Jukunoid languages

Last updated

Jukunoid
Geographic
distribution
Nigeria, Cameroon
Linguistic classification Niger–Congo?
Glottolog juku1257
Map of the Jukunoid languages.svg
The Jukunoid languages shown within Nigeria and Cameroon

The Jukunoid languages are a branch of the Benue-Congo languages spoken by the Jukun and related peoples of Nigeria and Cameroon. They are distributed mostly throughout Taraba State, Nigeria and surrounding regions.

Contents

Their asymmetrical nasal consonants are atypical for West Africa, as can be seen in Wapan.

External relationships

Gerhardt (1983) and Güldemann (2018) suggest that Jukunoid may actually be part of the Plateau languages, as it shares similarities with various Plateau groups, especially Tarokoid. [1] [2] However, Blench (2005) argues that Jukunoid is clearly separate from Plateau. [3]

Classification

The following classification is from Glottolog; [4] the Kororofa branch has been added from Ethnologue (Glottolog classifies the Kororofa languages as Jukun): [5]

Ethnologue adds the Yukubenic branch of the Plateau languages as part of a Yukubenic-Kuteb group [5] based on Shimizu (1980), and Blench also follows this classification. [6] Ethnologue also leaves the Wurbo language Shoo-Minda-Nye as unclassified within Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo, and includes the unclassified Benue–Congo language Tita in its place. [5]

Lau was also recently reported by Idiatov (2017). [7]

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019). [8]


LanguageBranchClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for language Endonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for language Exonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)Notes
Akum Anyar3 villages in Nigeria; 600 in Cameroon (1976) Taraba State, ca. 6°50N, 9°50E
Bete 50 (2002) Taraba State, Wukari LGA, Bete townno data
Nyifon Iordaa1000 (CAPRO n.d. but probably 1990s) Buruku LGA, Benue State no data
Jan Awei Jan Awei12 ? (1997) Gombe State, West of Muri mountains, North of the Benue (precise location unknown)
Jukun clusterJukunNjukuNjikun35,000 (1971 Welmers); [9] 1700 in Cameroon (1976) Taraba State, Wukari, Takum, Bali and Sardauna LGAs; Nasarawa State, Awe and Lafia LGAs; Plateau State, Shendam and Langtang South LGAs; Benue State, Makurdi LGA; and in Furu-Awa subdivision, Cameroon
Jibu JukunGayam, Garbabi25,000 (1987 SIL) Taraba State, Gashaka LGA
Takum-Donga JukunTakum, DongaJibuSecond language speakers only 40,000 (1979 UBS) Taraba State, Takum, Sardauna and Bali LGAs
Wase Tofa Jukun Plateau State, Shendam and Langtang South LGAs
Jukun–Mbembe–Wurbo groupJukun–Mbembe–Wurbo
Kororofa clusterJukun–Mbembe–WurboKororofaJukunmore than 62,000 (SIL)
Abinsi Jukun–Mbembe–WurboKororofaWapanRiver Jukun Taraba State, Wukari LGA, at Sufa and Kwantan Sufa; Benue State, Makurdi LGA, at Abinsi
Wapan Jukun–Mbembe–WurboKororofaWapanWukari and Abinsi60,000 (1973 SIL) Taraba State, Wukari LGA; Nasarawa State, Awe and Lafia LGAs; Plateau State, Shendam and Langtang South LGAs (precise areas uncertain)
Hone Jukun–Mbembe–WurboKororofaKona2,000 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin) Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA; Plateau State, Wase LGA. Villages north and west of Jalingo
Dampar Jukun–Mbembe–WurboKororofa Taraba State, Wukari LGA, at Dampar
Mbembe Tigong clusterJukun–Mbembe–WurboMbembe TigongNoaleTigong, Tigun, Tugun, Tukun, TigumAkonto, Nzare2,900 in Nigeria (1973 SIL) Taraba State, Sardauna LGA; mainly in Cameroon
Ashuku Jukun–Mbembe–WurboMbembe TigongAshakuÁkә́tsә̀kpә́, ÁkúcùkpúKitsipki
Nama Jukun–Mbembe–WurboMbembe TigongDama, NamuKporoNzare ‘I say so’; Eneeme
Shoo–Minda–Nye clusterWurboShoo–Minda–NyeMay be related to Jessi spoken between Lau and Lankoviri10,000 (SIL) Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA
Shoo WurboShoo–Minda–NyeShóódàŋ ShóóNwii ShóóBanda, Bandawa
Minda WurboShoo–Minda–NyeJinleri
Nye WurboShoo–Minda–NyeNyéNyéNwi NyéKunini
Jiru WurboZhiruAtak, Wiyap, Kir Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA
Etkywan Kpan–IcenIcen, Ichen, ItchenKentu, Kya)tõ, Kyanton, Nyidu6,330 in Donga district (1952 W&B); [10] more than 7,000 (1973 SIL) Taraba State, Takum and Sardauna LGAs
Kpan Kpan–IcenWestern and Eastern groups: Western: 1 Kumbo–Takum Group: Kumbo (Kpanzon), Takum; 2 Donga (Akpanzhĩ; 3 Bissaula (extinct) Eastern: Apa (per Kilham), Kente, Eregba (per Koelle)Kpanten, Ikpan, Akpanzhi, Kpanzon, AbakanKpwate, Hwaye, Hwaso, Nyatso, Nyonyo, Yorda, Ibukwo Taraba State, Wukari, Takum and Sardaunda LGAs
Como–Karim WurboShomoh, Shomong, Chomo, ShomoKarim, KirimKiyu, Nuadhu Taraba State, Karim Lamido and Jalingo LGAs
Tita Wurbo Taraba State, Jalingo LGA, at Hoai PetelBlench was not able to identify the people or the location, though Meek had data showing it to be Jukunoid.

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages: [11]

ClassificationLanguage12345678910
Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Jukun Hõne (Pindiga/Gwana) zùŋpyèːnèsáːrényẽ́sɔ́nɛ́sùnjésùnpyèːnèhūnnèsīnyáudùb
Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Jukun Jibu zyunpyànàsàrayinaswanasùnjinsùmpyànnawùyinajunndúbidwib
Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Jukun Wapa (Wãpha) zùŋpyĩ̀sā / sārānyìnāswã̄nāʃẽ̀ʒísémpyèsẽ̄sásínyáuádùb
Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Kororofa Jiba (Jibe / Kona) zũ̀ːpyèːnàsàːrnyèsónsùnʒésùmpyèːnàhúhúnyèzōrhōnnìdùb
Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Kororofa Wapan Jukun dzunpyìnàtsaranyenatswanacìnjen / ʃìʒen (5+ 1)tsùpyìn (5+ 2)tsùntsa (5+ 3)tsùnyò (5+ 4)dzwe
Jukun-Mbembe-Wurbo, Mbembe Tigon Mbembe nzopyasranyɛtʃwɔ́tʃwɔ́mbazo (5+ 1)tʃwɔ́mbapya (5+ 2)ɛ́nyɛnyɛ (2 x 4)  ??tʃwɔ́mnyɛ (5+ 4)dʒé
Yukuben-Kuteb Akum ájìafã̀ataaɲɪ̀acóŋacóŋ jì (5+ 1)acóŋ afã̀ (5+ 2)acóŋ ata (5+ 3)acóŋ ɲì (5+ 4)īkùr(ù)
Yukuben-Kuteb Kapya ūŋɡēméīfɡɔ̀ītàīɲɨɪ̀ìtútú ŋɡì (5+ 1)tú ófɡõ (5+ 2)tú àtà (5+ 3)tú īɲɨɪ̀ (5+ 4)èbʲí / èbzí
Yukuben-Kuteb Kuteb (Kutev) (1)kínzōífaẽítāíndʒēítsóŋítsóŋ-ndʒō (5+ 1)ítsóŋ-ífaẽ (5+ 2)ítsóŋ-ítā (5+ 3)ítsóŋ-ndʒē (5+ 4)ridʒwēr
Yukuben-Kuteb Kuteb (Kutev) (2)kínzōifaenitāinjeitsóŋitsóŋ-nzō (5+ 1)itsóŋ-faen (5+ 2)itsóŋ-tā (5+ 3)itsóŋ-nje (5+ 4)rijwēr
Yukuben-Kuteb Yukuben kítə́ŋāpá(ŋ)ātà, āràēnzìotòŋ(ō)̄tòŋ kíhín (5+ 1)(ō)̄tòŋ āpá (5+ 2)(ō)̄tòŋ ātà / ārà (5+ 3)(ō)̄tòŋ ēnzì (5+ 4)kùr

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

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The Yukubenic languages are a branch of either the Jukunoid family or the Plateau family spoken in southeastern Nigeria. Glottolog places Yukubenic in the Plateau family. Ethnologue, however, places Yukubenic in the Jukunoid family, based on Shimizu (1980), and Blench also follows this classification.

Laka or Lau is a Central Sudanic language spoken in Nigeria. It is most closely related to Kabba Laka of Chad. The Hausa refer to the Laka people of Lau as Lakawa. The language was only recently documented in the mid-2010s, and had been previously misclassified as a Mbum language along with Lau.

Nyifon (Iordaa) is a poorly known Jukunoid language of Buruku LGA, Benue State, Nigeria. There may have been about 1,000 speakers in the 1990s. The language is not reported in Ethnologue. Glottolog lists it as a dialect of Wapan language.

References

  1. Gerhardt, L. (1983). "The classification of Eggon: Plateau or Benue group?". Journal of West African Languages. 13 (1): 37–50.
  2. Güldemann, Tom (2018). "Historical linguistics and genealogical language classification in Africa". In Güldemann, Tom (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of Africa. The World of Linguistics series. Vol. 11. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 58–444. doi:10.1515/9783110421668-002. ISBN   978-3-11-042606-9. S2CID   133888593.
  3. Blench, Roger (2005). Is there a boundary between Plateau and Jukunoid? (PDF). Vienna Jukunoid workshop, Vienna, 19-20th, November, 2005.
  4. Hammarström, Harald; Forke, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Jukunoid". Glottolog 3.0.
  5. 1 2 3 "Jukunoid". Ethnologue. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  6. Blench, Roger (15 November 2005). "Is there a boundary between Plateau and Jukunoid?". ResearchGate. pp. 3, 5. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  7. Idiatov, Dmitry; Van de Velde, Mark; Olagunju, Tope; Andrew, Bitrus (2017). Results of the first AdaGram survey in Adamawa and Taraba States, Nigeria (PDF). 47th Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics (CALL). Leiden, Netherlands.
  8. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  9. Welmers, William Everrett 1971. Checklist of African Language and Dialect Names. In: Current Trends in Linguistics, Vol. 7, T.A. Sebeok 759-900, The Hague, Mouton.
  10. Westermann, Diedrich & M.A. Bryan, 1952. Languages of West Africa. London: International African Institute.
  11. Chan, Eugene (2019). "The Niger-Congo Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.

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