Niger–Congo language subgroup of Nigeria
The South Plateau languages, also known as Jilic–Eggonic, are spoken in central Nigeria. Eggon has 150,000 speakers and Jili (Lijili, Mijili) perhaps 100,000.
Classification
Jilic (Koro) and Eggonic are clearly valid groups. Their connection was proposed in Blench (2006, 2008).
Two additional languages, Koro Nulu (a.k.a. Koro Ija) and Koro Zuba (collectively known as "Ija-Zuba") are ethnically Koro. However, they have very low lexical similarity with each other (~ 7%), and Koro Zuba at least appears to be a Nupoid language.
Names and locations
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[1]
| Language |
Branch |
Dialects |
Alternate spellings |
Own name for language |
Endonym(s) |
Other names (location-based) |
Other names for language |
Exonym(s) |
Speakers |
Location(s)
|
| Ake |
Eggonic |
|
Akye, Aike |
|
|
|
|
|
354 (Meek 1925); 3000 (Blench 1999) |
Nasarawa State, Lafia LGA
|
| Eggon |
Eggonic |
25 dialects are locally recognised although the status of these is unclear |
Egon |
onumu Egon |
Mo Egon |
|
Mada Eggon, Hill Mada |
|
52,000 (Welmers 1971) |
Nasarawa State, Akwanga, Nassarawa–Eggon and Lafia LGAs
|
| Koro Ija |
Jilic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One village |
Federal Capital Territory, near Lambata
|
| Koro Zuba |
Jilic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One village |
Federal Capital Territory, near Zuba
|
| Jili |
Jilic |
|
Megili, Migili (orthographic form) |
Lijili |
Jijili (singular), Mijili (plural) |
|
Koro of Lafia |
|
50,000 (1985 UBS) |
Plateau State, Lafia and Awe LGAs
|
| Jijili |
Jilic |
|
|
Tanjijili |
Ujijili pl. aJijili |
|
|
Koro Funtu of Kafin Koro, Koro of Shakoyi |
About 8 settlements and probably some 8000 speakers (1999) |
Niger State, Chanchaga and Suleija LGAs, north from the road from Minna to Suleja around Kafin Koro
|
References
- ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
External links
