Kainji languages
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
- Platoid
- East Benue Congo
- Benue Congo
- South Volta Congo
-
Volta Congo
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)
-
Kurama (10 thousand), Gbiri-Niragu (5 thousand), Bina (2 thousand), Kono (1.5 thousand), Mala (2 thousand), Shuwa-Zamani (Kauru) (1 thousand) ,
- Jera
- Piti-Atsam : Atsam (Chawai) (30 thousand), Piti (1 thousand)
- Amao : Amo (Timap) (4k)
-
North Jos
-
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)
-
East Kainji
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.