500 (HDG), 200,000 (1985 SIL) Plateau State, Jos and Barkin Ladi LGAs; Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
Cara Chara, Nfachara, Fakara, Pakara, Fachara, Terea, Teria, Terri, Tariya735 (1936 HDG); 5000 (Blench est. 2012). Nine villages Plateau State, Bassa LGA
Shall–Zwall clusterShall–Zwall Bauchi State, Dass LGA
Shall Shall–Zwall
Zwall Shall–Zwall
Nincut Aboro8 villages (5000 ? Blench 2003 est.) Kaduna State, ?? LGA. ca. 7 km. north of Fadan Karshe

Comparative vocabulary

Sample basic vocabulary of Beromic languages from Blench (2006): [2]

Gloss Berom F. Berom R.Tahos Nincut Cara Iten Shall Zwall
eyerēyīʃbyènêŋ ryisryisrisìrisé̱iʃeiʃi
eyesbāyīʃbyénêŋ bayisbe-yisanyisìrwisé̱
nosewolwolwɔli-ŋwulìlolmunonmun
nosesbawolbawolbe-wɔla-ŋwulìlyol
tonguelɛ̄mlemlɛmlɛmìle̱mlumo
tonguesbalɛ̄mbalemlɛlɛma-lɛmìlywe̱m
earfwóŋtwoŋcyoŋki-cuŋìtsóróyanyan
earsbētòŋbètòŋbe-toŋa-tuŋìtórò
mouthnúnunuku-nuè̱núnunkunun
mouthsnenunènùni-nua-nunìnù
toothhywínhwinkwinwindiìdzìnè̱yinin
teethngyìnyìnvinanyindiìdziné̱
bloodnèmímmǐ; mmì (pl.)nimiminnyibaribaren
bonekùpkùpkupvisìkubkup
bonesbekupbekùpbe-kupagisìkpub
eatrererereke+ri
eat (pl.)reresrerere
treetin, retin cɔ̀gɔ̄tcɔgɔtcɔ̀gɔttsɔ́gɔtfɔnèhônkunkun
treesbatin cɔgɔ́tcɔ́gɔtcɔgɔ́tbítsɔ́gɔ́takɔnnìhòn
waternshínèshínincimalnnè̱njinenjini

Notes

  1. 1 2 Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  2. ↑ Blench, Roger. 2006. Comparative Beromic .

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References

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