Nupoid languages
Branch of volta-Niger African language
The Nupoid languages are a branch of Volta–Niger spoken in west-central Nigeria , particularly in southeastern Niger State and northern Kogi State . They include the Nupe , and Ebira languages, each with about 4 million speakers. Most Nupoid languages have 3 level tones.[1]
Languages
Roger Blench (2013: 4) classifies the Nupoid languages as follows.[1]
In addition, Koro Zuba is close to Dibo.[2]
Names and locations
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]
Language
Cluster
Dialects
Alternate spellings
Own name for language
Endonym (s)
Other names (location-based)
Other names for language
Exonym (s)
Speakers
Location(s)
Dibo
Dibo
Dibo
Shitako, Zitako, Zhitako
Ganagawa, Ganagana
4 18,200 (1931 DF); estimate more than 100,000 (1990) – an unknown number of Dibo living among the Gbari no longer speak their own language.
Niger State , Lapai LGA; Federal Capital Territory; Nasarawa State , Nasarawa LGA
Nupe–Nupe Tako cluster
Nupe–Nupe Tako
Central Nupe has become the accepted literary form.
BassaNge
360,000 (1952); 1,000,000 (1987 UBS) may include closely related languages
Niger State , Lavun, Mariga, Gbako, Agaie, and Lapai LGAs; Kwara State , Edu and Kogi LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kogi State , Bassa LGA. Lokoja
Nupe (Central)
Nupe–Nupe Tako
Nife, Nyffe, Anupe
Nupe
Nupe
Nupe Central
Ampeyi, Anupecwayi, Anuperi, Tappah, Takpa, Tapa, Nupenci, Nupencizi
Anufawa, Nyffe
283,000 (1931 DF); estimated 1,000,000 (2000)
Nupe Tako
Nupe–Nupe Tako
Ibara
Basa Nge
19,100 (1931 DF)
Kogi State , Bassa LGA, Kwara State
Gade
Gede
Gade
Gade
60,000 (Sterk 1977)
Federal Capital Territory ; Nasarawa State , Nasarawa LGA
Ebira cluster
Ebira
Igbirra, Igbira, Egbira, Egbura
154,500 (1952 P.Bruns), 500,000 (1980 UBS); about 1M (1989 Adive)[4]
Kwara State , Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs; Nasarawa State , Nasarawa LGA; Edo State , Akoko–Edo LGA
Okene
Ebira
Kwara State , Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs
Etuno
Ebira
tụnọ
Igara
Edo State , Akoko–Edo LGA, Igara town
Koto
Ebira
Igu (Egu, Ika, Bira, Birĩ, Panda
Nasarawa State , Nasarawa LGA, Toto and Umaisha towns, Kogi State , Bassa LGA
Gbagyi
A spread of lects not clearly defined but the variation represented here by town names: Vwezhi, Ngenge (Genge, Gyange), or Tawari, Kuta, Diko, Karu, Louome, Kaduna
Ibagyi, Gbagye
East Gwari, Gwari Matai
Gwari
200,000 (1952 G&C) including Gbari; 250,000 (1985 UBS)
Niger State , Rafi, Chanchaga, Shiroro and Suleija LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kaduna State , Kachia LGA; Nasarawa State , Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs
Gbagyi Nkwa
Gbagyi
Gbagyi
more than 50,000 (1989 est.)
Niger State , Rafi LGA
Gbari
A spread of lects are named according to town names: Botai, Jezhu, Konge, Kwange (Agbawi, Wake, Wĩ Wahe, or Kwali, Paiko, Izom, Gayegi, Yamma (Gwari Gamma); other lects are also based on river locations: Shigokpna, Zubakpna, Abokpna, Sumwakpna
Gwari Yamma, West Gwari
200,000 (1952 G&C) including Gbagyi
Niger State , Chanchaga, Suleija, Agaie and Lapai LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kaduna State , Kachia LGA; Nasarawa State , Nasarawa LGA
Gupa–Abawa
Gupa, Abawa
estimated more than 10,000 Gupa and 5,000 Abawa (1989)
Niger State , Lapai LGA around Gupa and Edzu villages
Kami
more than 5000 (Blench 1989 est.)
Niger State , Lapai LGA, Ebo town & 11 villages
Asu
Asu
Asu
Abewa
Ebe
5000 (Blench 1987)
Niger State : Mariga LGA: several villages south of Kontagora on the Mokwa road
Kakanda
Kakanda
Kakanda–Budon, Kakanda–Gbanmi/Sokun
Akanda
Hyabe, Adyaktye
4,500 (1931); 20,000 (1989 Blench)
Kwara State , Kogi LGA; Niger State , Agaie and Lapai LGAs; communities along the Niger centered on Bida)
Kupa
Kwara State , Kogi LGA, around Abugi (52 villages)
Reconstructions
The following Proto-Nupoid reconstructions are from Blench (2013).
Gloss
Proto-Nupoid
tree
*ɔ́ʧĩ́
leaf
#avini
charcoal
*ekana
sand
*mu-ʒin
smoke
*àmʷú
fire
*n-ra
wind
*efè
rain
*ègbã
to sharpen
*rɛ́
elephant
*-dogba
buffalo
*ɛ̀ya; *ʊ̀-fá (?)
Dioscorea guineensis
*iti
Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam )
*-koko
Sorghum bicolor (guinea corn, sorghum )
*àkwʊ́
one
*ɔ̀ɲɪ
three
*ɛ̀tá
four
*ɛ̀ɲi
five
*ɛ̀tsun
six
*twaɲi
seven
*ǹtwaba
ten
*ɛ̀bwʊ́n
Some Proto-Nupe-Gbari crop name reconstructions are (Blench 2013):
References
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.
External links