Lopa consists of a pair of minor Kainji languages of Nigeria. The Lopa people neighbouring the Busa language have shifted to that language.
| Lopa | |
|---|---|
| Rerang | |
| Native to | Nigeria |
| Region | Niger State |
Native speakers | (5,000 cited 1996)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | lop |
| Glottolog | lopa1238 |
| Rerang | |
|---|---|
| Person | dɔ̀ɾìɾã́ŋ |
| People | òːɾìɾã́ŋ |
| Language | òlːèɾã́ŋ (Olleran) |
| Ollop | |
|---|---|
| Person | dɔ̀ɾóp |
| People | òːɾɔ́p |
| Language | òlːɔ́p (Ollop) |
| Urcibar (Shuba) | |
|---|---|
| Person | dɔ̀tʃíbár |
| People | òːtʃíbár |
| Language | ɘ̀ɹtʃíbár (Urcibar) |
The two languages are Rop (Ollop) and Urcibar (Shuba). Additionally, there is a native name for both dialects as a whole: Rerang, which is unusual in West Kainji languages.[2]
Blench (2019) lists Tsupamini as a related variety.[3]
McGill (2012) also gives the alternate name Oleran for Lopa.[4]
Dialects
editThe name Lopa likely comes from the name lópár (Lapar), which refers to both the Rop and the Shuba. Cover terms referring to both Urcibar and Ollop speakers are [dɔ̀ɾìɾáŋ̃ ] (one person), [òːɾìɾáŋ̃ ] (many people), and the language [òlːèɾáŋ̃].[2]
- Urcibar (Shuba) is spoken in the major villages of ò̃tʃébá (Cifamini), tʷò̃tʃíɡí (Gungun Tagwaye), ò̃sán (Kwanga, different from ò̃sán above); and the minor villages of àjũ ́̃m (Yumu), àːʔʲɔ́ (Bakari), ámbú (Ambu shiri). Urcibar is actually more closely related to Shen (Laru) than to Rop.[2]
- Ollop (Rop) is spoken in the major villages of àɾóp (Lopa town), ù̃jẽ ́mé (Gafara), rʷáːʃé (Raishe); and the minor villages of ʔʷéːɾà (Tungan Masu), ò̃sán (Bakin Ruwa), lópár (Lapar), áñ wá ̃ (Ana). Lopa speakers call themselves [dɔ̀ɾóp] (one person), [òːɾɔ́p] (many people), and the language [òlːɔ́p]. They refer to Urcibar speakers as [dɔ̀tʃíbár] (one person), [òːtʃíbár] (many people), and to their language as [ɘ̀ɹtʃíbár].[2]
References
edit- ^ Lopa at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ a b c d Blench, Roger (2012). "The Kainji languages of northwestern and central Nigeria" (PDF). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
- ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
- ^ McGill, Stuart. 2012. The Kainji languages. Ms, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, 30 August 2012.