Southern Bantoid languages

Last updated
Southern Bantoid
Geographic
distribution		 Sub-Saharan Africa, but not further west than Nigeria
Linguistic classification Niger–Congo?
Proto-languageProto-Southern Bantoid
Subdivisions
Language codes
Glottolog sout3152
Map of the Southern Bantoid languages.svg
The Southern Bantoid languages shown within the Niger–Congo language family. Non-Southern Bantoid languages are greyscale.

Southern Bantoid (or South Bantoid) is a branch of the Bantoid language family. It consists of the Bantu languages along with several small branches and isolates of eastern Nigeria and west-central Cameroon (though the affiliation of some branches is uncertain). Since the Bantu languages are spoken across most of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Bantoid comprises 643 languages as counted by Ethnologue , though many of these are mutually intelligible. [1]

Contents

History

The Southern Bantoid branches of Nigeria and Cameroon Map of the Southern Bantoid languages of Nigeria and Cameroon.svg
The Southern Bantoid branches of Nigeria and Cameroon

Southern Bantoid was first introduced by Williamson in a proposal that divided Bantoid into North and South branches. [2]

The unity of the North Bantoid group was subsequently called into question, and Bantoid itself may be polyphyletic, but the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit, something that has not happened for (Narrow) Bantu itself. [3]

Internal classification

According to Williamson and Blench, Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages, Jarawan, Tivoid, Beboid, Mamfe (Nyang), Grassfields and Ekoid families. [4] The Bendi languages are of uncertain classification; they have traditionally been classified with Cross River, but they may actually be Southern Bantoid. [5] Blench suggests that Tivoid, Momo (ex-Grassfields) and East Beboid may form a group, perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru–Angwe: [6]

Grollemund (2012)

Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund (2012): [7]

Southern Bantoid

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:

ClassificationLanguage12345678910
Bantu Luganda emubbirissatunnyattaanomukaagamusanvumunaanamwendakkumi
Ndemli Ndemli mɔ̀hɔ́ífɛ́ítááítʃìjèítâŋtóhósàᵐbáfɔ̀ːmɔ́bùʔɛ̀dʒòm
Tikar Tikar mbɔʔɓîlêɲîʃæ̃̂ɸyuluʃâmɓìnìnìtæ̂nìwûm
Tivoid Esimbi (1)kēnə̄mə̄rākpə̄mākə̄lə̄mōɲīmātə̄nə̀mālālə̄mātə̄nə̀ mə̄rākpə̄ (5+ 2)mōɲìōɲī (4+ 4)mātə̄nə̀ mōɲī (5 + 4)būɣù
Tivoid Esimbi (2)ɔ-nərâkpəá-kələoɲía-tənəa-lələà-tən râkpə (5+ 2)ò-ɲi o-ɲí (4+ 4)à-tən o-ɲí (5 + 4)bùɣù
Tivoid Ipulo émɔ̀víàlvétàtvéɲìvétànvéɾátúmvéɾátúm nɔ̀mɔ̀ (6 + 1)víɲèɲívíɲèɲí nɔ̀mɔ̀ (8 + 1)épɔ́ːt
Tivoid Iyive mɔ̌mhjâltàtɲîntáŋə̀nkə̀lə̀kə̀tàtkə̀lə̀kə̀tàt kàt mɔ̀mú (6 + 1)kíníkìnìtáŋìɲìn (5 + 4 ??)pùɛ̀
Tivoid Tiv mɔ̀ḿ / mɔ́múhárútáŕúnjì:útã́ːátérátáŕútã́ː kàː úhár (5 + 2)ániènìútã́ː kàː únjì: (5 + 4)púè / púwè
Grassfields, Menchum Befang móʔ (~mʊ́ʔ)fetáíɪ̀kᶣà (ɪ̀kɥà)ɪ̀tʲə̂nⁿdʊ̀fúèkᶣànátáí (4 and 3) i.e. (4+ 3)éfómóétʲə̂nékᶣà (5+ 4)éɣúm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Fe'fe' (1)nshʉ̀'pʉ́ɑ́tāākwɑ̀tîntōhōsə̀ǝ̀mbʉ́ɑ́hə̀ǝ̄vʉ̄'ʉ̄ghām
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Fe'fe' (2)nshʉ̀'pʉ́ɑ́tāākwɑ̀tîntōhōsə̀ǝ̀mbʉ́ɑ́hə̀ə̄vʉ̄'ʉ̄ghām
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Ghomala yaə́mu'yaə́pʉə́ə́yaə́tâyápfʉə̀yaə́tɔ̂ntɔkɔ́sɔmbʉə́ə́hɔ̌mvʉ'ʉ́ghǎm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Mengaka (Megaka) yimɔ'ɔ / mɔ'yipá / payitét / tétnəkwɔ̀yitɛntɔ̌sambánəhǎnəvø'nəghám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Nda'nda' ncə̀'pə́ə́tékwòtɔ̀tósòmbə́ə́χópvɨ̀ʔgháp
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Ngiemboon mmɔ́'ɔmbʉ́antálekùantʉ̂antɔɡɔ́sɔ̀ɔn mbʉ́a [sɔ̃̀ːm̩̀bɯ́á]lefɔ̌ɔnlepfwɔʼɔ́leɡém
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Ngomba yɛ́mɔ́'yɛ́páyɛ́tátyɛ́nɛ́kwayɛ́taayɛ́nɛ́ntúkúsaambáyɛ́nɛ́fɔ́myɛ́nɛ́pfú'únɛɡɛ́m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Ngombale tápwótárəkwotaatoɣəsaabwóləfaaləpfuʔúləɡham
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Ngwe mɔ'fi-biə-tatlɛkwə-tɛ-ntulisaambiəlɛfɔlɛʙə̌ʔálɛ̄ɣɛ̀m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke Yemba (Dschang) wɔ́mɔ'ɔ́mémpīāmétɛ́tlekuametáantokóesambīālefaálevu'ɔ́legēm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Awing (1)mɔ̌pɛ́térə́nə̀kwàténə̀tóɣə́sàmbɛ́nə̀fémə́nə̀púʔə́nə̀ɣə́mə́
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Awing (2)mɔhpəːəteːrekwataantuɡusaːmbenɨfeːmenɨpuehnɨɡeːme
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Bafut (1)mɔ́ʔɔ̂báàtárə̀kwààntáàntóʔòsàmbàfwámə́kwálìʔí / nɨ̀bùʔûtàwûm / nɨ̀wûm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Bafut (2)mɔʔɔ̂baatarəkwàǹtaàntoʔosàmbàfwaməkwalɛ̀ʔɛtàɡhûm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Bambili-Bambui (1)mɔ̀ʔɔ̀bə̀ɡə̀tyèkyàtɔ̀ɔ̀ntúúʃàmbànɨ̀fɔ̀ɔ̀nɨ̀bɛ̀ʔɛ̀nɨ̀ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Bambili-Bambui (2)mɔʔɔbɨɡətyékɥatɔːn-túːʃambánɨ-fɔːnɨ-bɛʔɛnɨ-ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Bamukumbit m²mɔʔɔ⁷⁷ or tɑʔbɛ, bɨbɛ, mɨmbɛtɑrɨ, bɨ²tɑː⁷⁵ɾə², mɨntɑrɨnɨkwɑ, bɨnɨkwɑ, mɨnkwɑjitɑ̃, bɨtɑ̃, mɨntɑ̃jintoʔ, bɨntoʔ, mɨntoʔʃɑmbɛ, bɨʃɑmbɛ, mɨʃɑmbɛnɨfɔ̃, bɨnɨfɔ̃, mɨnɨfɔ̃nɨ²buʔ²¹, bɨnɨbuʔ, mɨnɨbuʔnɨwũ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Mendankwe-Nkwen mɔ̄hbəɡətarɔkuatanntɔ̄sāmbānəfahnəbuɔ̄hnəɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Mbəkum (Mankon) (1)mɔ́ʔɔ̂bâtárə̂kwàtánə̀ntúɣúsàmbànɨ̀fámə́nɨ̀bùʔûnɨ̀ɣɨ̂m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Ngemba (Mankon) (2)mɔ́ʔɔ́bǎtárékwàtâŋntúɡhə̂sámbǎnɨ̀fə̂ŋnɨ̀bvùʔə́nɨ̀wúmə̀
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba Pinyin mɔ́ʔɔ̀páátáɾə̀kwàtânə̀ǹtôsàmbânə̀fámə̂nə̀pùʔə̂nə̀wúmə̀
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe Kwaja mũũ ˧˩baa ˦˧ta ˦kɥ ˧˩tɔ̃ ˦˧tɔ̃ ˨ fũ ˧sə ˨ mba ˧˨wɔ ˦ ŋkxɨt ˦bə ˦ ʁət ˨wəm˦
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe Limbum (1)mɔ̀ʔsíɾbáːtáːɾkjèːtântūːnfúsàːmbâwāːmíbɨ̀ʔɨ̂ / bɨ̀ɾɨ̂ɾɨ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe Limbum (2)mòʔsírbáātáarkyèetântūunfúsàambâwāamébʉ̀ʔʉ̂rʉ̂ʉ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe Mfumte (Koffa) mìʔincíbʉ́àtókweétóŋntunfúusɔ̀mbaawáamíbúumhúʔum
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe Yamba mòʔfísbátɛʔkwètàŋntuuŋfúsàmbâfwamɛʔvə̀kɛʔhúm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Baba1 (Papia) (1)mɔ̀ʔmbántíkúátèntíóʔókpataɾfómə́ʃìpókòɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Baba (Papia) (2)jimàa / jímɔ̀jípàa / ji mbáji tára / ji ntíiji kwà / kpaji tèntúwó / tuʔokwàtar / kpataɾfómətʃìpóo / ʃipɔkòɣəm / ɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Bafanji jimuʔu / muʔu³⁵ / tiʔæ⁵³jipɑɑ / piæ³⁵jitii / tii³⁵jikwə / kwə³jintɑ̃ĩ⁵³ / tɑ̃ĩ⁵³jintou / ntou⁵jikwætæ / kwætæ³⁵jifũɔ̃ / fũɔ̃⁵jipuʔu / puʔu³⁵jiɣwũ / ɣwũ⁵³
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Bamali (Papia) mʷəʔəpɛttɛtkʷatantɔkʷatʃønəfɔːnəpuʔunəɣu
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Bambalang tɛʔipaatɾekʰwɛtiɛ̃ntiɡawkwatʃəɨfuõndipoʔuwuŋ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Bamun (Shupamen) (1)mòʔmbàátɛ́tpkàtɛ̀nntúsàmbàfámə́kóvýʔɣə́m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Bamun (Bamum) (2)ímoʔípáaítɛtípkwàítɛ̀nítúuísambaífáməívʉ̀ʔʉ́ɣóm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Bangolan mɔ̀mbǎtétkpàtíjēǹtúhùkpáte̙tfótʃɛ̀ŋɔ́ʔɔ̀vwó
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Medumba ncʉ'bɑhɑtadkwɑ̀tɑ̂nntogǝsɑ̀mmbɑhɑfoməbwə̀'əgham
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun Mungaka (Bali) ɲíníbáāitɛ́tikwàitànintwúʔkwàtátifúmsʉibɔ́mɣóm / wɔm
Grassfields, Momo Moghamo ímɔ̄ʔíbēítádíkwēítãtìfóɣə́sàmbéfàmíàbōɡìɣùm
Grassfields, Momo Mundani yea-mɔʔbebebetatbekpìbetã̀ã̂bentùabesã̀ã̀mbebefã̀ãbebə̀ʔaèɣɛm
Grassfields, Momo Ngamambo (1)-mɔ̀ʔbetádkwètânrɨ̀fúɣɔ́ / rʌ̀fúɣɔ́sàmbefàambɔ̀ɔkɣum
Grassfields, Momo Ngamambo (2)-mɔ̀ʔbétɑ́tkwètɑ̂nrɨ̀fúɣə́sɑ̀mbéfɑ̌mə̀bɔ̌kwúm
Grassfields, Momo Ngie (1)ìfìŋìbǐɡəìtáìkjùɡəìtɨŋìfəwìsàmbìɡəìfɨŋìàbəwìwùm
Grassfields, Momo Ngie (2)ìfìŋìbǐɡìtáìkɥǐɡìtʉ̄ŋìfœ́ìsàmbǐɡìfɔ̌ŋàbœ̀ìwùm
Grassfields, Momo Ngwo ŋwāʔfjēːtɛ́dkwɛ̀tânm̀fósàːmbjɛ̄fwɔ̌ːkɔ̄ːwūm
Grassfields, Ring Bamunka (1)mɔ̌ʔbuǔtiâkʷìtaântɨ̌ʔtə́kʷiǐtiâ (4 + 3) ?fɔ̌ŋbɔ̀mɔ̂ʔ (10–1) ?wûŋ
Grassfields, Ring Bamunka (2)mɔʔ Lbuː RFtià Fkʷi Lta Fntʉ̀ʔ Ftəkʷitia HHF (4 + 3) ?fɔ̃ Rbɔmɔʔ R (10–1) ?wũ L
Grassfields, Ring Wushi mùɔ́ʔbātɨ́ə̀ʔtsə̀tɛ́ɛ̀ǹtùɔ́ʔtsə̀tɨ́ə̀ʔ (4 + 3)fə́mə́bùfə̀mùɔ́ʔ (10–1) ?vóó
Grassfields, Ring, Center Babanki (Kejom) mùʔbòtáʔkàʔtànǹtʉ̀fə́sòmbôfwòmə́àbʉ̀múʔ (10–1)wúm
Grassfields, Ring, Center Bum mɔ̀kbàtâtkìktântúfásàmbâfâmábúlá mɔ̀k (10–1)ìwûm
Grassfields, Ring, Center Kom nòʔbòtalkàe / kæ̀tâynntufansòmbo / nsombônfamabulamòʔivɨm
Grassfields, Ring, Center Kuk mɔ̀ʔbòːtóːkɪ̀ːkòtâːtóːfə́sōːmboːfāːmə́buː́mɔ̀ʔ (? -1)?íɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, Center Kung mɔ̀ʔbə̀ːtə́ːkʲə̀kə̀tàʲtūːfə́sɛ̀ːⁿbɛːfɛ̀ːmə́bólímɔ̀ʔ (? -1)?ìɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, Center Mmen mɔ̀ʔpɛ᷆tákjātâɲtūfɜ́sɛ̄mbɛ᷇fāmmɜ́pʊ̄lɜ̄mɔ̀ʔ (10–1)ēɣə̆̀m
Grassfields, Ring, Center Oku mɔɔbaataakwɪʲtanntuufəsaambaɛfaaməbuuməkɛvəm
Grassfields, Ring, East Lamnso' mɔ̀ʔɔ́nbààtáárkwɛ̀ɛ̀tànntùùfúsààmbàwāāmɛ́bvə̀ʔə̀ɣwə̀m
Grassfields, Ring, West Aghem (1)mɔ̀ʔbə̀ˠàtə́ˠátʃʲàkòtɛ̀ʲtǔ̞ːsə̀ˠàⁿbə̄ˠāɪ́fǎːtɛ̄ⁿdzū̞ˠū̞ɪ́ɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, West Aghem (2)mɒ̀ʔbɨ̀ɣàtɨ́ɣácìakɔ̀tɛ̀tǒosɨ̀ɣàmbɨ̀ɣàɛ́ʔfáatèndzùɣòé-ʔɣɨ́m
Grassfields, Ring, West Isu mɔ̀ʔbèː(bè)tsíːtʃàʔìtàːntsìfɔ́ŋsèmbèfáːmə́bùkə́ívə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, West Laimbue mòʔbòtókjə̀ʔtáìtɔ̀ɔ́sùmbôìfámábə́lə́mɔ̀ʔɨɣɨ́m
Grassfields, Ring, West Weh móbə̀ɣə́tə̀ɣə́kaikə́tátùbə́səɣ-mbə̀ɣifámtàndzúiɣə́m
Yemne-Kimbi Ajumbu mʷə̀fʲə̂ŋtòɲìkpɛ̂kʲàtònàtònànàkpɛ̂ɲìkòɲ
Yemne-Kimbi Mundabli m¹.mö³²m¹.fɪe³²n¹.tɔ³²n¹.de²kpɔn²tʃi²ta²nɔ¹³tɔ²ne¹ne¹kpa²ne¹dzo²fɯ²
Yemne-Kimbi Mungbam (Abar) (1)-m̩̀ / -mù-fìn /-fá-tì / -tēè-ɲ̩̀ / -nìkpáān / kpōalētɛ̀ / -lētè-ɲ̩̀tɛ̄ / -ɲītɛ-nə̀nè / -nə̄nèkpánə̀ɲ̩̀ / kpānāɲìdʒūhɛ́ / dʒóhó
Yemne-Kimbi Munbam (Munken) (2)-mwə́nə̀ / -mù / – mù-fè /-fō / -fé-tɛ̄ / -tēa / -tè-ɲə̄nə́ / -ɲì / -ɲìkpòōnə́ / kpɛ̄n / kpààɲì-lētɛ̀ / -létēa / -lētɛ̀-ɲītɛ̀ / -ɲītə̀ / -ɲītɛ̀-ɲīɲì ~ -ɲìɲì / --ɲìɲì / -ɲìɲìkpɔ̄ndʒùɲì / -ɲìnkpɛ̄nkwîn / kwîn / kwɔ̂n

References

  1. ↑ McWhorter, J. 2001. The Power of Babel (p. 81-82). Freeman-Times-Henry Holt, New York.
  2. ↑ Williamson, Kay (1989) 'Niger–Congo Overview'. In: The Niger–Congo languages, ed. by John Bendor-Samuel, 3–45. University Press of America.
  3. ↑ Roger Blench. "Niger-Congo classification : Niger-Congo: an alternative view" (PDF). Rogerblench.info. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  4. ↑ Williamson, Kay & Blench, Roger (2000) 'Niger–Congo', in Heine, Bernd and Nurse, Derek (eds) African Languages – An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, pp. 11–42.
  5. ↑ Blench, Roger (2011). "'The membership and internal structure of Bantoid and the border with Bantu" (PDF). Berlin: Humboldt University. p. 17.
  6. ↑ Blench, Roger (2010). "The Tivoid Languages" (PDF). pp. 12, 15.
  7. ↑ Grollemund, Rebecca. 2012. Nouvelles approches en classification : Application aux langues bantu du Nord-Ouest . Ph.D Dissertation, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, 550 pp.
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