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Angas languages

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The Angas, Angas–Sura,[1] or Central West Chadic languages[2] (also known as A.3 West Chadic) are a branch of West Chadic languages spoken in Plateau State, north-central Nigeria.

Angas
Angas–Sura, Central West Chadic,
A.3 West Chadic
Geographic
distribution		Shendam and Mangu LGAs, Plateau State, Nigeria
Linguistic classificationAfro-Asiatic
Language codes
Glottologwest2717
West Chadic per Newman (1977)
Main Chadic-speaking peoples in Nigeria

Languages

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The Angas languages are:[3]

Angas

Note that in the language names, orthographic oe stands for the mid central vowel ə, a practice that had been adopted by missionaries in the Shendam area during the 1930s, such as Father E. Sirlinger.[3][4][5]

Unlike many other West Chadic languages, Angas languages do not have complex nominal and verbal morphology.[6]

Ywom is the most divergent language.[7]

Phonology

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Some phonological characteristics that are typical of the Chadic A3 languages:[3]

Morphology

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The West Chadic A3 languages have isolating morphology due to typological convergence with the Plateau languages. Blench (2022) notes that there are many morphological similarities with Berom, Izere, and Ninzic languages (such as Mada), although there are no immediately identifiable direct lexical borrowings. Although Hausa and the West Chadic A3 languages share many lexical cognates, Hausa is much more morphologically complex. This is because Hausa originated from outside the Plateau area and had thus not undergone intensive long-term contact with Plateau languages to the extent that West Chadic A3 had.[8]

Plurals are marked with an *mV- affix throughout West Chadic A3 languages.[8]

Lexicon

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The West Chadic A3 languages are lexically innovative, having lost many common Chadic lexical roots as with the Ron and South Bauchi languages. Blench (2022) suggests that this is due to borrowing from Plateau languages that have since become extinct and/or assimilated.[8]

Names and locations

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Below is a comprehensive list of Angas language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[9]

Language Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Notes
Miship Longmaar, Jiɓaam Ship, Chip, Cip 10,127 (Ames 1934), 6,000 (SIL) Plateau State, Mangu and Shendam LGAs
Cakfem–Mushere cluster Cakfem–Mushere
Cakfem Cakfem–Mushere Jajura Chakfem, Chokfem 5,000 (SIL) Plateau State, Mangu LGA
Mushere Cakfem–Mushere Mushere is sharply divided into two dialects, plus Kadim spoken in a single village Mushere About 13 villages Plateau State, Mangu LGA
Ngas Hill and Plain Nngas Ngas Kerang 55,250 (1952 W&B) Plateau State, Pankshin, Kanam and Langtang LGAs
Ywom Yiwom Gerkanci, Gurka Gerkawa 2,520 (Ames 1934); 8,000 (1973 SIL) Plateau State, Shendam and Langtang LGAs
Jorto 4,876 (1934 Ames) Plateau State, Shendam LGA, at Dokan Kasuwa Spurious language? (No data)
Koenoem Kanam 1,898 (1934 Ames); 3,000 (SIL) Plateau State, Shendam LGA
Kofa Locally said to be a separate language; linguistic status uncertain Kota Adamawa State, Song LGA, north of Belel road a Chadic language of the Bura group
Tel Teel, Tehl Baltap, Montoil, Montol 13,386 (1934 Ames); 20,000 (1973 SIL) Plateau State, Shendam LGA
Mwaghavul cluster Mwaghavul
Mwaghavul Mwaghavul Mwahavul Sura Sura 20,000 (1952 W&B); 40,000 (1973 SIL); current informal estimates suggest around 200,000 speakers Plateau State, Barkin Ladi and Mangu LGAs
Mupun Mwaghavul Mapan
Takas Mwaghavul Toos
Pan cluster Pan Kofyar 72,946 (1963) Plateau State, Shendam, Mangu and Lafia LGAs
Mernyang Pan Larr/Lardang and Mikiet are said to be 'offsets' of Mirriam 16,739 (1963) Plateau State, Shendam LGA
Doemak Pan Dәmak, Dimmuk Kofyar Kwong Plateau State, Shendam LGA
Tèŋ Pan Teng Plateau State, Qaʼan Pan LGA no data
Kwagallak Pan Nteng (Jasikit)? no data Kwaʼalang Kwalla, Kwolla 25,403 (1963) Plateau State, Shendam LGA
Bwol Pan Bwal, Mbol 3,853 (1963) Nasarawa State, Lafia LGA
Gworam Pan Giverom, Goram 3,055 (1952) Nasarawa State, Lafia LGA
Jipal Pan Jepel, Jepal, Jibyal Plateau State, Mangu LGA
Shindai Pan Plateau State, Qaʼan Pan LGA, Namu District no data
Goemai Goemaic Ankwai, Ankwe 13,507 in Shendam (1934 Ames); 80,000 (1973 SIL) Nasarawa State, Shendam, Awe and Lafia LGAs
Tal Talic 6 dialects recognised, although all are mutually intelligible Amtul [=Hampul] Kwabzak 9,210 (1934 Ames); 10,000 (1973 SIL); 26,000 (2014 estimate). Live in 52 settlements Plateau State, Pankshin LGA
Pyapung Talic Piapun, Pyapun 5,167 [including a 'few hundred Tal speakers' (Ames 1934); 10,000 (RMB est. 2016) Plateau State, Shendam LGA

References

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  1. ^ Takács, Gábor. 2004. Comparative Dictionary of the Angas-Sura Languages. Berlin: Reimer.
  2. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). "Jakato: an undocumented language of Central Nigeria".
  3. ^ a b c d Blench, Roger. 2017. Current research on the A3 West Chadic languages.
  4. ^ Sirlinger, Father E. 1937. Dictionary of the Goemai Language. Prefecture Apostolic of Jos. Typescript.
  5. ^ Sirlinger, Father E. 1942. A grammar of the Goemai Language. Prefecture Apostolic of Jos. Typescript.
  6. ^ Blench, Roger. 2021. The erosion of number marking in West Chadic Roger Blench. WOCAL, Leiden.
  7. ^ Blench, Roger. 2021. West Chadic classification 2021. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  8. ^ a b c Blench, Roger (2022). Contact between West Chadic and Plateau languages: new evidence languages: new evidence. 11-12 November 2022, presentation given at Universität Wien.
  9. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

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