Central Plateau languages

(Redirected from North Plateau languages)

The twenty Central Plateau languages are a residual branch of the Plateau family spoken in central Nigeria. Tyap (or Katab) has over 200,000 speakers, and the closely related Jju (or Kaje) has well over 300,000. Hyam (or Jabba) has another 100,000. Cori is famous for being one of very few languages with six tone levels, though only three are needed for writing.

Central Plateau
Geographic
distribution
Nigeria
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Subdivisions
  • Rigwe
  • Izere
  • Tyapic
  • Hyamic
  • Koro
  • Gyongic
  • Yeskwa
  • North Plateau
Language codes
GlottologNone
sout3163  (Irigwe–Izeric–Tyapic)
nort3184  (Hyamic–Koroic–Gyongic)
nort3169  (North Plateau)

Classification

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The Central Plateau languages are a close geographical group with numerous connections; however, they are to some extent a residual group and may be a sprachbund. The following classification is taken from Blench (2008). A distinction between North Plateau and the rest of Central Plateau is possible but appears to be geographic; Gerhardt (1994) argues they belong together.

Each of the second-level bullets is a single language or dialect cluster and is obviously valid. However, most of the first-level groups (Hyamic, North Plateau, Gyongic, Koro) are not self-evident and may continue to be revised.

  • Rigwe (Irigwe)
  • Izeric
    • Izere: NE & NW Izere, Cèn, Ganàng
    • Fəràn (Firan) – clearly related to Izere
  • Tyapic
    • Tyap (Katab): Tyap proper, Gworok, Takat (Attakar), Tyecha̱rak (Kacecere), Sholyia̱ (Sholio), Fantswam (Kafanchan), Tyuku
    • Jju (Kaje)
  • Hyamic
  • Koro
  • Gyongic
  • North Plateau (Northwest)

Blench (2018) splits the Central Plateau languages into a Northwest Plateau group consisting of Eda/Edra, Acro-Obiro (Kuturmi), Kulu, Idon, Doka, Iku-Gora-Ankwe, and a West-Central Plateau linguistic area consisting of the Rigwe, Tyapic, Izeric, Hyamic, Koro, and Gyongic groups.[1]

Many of the languages, including Jju, were formerly classified as part of a Southern Zaria group in earlier classifications.[1]

Names and locations

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Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[2]


Language Branch Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Notes
Izere cluster Central Izere Izarek, Zarek Afizere: other spellings – Fizere, Feserek, Afizarek, Afusare, Fezere Jarawa Jarawan Dutse 22,000 (LA 1971); 30,000 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin) Bauchi State, Toro LGA; Plateau State, Jos South and Barkin Ladi LGAs; Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA probably migrants only
Fobur Central Izere Fobur, Shere, Jos Zarazon Fobor Northwestern Jarawa Fewer than 15,000 (1991) Bauchi State, Toro LGA; Plateau State, Jos LGA
Northeastern Izere Central Izere Federe=Fedare, Zendi, Fursum, Jarawan Kogi Bauchi State, Toro LGA; Plateau State, Jos LGA
Southern Izere Central Izere Forom Fewer than 4,000 (1991) Plateau State, Barkin Ladi LGA at Forom and Gashish villages
Ichèn Central Izere
Faishang Central Izere
Ganang Central Izere
Jju Central Kәjju Baju, Bajju Kaje, Kajji, Kache 26,600 (NAT 1949); possibly 200,000 (1984 SIL) Kaduna State, Zangon Kataf, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs
Tyap cluster Central Tyap Kataf Kaduna State, Zangon Kataf, Kaura and Jema’a LGAs
Tyap Central Tyap Atyab, Tyab Tyap Atyap, Atyab Katab, Kataf, Katap estimate more than 130,000 (1990) Kaduna State, Zangon Kataf and Kaura LGAs
Gworok Central Tyap Agwolok, Agwot, Gworog Agolok, Kagoro Aguro 9,300 (NAT 1949) Kaduna State, Kaura LGA
Takad Central Tyap Atakat, Attaka, Attakar, Atakar, Takat 5,000 (1950 HDG) Kaduna State, Kaura LGA no data
Sholio Central Tyap Asholio, Asolio, Osholio, Aholio Marwa, Morwa, Moroa, Marawa, Maroa 5,700 (NAT 1949) Kaduna State, Kaura LGA, around Manchok town no data
Tyecarak Central Tyap Aticherak, Kacicere Daroro 700 (NAT 1949) Kaduna State, Zangon Kataf and Kaura LGAs no data
Fantswam Central Tyap Fantuan, Kafanchan, Kpashan 970, (1934 HDG) Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA no data
Fɨran Central, South-Central Faran, Forom Fɨràn yes Fɨràn sg. yes Bèfɨràn pl. Kwakwi Fewer than 1500 (1991) Plateau State, Barakin Ladi LGA, at Kwakwi station, south of Jos
Rigwe Central, South-Central Northern (Kwall), Southern (Miango) Aregwe, Irigwe ɾȉgʷȅ, Rigwe ƴîɾìgʷȅ pl. yíɾìgʷȅ Miango, Nyango, Kwall, Kwoll, Kwan 13,500 (HDG); 40,000 (1985 UBS) Bassa local government, Plateau State and Kauru local government, Kaduna State
Cori Hyamic Chori A single village and associated hamlets Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
Hyam cluster Hyamic Hyam Kwak (=Nkwak) appears as a Hyamic language in Ethnologue (2009) and earlier versions, but the name is spurious and is simply a Hyam town name Ham, Hum Jaba 43,000 Kaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs
Kwyeny Hyamic Hyam
Yaat Hyamic Hyam
Saik Hyamic Hyam
Dzar Hyamic Hyam
Hyam of Nok Hyamic Hyam
Shamang Hyamic Samban Shamang Samang Kaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs
Shang Hyamic Kushampa u-ʃaŋ pl. aʃaŋ ʃaŋ Kaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs. The Shang live in two settlements, Kushampa A and B. Kushampa A is on the road between Kurmin Jibrin and Kubacha on the Jere road.
Zhire Hyamic Kenyi Kaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs no data
Ashe Koro Ache únɛ́r ìzɛ̀ sg. Bɛ̀zɛ̀ pl. Ìzɛ̀ The Ashe share a common ethnonym with the Tinɔr-Myamya (q.v.) which is Uzar pl. Bazar for the people and Ìzar for the language. This name is the origin of the term Ejar. Koron Ache 35,000 including Tinɔr-Myamya (Barrett 1972). 8 villages (2008) between Katugal and Kubacha. Kaduna State, Kagarko LGA, Nasarawa State, Karu LGA
Tinɔr-Myamya cluster Koro Tinɔr-Myamya The Tinɔr-Myamya peoples actually have no common name for themselves, but refer to individual villages when speaking, and apply noun-class prefixes to the stem. Begbere-Ejar. The Tinɔr-Myamya share a common ethnonym with the Ashe (q.v.) which is Uzar pl. Bazar for the people and Ìzar for the language. This name is the origin of the term Ejar. Koro Agwe, Agwere, Koro Makama 35,000 including Ashe (1972 Barrett) Kaduna State, Kagarko LGA The name Begbere comes from Bàgbwee, a Myamya village, and Ejar from Ìzar (see 2.A). There has been a recent proposal to adopt the name DAWN for Koro as a whole.
Tinor Koro Tinɔr-Myamya Waci iTinɔr uTinɔr pl. baTinɔr Waci [widely adopted name], Ala, Koron Ala, Koro Makama Seven villages south and west of Kubacha. Uca, Unɛr, Ùsám, Marke, Pànkòrè, Ùtúr, Gɛshɛberẽ
Myamya Koro Tinɔr-Myamya Koro Myamya = Miamia = Miyamiya Three villages north and west of Kubacha. Ùshɛ̀, Bàgàr [includes Kúràtǎm, Ùcɛr and Bɔ̀dṹ] and Bàgbwee.
Nyankpa Koro Mbgwende=Ambofa [Bade dialect], Ambo Tem [Panda, Tattara, Buzi]. Tattara is said to be the ‘standard’ form of Yeskwa. Nnaŋkpa pl. Anaŋkpa Nyankpa Yasgua, Yeskwa Sarogbon [a greeting] 13,000 (1973 SIL) Nasarawa State, Kauru LGA; Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
Gwara Koro Idun iGwara uŋGwara sg. aGwara pl. Gora Five villages [2012] Kaduna State, Kagarko, Jaba LGAs
Idun Koro Nyankpa-Idun Idṹ Udṹ sg. Adun, Adṹ pl. Dũya [‘language of home’] Adong Jaba Lungu, Ungu, Jaba Gengere [‘Jaba of the slopes’] 1,500 (NAT 1949). 21 villages [2008] Kaduna State, Jema’a, Jaba LGAs; Nasarawa State, Karu LGA
Gyong Gyongic Agoma, Kagoma Gyong Gong Gwong, Gyong 6,250 (1934 HDG) Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
Kamantan Gyongic Kamanton = Kamantan Angan 3,600 (NAT 1949); 10,000 (1972 Barrett) Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
Ekhwa Northern [Iku status uncertain], Gora, Ankwa [Iku]–Gora–Ankwa ékhwá sg. énéjì pl. ánárè Ahua Ehwa Towns; Gora, Ankwa Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
Kadara cluster Northern Kadara
Eda Northern Kadara Adara Ànda pl. Àda Èdà Kadara 22,000 (NAT 1949); 40,000 (1972 Barrett). Towns: Adunu, Amale, Dakalo, Ishau, Kurmin Iya, Kateri, Bishini, Doka (Kaduna road) Kaduna State, Kachia LGA; Niger State, Paikoro LGA
Edra Northern Kadara Àndara pl. Àdara Èdrà Kadara Towns; Maru, Kufana, Rimau, Kasuwan Magani, Iri Kaduna State, Kachia, Kajuru LGAs
Enezhe Northern Kadara Àndara pl. Àdara Èdrà Kadara Towns; Maru, Kufana, Rimau, Kasuwan Magani, Iri Kaduna State, Kachia, Kajuru LGAs
Kulu Northwestern Ikolu, Ikulu Ankulu Bekulu 6,000 (NAT 1949) Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
Ikryo Northwestern sg. à-kró pl. ā-kró ìkryó West Kuturmi Two villages Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
Obiro Northwestern sg. óbìrò pl. òbírò ìbìrò West Kuturmi Antara village Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
Ajiya Northwestern Ajuli Ajiya Ajiya Idon, Idong, Idon-Doka-Makyali 3 towns Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
Ajuwa-Ajegha Northwestern Ajuwa Ajuwa Towns; Kalla, Afogo, Iburu, Idon, Makyali Kaduna State, Kajuru LGA

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b Blench, Roger M. 2018. Nominal affixes and number marking in the Plateau languages of Central Nigeria. In John R. Watters (ed.), East Benue-Congo: Nouns, pronouns, and verbs, 107–172. Berlin: Language Science Press. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1314325
  2. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

References

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  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.

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