Zeem language

Zeem, or Chaari, is an endangered Chadic dialect cluster of Nigeria, whose speakers are shifting to Hausa.[2] Dyarim is closely related.

Zeem
RegionBauchi State
Native speakers
400 (2003)[1]
Dialects
  • Zeem (†)
  • Caari
  • Danshe (†)
  • Lushi (?)
  • Dyarim
  • Tule (†)
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
zem – Zeem
cxh – Chaʼari
dsk – Dokshi
dyr – Dyarim
tvi – Tulai
Glottologzeem1242  Zeem
dyar1234  Dyarim
dans1239  Chaari
lush1256  Dokshi
nucl1693  Tulai
ELPZeem

The Zeem language is spoken in Toro LGA, Bauchi State. The Tulai and Danshe dialects are no longer spoken.[1] It is also called Chaari, Dokshi, Dyarum, Kaiwari, Kaiyorawa, Lukshi, and Lushi.[3]

Dyarim had been influenced by Beromic languages during a time when Beromic was more widespread.[4]

Varieties

Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim cluster varieties listed by Blench (2019):[5]

  • Zeem (extinct)
  • Tule (extinct)
  • Danshe
  • Chaari
  • Dyarim
  • Dokshi (Lukshi, Lushi)
  • Jimi

Blench reports in 2019 that only 3 very elderly speakers of the Dokshi (or Lukshi[6]) language remain in the village of Lukshi, Bauchi State.

Notes
  1. Zeem at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Chaʼari at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Dokshi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Dyarim at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Tulai at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Newman, Paul (1990). Nominal and verbal plurality in Chadic. Walter de Gruyter. p. 3. ISBN 978-90-6765-499-9. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  3. OLAC resources in and about the Zeem language
  4. Blench, Roger. 2005. The Dyarim language of Central Nigeria and its affinities.
  5. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  6. Blench, Roger. 2020. The South Bauchi languages of Central Nigeria: a fresh view based on recent fieldwork. CALL 50. Leiden University, August 31, 2020.


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