Bena–Mboi languages

The Bena–Mboi (Ɓəna–Mboi) a.k.a. Yungur languages form a branch of the Adamawa family. They are spoken in central Adamawa State, eastern Nigeria, just to the east of Lafia LGA.

Ɓəna–Mboi
Yungur
Geographic
distribution
Adamawa State, eastern Nigeria
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
GlottologNone
bena1258  (Bena–Mboi)

Idiatov & van de Velde (2019) classify the Bena–Mboi languages as Benue-Congo.[1]

Classification

In the Adamawa Languages Project website, Kleinewillinghöfer (2011) classifies the Ɓəna-Mboi or Yungur group as follows.[2]

Ɓəna-Mboi (Yungur)
  • Ɓəna
    • Ɓəna Yungur
    • Ɓəna Lala
      • Ɓəna Lala of Yang
      • Ɓəna Lala of Bodwai (Bodɛ)
        • Robma
        • (Robma of) Dingai
  • Mboi (Gəna)
    • Mboi of Livo; Mboi of Gulungo
    • Mboi of Haanda; Mboi of Banga
  • Kaan (Libo)

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]

LanguageBranchClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)
ƁenaYungurƁəna is divided into 17 clans each of which is said to have a distinct speech-form, but they are too closely related to actually be distinct dialects.Ebina, Binna, GbinnaEbənaƁənaLala (not recommended), Purra (general term for northern Ɓəna)Yungur, YangurYungirba, Yungur44,300 (1963) probably including Lala and Roba; fewer than 100,000 (1990 est.)Adamawa State, Song and Guyuk LGAs
KaanYungurLiboAdamawa State, Guyuk LGA
Lala clusterYungurLalaƁəna30,000 (SIL); 44,300 with Ɓəna (1963)Adamawa State, Guyuk, Song and Gombi LGAs
YangYungurLalaYanLalla
RobaYungurLalaGworam
EbodeYungurLalaẸbode
Mboi clusterYungurMboiMboire, Mboyi3,200 (1973 SIL)Adamawa State, Song LGA
GanaYungurMboiGənaMboire, Mboyi1,800 (LA 1971)Adamawa State, Song LGA, northwest of Song. Livo village and associated hamlets
BangaYungurMboiAdamawa State, Song LGA, west of Loko. Banga village and associated hamlets
HaandaYungurMboiHanda1,370 (LA 1971)Adamawa State, Song LGA, west of Loko. Handa village and associated hamlets
VoroYungurVɔrɔEbəna, EbinaƁenaWoroYungurAdamawa State, Song and Guyuk LGAs, south of the Dumne road. Waltande and associated hamlets.

References

  1. Idiatov, Dmitry; van de Velde, Mark. 2019. Bena-Mboi is Benue-Congo. Adamawa Conference, Department of Anthropology & African Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 9–11 September 2019.
  2. Kleinewillinghöfer, Ulrich. 2011. Ɓəna-Mboi (Yungur) group. Adamawa Languages Project.
  3. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

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