Kainji languages

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The Kainji languages form a sub-unit of the Platoid languages , a branch of the Benue-Congo languages , which in turn belong to the Niger-Congo .

The approximately 55 Kainji languages ​​are spoken by approximately one million people in north-west and central Nigeria . Its area extends from the Kainji Reservoir in the west (states Niger and Kebbi ) to the northern highlands of Jos (state Plateau ) in the east. Kainji languages ​​are also spoken in Kaduna . The most important Kainji languages ​​are Tsuvadi (150,000 speakers), Lela, Rubasa , Cischingini and Tsishingini, each with around 100,000 speakers.

Position of the Kainji languages ​​within the Niger-Congo

  • Niger-Congo
    • Volta Congo
      • South Volta Congo
        • Benue Congo
          • East Benue Congo
            • Platoid
              • Kainji
              • Northwest plateau
              • Central plateau
              • Southeast plateau
              • South plateau
              • Tarocoid
              • Jukunoid

Internal classification

  • Kainji
    • East Kainji
      • North Jos
        • Jera
          • Jera (65 thousand), Sanga (20 thousand), Lemoro (10 thousand), Duguza (2 thousand), Gyem (1 thousand), Iguta (6 thousand), Izora (5 thousand), Janji (400), Kudu-Camo (3 thousand), Lere (almost †), Shau (almost †), Sheni (almost †), Ziriya (almost †), Gamo-Ningi †
        • Kauru
          • Kurama (10 thousand), Gbiri-Niragu (5 thousand), Bina (2 thousand), Kono (1.5 thousand), Mala (2 thousand), Shuwa-Zamani (Kauru) (1 thousand) ,
            Dungu (300), Kinuku (500), Ruma (2 thousand), Surubu (2 thousand), Tumi (600), Vono (500)
      • Piti-Atsam : Atsam (Chawai) (30 thousand), Piti (1 thousand)
      • Amao : Amo (Timap) (4k)
    • West Kainji
      • Duka : C'Lela (Lela) (100 thousand), Hun-Saare (75 thousand), Puku-Geeri-Keri-Wipsi (40 thousand), Gwamhi-Wuri (10 thousand)
      • Kamuku : Kamuku (30 thousand), Acipa (25 thousand), Pongu (20 thousand), Hungworo (1 thousand), Shama-Sambuga (5 thousand), Fungwa (1 thousand)
      • Baushi-Gurmana : Baushi (20 thousand), Gurmana (3 thousand)
      • Bassa : Bassa (Basa, Rubasa) (100 thousand), Bassa Gurmana (2 thousand), Bassa-Kaduna †, Bassa-Kontagora †
      • Kambari : Tsuvadi (150 thousand), Cischingini (80 thousand), Tsishingini (80 thousand), Tsikimba (50 thousand), Baangi (15 thousand), Kakihum (15 thousand)
      • Kainji Lake : Laru (5 thousand), Lopa (5 thousand)
      • Reshe : Resche (Gunga, Yaurawa) (45 thousand)

See also

literature

  • Bernd Heine , Derek Nurse (Ed.): African Languages. An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge et al. 2000, ISBN 0-521-66178-1 . Inside: Kay Williamson and Roger Blench: Niger-Congo.
  • John Bendor-Samuel (Ed.): The Niger-Congo Languages. A Classification and Description of Africa's Largest Language Family. University Press of America, Lanham MD et al. 1989, ISBN 0-8191-7375-4 . In it: Ludwig Gerhardt: Kainji and Platoid.

Web links