Adamaua languages

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The Adamaua languages are a group of 80 to 90 languages spoken by a total of two million people along the Adamaua Plateau in Central Africa, Eastern Nigeria , Northern Cameroon , Northwest Central African Republic and Southern Chad .

The languages ​​were classified along with the Ubangic languages by Joseph Greenberg as a branch of the Adamaua-Ubangi language group of the Niger-Congo language family . Many of the Adamaua languages ​​are critically endangered as the governments of the individual states have continued to use the languages ​​of the former colonial powers as the official and language of instruction; by far the largest of the nearly one hundred small Adamaua languages ​​is Mumuye with 400,000 speakers. A group of isolated languages, including Laal and Jalaa, are found along the borders of the Adamaua area.

classification

Greenberg postulated the group as part of the Adamaua-Ubangic languages ​​(then called Adamaua-Ost ), and divided them into 14 numbered groups. Group G3, Daka or Dakoide, are now known as a branch of the Benue-Congo languages . Relations with the other languages ​​underwent a considerable revision. Boyd (1989) added the Day language and classified it as follows:

The Fali languages (G11) were excluded. Kleinewillinghöfer (1996) modified Waja-Jen by splitting Bikwin-Jen into two branches and classifying Baa as the primary branch of Adamaua. He did not notice the enclosure of the Fali.

languages

The current subdivision of the languages ​​is as follows:

Leko-Nimbari

  • Leko: Samba Leko (50 thousand), Mumbake (20 thousand), Wom (5 thousand), Kolbila (2.5 thousand), Nyong (30 thousand)
  • Duru
    • Dii: Duru (Dii) (50 thousand), Duupa (5 thousand), Pape (7 thousand), Saa (4 thousand)
    • Duli †
    • Voko-Doyayo: Kutin (20 thousand), Doyayo (20 thousand), Gimme (3 thousand), Gimnime (3 thousand); Vere (Mom Jango) (90k), Koma (25k); Voko (2.5 thousand)
    • Mumuye-Yandang
      • Mumuye: Mumuye (400 thousand), Teme (4 thousand), Waka (5 thousand)
      • Yandang: Yandang (65 thousand), Kpasam (15 thousand), Kugama (5 thousand), Bali (2 thousand)
    • Nimbari

Mbum Day

  • Mbum
    • Central: Kare (100 thousand), Pana (80 thousand), Karang (20 thousand), Nzambay (30 thousand); Kuo (15k)
    • North: Tupuri (220 thousand), Mundang (200 thousand), Mambai (2.5 thousand); Mono (1,000), Dama, Ndai (almost †)
    • South: Mbum (50k)
    • Otherwise : Laka (Godogodo) (5 thousand), Dek, Pam; To ( ritual language )
  • Bua: Bua (8 thousand), Fania (Mana), Gula Iro (4 thousand), Bon Gula (1 thousand), Zan Gula (4 thousand), Bolgo (2 thousand), Koke (600), Noy (almost †),
    Niellim (5 thousand), Tunia (2 thousand)
  • Kim: Kim ('Masa') (15 thousand), Besme (1 thousand), Goundo (almost †)
  • Day : Day (50 thousand)

Waja-Jen

  • Waja-Cham
    • Awak: Awak (6 th.), Kamo (20 th.)
    • Waja-Tula: Waja (60 th.), Tula (30 th.), Bangwinji (6 th.)
    • Cham-Mona: Dijim-Bwilim (Cham-Mwana) (25 thousand), Lotsu-Piri (15 thousand)
    • Dadija: Dadija (30 thousand)
  • Longuda ( 30k )
  • Yungur-Mboi: Yungur (Bena) (100 thousand), Lala-Roba (50 thousand), Voro; Mboi (20k), Libo (Kaan) (10k)
  • Jen-Munga: Bambuka (5 thousand), Loo (8 thousand), Burak (4 thousand), Jen (Dza) (6 thousand), Leelau (Munga) (5 thousand), Gwomo (5 thousand) ), Panyam (Mak), Maghdi (2 thousand), Mingang Doso (3 thousand), Kapawa (Tha) (1 thousand)
Kam (Yimwom) (5k)
Fali (40k)
Kwa (Baa) (7k)
Gueve †
La'bi ( ritual language )
Oblo ( 5k )

validity

Recently, Roger Blench (2008) has postulated that the Adamaua languages ​​are a geographical grouping, not a language family , and incorporated their various branches into his proposal for the savannah language family . He kept the language groups Leko-Nimbari and Mbum- Day from Boyd and Kleinewillinghöfer, but gave them no special relationships with one another. The Waja-Jen branch was reduced to G7, G9, & G10; the Waja languages ​​were designated as isolated along with the Kam. Fali was completely excluded from the savannah languages. The placement of the baa is not clear.

Isolated Adamaua Languages

The Oblo language of Cameroon is mutually referred to as a member of the Adamaua group, but its position within the Adamaua remains unclear. It has been speculated that the unclassified Laal language of Chad could be an Adamaua language; the Jalaa language of Nigeria is likely not Adamaua, but has strong Adamaua influences.

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