Tala language

Last updated
Tala
Native to Nigeria
Region Bauchi State
Native speakers
(1000 cited 1993) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 tak
Glottolog tala1295
ELP Tala

Tala is a language from the West Chadian branch of the Chadic language family. [2] [3] The language is spoken in the central regions of Nigeria, and had approximately 1000 native speakers in 1993. The language is unwritten.

Contents

Classification

Tala is part of the Guruntum (Gurdung according to the work of Roger Blench) group of the South Bauchi language group, and is thus similar to the Guruntum, Tala, and Zangwal languages. [4]

General Information

The Ju language is spoken in the villages of Kuka and Talan Kasa, which lie to the south of Bauchi. The village is in the Bauchi local government area in the state of Bauchi. [1]

Tala shares language borders mosty with other West Chadic languages; Zangwal to the west, Ju to the southwest, Guruntum to the southeast, and the Gera language to the north and northeast. To the south, Ju borders the sprachbund of the Dulbu language. [1]

In 1993, Ethnologue estimated the number of speakers of the language at a thousand, [1] and the Joshua Project has estimated the number of speakers at 2,000.[ citation needed ]

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">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 30 million people in Nigeria.

<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.

Guruntum is a Chadic language spoken in Bauchi and Alkaleri LGAs, Bauchi State, Nigeria. In 1993 it was spoken by about 15,000 people.

Chakato is a West Chadic language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria. It was identified by Roger Blench in 2016. It is spoken by about 500 people in one village, Dokan Tofa, which is located on the Jos-Shendam road in Plateau State. Blench (2017) suggests that Chakato may be related to spurious records of the Jorto language. Chakato speakers claim that their language is closely related to Goemai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ngas language</span> West Chadic language of Nigeria

Ngas, or Angas, is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria. The language has two dialects: Hill Angas and Plain Angas. Ngas language is one of the major languages in Plateau State, the 1952 census puts it as the largest ethnic group in Plateau State. Retired General Yakubu Gowon is a prominent Nigerian who is of Ngas extraction.

Tal is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria. Tal is spoken in a cluster of 53 villages located east of the Panyam-Shendam road. There are 6 dialects of Tal, namely Bongmuut, Buzuk, Nbaal, Muɗak, Muɗong, and Takong.

<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.

Warji (Warjawa) or Sirzakwai is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Speakers are shifting to Hausa.

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

The North Bauchi languages are a branch of West Chadic languages that are spoken in Bauchi State, northern 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Bauchi languages</span> Chadic language family sub-branch

The South Bauchi languages are a branch of West Chadic languages that are spoken in Bauchi State and Plateau State, Nigeria.

Mantsi is an endangered Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Mangas town in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Blench (2020) reports that it is also called Mantsi. According to Blench, the structure of Mantsi differs significantly from the other South Bauchi languages.

Daza or Dazawa is listed by Blench (2006) as a Chadic language within the Bole group, spoken in a few villages of Darazo LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria. It was confirmed to exist in 2021. The language is nearly extinct with only elderly speakers speaking the language. Native speakers have shifted to Hausa.

Zeem, or Chaari, is an endangered Chadic dialect cluster of Nigeria, whose speakers are shifting to Hausa. Dyarim is closely related.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarawan languages</span> Bantu language group of Central Africa

Not to be confused with Jarawa, a language spoken primarily in India.

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.

Geji (Gezawa) is a minor Chadic dialect cluster of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The three varieties are Buu, Gyaazi and Mәgang. The latter two are quite similar or alike.

Ju is a language from the West Chadian branch of the Chadic language family. The language is spoken solely in Nigeria, and had approximately 900 native speakers in 1993. The language is unwritten.

Jibyal is a West Chadic language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria. It was discovered by Roger Blench in 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tala at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  2. Blench, Robert (2006). "The Afro-Asiatic Languages. Classification and Reference List" (PDF). Roger Blench Website. Publications. pp. 4–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-23.
  3. Blench, Robert (2012). "An Atlas of Nigerian Langages" (PDF) (3rd ed.). Roger Blench Website. Publications. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-28.
  4. Blench, Roger (2021-01-01). "West Chadic classification 2021". Academia.