Central Plateau languages

The twenty Central Plateau languages are a residual branch of the Plateau family spoken in central Nigeria. Tyap (or Katab) has over 200,000 speakers, and the closely related Jju (or Kaje) has well over 300,000. Hyam (or Jabba) has another 100,000. Cori is famous for being one of very few languages with six tone levels, though only three are needed for writing.

Central Plateau
Geographic
distribution
Nigeria
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Subdivisions
  • Rigwe
  • Izere
  • Tyapic
  • Hyamic
  • Koro
  • Gyongic
  • Yeskwa
  • North Plateau
GlottologNone
sout3163  (Irigwe–Izeric–Tyapic)
nort3184  (Hyamic–Koroic–Gyongic)
nort3169  (North Plateau)

Classification

The Central Plateau languages are a close geographical group with numerous connections; however, they are to some extent a residual group and may be a sprachbund. The following classification is taken from Blench (2008). A distinction between North Plateau and the rest of Central Plateau is possible but appears to be geographic; Gerhardt (1994) argues they belong together.

Each of the second-level bullets is a single language or dialect cluster and is obviously valid. However, most of the first-level groups (Hyamic, North Plateau, Gyongic, Koro) are not self-evident and may continue to be revised.

  • Rigwe (Irigwe)
  • Izeric
    • Izere: NE & NW Izere, Cèn, Ganàng
    • Fəràn (Firan) – clearly related to Izere
  • Tyapic
    • Tyap (Katab): Tyap proper, Gworok, Takat (Attakar), Tyecha̱rak (Kacecere), Sholyia̱ (Sholio), Fantswam (Kafanchan), Tyuku
    • Jju (Kaje)
  • Hyamic
  • Koro
  • Gyongic
  • North Plateau (Northwest)

Blench (2018) splits the Central Plateau languages into a Northwest Plateau group consisting of Eda/Edra, Acro-Obiro (Kuturmi), Kulu, Idon, Doka, Iku-Gora-Ankwe, and a West-Central Plateau linguistic area consisting of the Rigwe, Tyapic, Izeric, Hyamic, Koro, and Gyongic groups.[1]

Many of the languages, including Jju, were formerly classified as part of a Southern Zaria group in earlier classifications.[1]

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[2]


LanguageBranchClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)Notes
Izere clusterCentralIzereIzarek, ZarekAfizere: other spellings – Fizere, Feserek, Afizarek, Afusare, FezereJarawaJarawan Dutse22,000 (LA 1971); 30,000 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin)Bauchi State, Toro LGA; Plateau State, Jos South and Barkin Ladi LGAs; Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA probably migrants only
FoburCentralIzereFobur, Shere, Jos ZarazonFoborNorthwestern JarawaFewer than 15,000 (1991)Bauchi State, Toro LGA; Plateau State, Jos LGA
Northeastern IzereCentralIzereFedere=Fedare, Zendi, Fursum, Jarawan KogiBauchi State, Toro LGA; Plateau State, Jos LGA
Southern IzereCentralIzereForomFewer than 4,000 (1991)Plateau State, Barkin Ladi LGA at Forom and Gashish villages
IchènCentralIzere
FaishangCentralIzere
GanangCentralIzere
JjuCentralKәjjuBaju, BajjuKaje, Kajji, Kache26,600 (NAT 1949); possibly 200,000 (1984 SIL)Kaduna State, Zangon Kataf, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs
Tyap clusterCentralTyapKatafKaduna State, Zangon Kataf, Kaura and Jema’a LGAs
TyapCentralTyapAtyab, TyabTyapAtyap, AtyabKatab, Kataf, Katapestimate more than 130,000 (1990)Kaduna State, Zangon Kataf and Kaura LGAs
GworokCentralTyapAgwolok, Agwot, GworogAgolok, KagoroAguro9,300 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Kaura LGA
TakadCentralTyapAtakat, Attaka, Attakar, Atakar, Takat5,000 (1950 HDG)Kaduna State, Kaura LGAno data
SholioCentralTyapAsholio, Asolio, Osholio, AholioMarwa, Morwa, Moroa, Marawa, Maroa5,700 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Kaura LGA, around Manchok townno data
TyecarakCentralTyapAticherak, KacicereDaroro700 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Zangon Kataf and Kaura LGAsno data
FantswamCentralTyapFantuan, Kafanchan, Kpashan970, (1934 HDG)Kaduna State, Jema’a LGAno data
FɨranCentral, South-CentralFaran, ForomFɨrànyes Fɨràn sg. yes Bèfɨràn pl.KwakwiFewer than 1500 (1991)Plateau State, Barakin Ladi LGA, at Kwakwi station, south of Jos
RigweCentral, South-CentralNorthern (Kwall), Southern (Miango)Aregwe, Irigweɾȉgʷȅ, Rigweƴîɾìgʷȅ pl. yíɾìgʷȅMiango, Nyango, Kwall, Kwoll, Kwan13,500 (HDG); 40,000 (1985 UBS)Bassa local government, Plateau State and Kauru local government, Kaduna State
CoriHyamicChoriA single village and associated hamletsKaduna State, Jema’a LGA
Hyam clusterHyamicHyamKwak (=Nkwak) appears as a Hyamic language in Ethnologue (2009) and earlier versions, but the name is spurious and is simply a Hyam town nameHam, HumJaba43,000Kaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs
KwyenyHyamicHyam
YaatHyamicHyam
SaikHyamicHyam
DzarHyamicHyam
Hyam of NokHyamicHyam
ShamangHyamicSambanShamangSamangKaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs
ShangHyamicKushampau-ʃaŋ pl. aʃaŋʃaŋKaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAs. The Shang live in two settlements, Kushampa A and B. Kushampa A is on the road between Kurmin Jibrin and Kubacha on the Jere road.
ZhireHyamicKenyiKaduna State, Kachia and Jema’a LGAsno data
AsheKoroAcheúnɛ́r ìzɛ̀ sg. Bɛ̀zɛ̀ pl.Ìzɛ̀The Ashe share a common ethnonym with the Tinɔr-Myamya (q.v.) which is Uzar pl. Bazar for the people and Ìzar for the language. This name is the origin of the term Ejar.Koron Ache35,000 including Tinɔr-Myamya (Barrett 1972). 8 villages (2008) between Katugal and Kubacha.Kaduna State, Kagarko LGA, Nasarawa State, Karu LGA
Tinɔr-Myamya clusterKoroTinɔr-MyamyaThe Tinɔr-Myamya peoples actually have no common name for themselves, but refer to individual villages when speaking, and apply noun-class prefixes to the stem.Begbere-Ejar. The Tinɔr-Myamya share a common ethnonym with the Ashe (q.v.) which is Uzar pl. Bazar for the people and Ìzar for the language. This name is the origin of the term Ejar.Koro Agwe, Agwere, Koro Makama35,000 including Ashe (1972 Barrett)Kaduna State, Kagarko LGAThe name Begbere comes from Bàgbwee, a Myamya village, and Ejar from Ìzar (see 2.A). There has been a recent proposal to adopt the name DAWN for Koro as a whole.
TinorKoroTinɔr-MyamyaWaciiTinɔruTinɔr pl. baTinɔrWaci [widely adopted name], Ala, Koron Ala, Koro MakamaSeven villages south and west of Kubacha. Uca, Unɛr, Ùsám, Marke, Pànkòrè, Ùtúr, Gɛshɛberẽ
MyamyaKoroTinɔr-MyamyaKoro Myamya = Miamia = MiyamiyaThree villages north and west of Kubacha. Ùshɛ̀, Bàgàr [includes Kúràtǎm, Ùcɛr and Bɔ̀dṹ] and Bàgbwee.
NyankpaKoroMbgwende=Ambofa [Bade dialect], Ambo Tem [Panda, Tattara, Buzi]. Tattara is said to be the ‘standard’ form of Yeskwa.Nnaŋkpa pl. AnaŋkpaNyankpaYasgua, YeskwaSarogbon [a greeting]13,000 (1973 SIL)Nasarawa State, Kauru LGA; Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
GwaraKoroIduniGwarauŋGwara sg. aGwara pl.GoraFive villages [2012]Kaduna State, Kagarko, Jaba LGAs
IdunKoroNyankpa-IdunIdṹUdṹ sg. Adun, Adṹ pl.Dũya [‘language of home’]AdongJaba Lungu, Ungu, Jaba Gengere [‘Jaba of the slopes’]1,500 (NAT 1949). 21 villages [2008]Kaduna State, Jema’a, Jaba LGAs; Nasarawa State, Karu LGA
GyongGyongicAgoma, KagomaGyongGongGwong, Gyong6,250 (1934 HDG)Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
KamantanGyongicKamanton = KamantanAngan3,600 (NAT 1949); 10,000 (1972 Barrett)Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
EkhwaNorthern[Iku status uncertain], Gora, Ankwa[Iku]–Gora–Ankwaékhwásg. énéjì pl. ánárèAhuaEhwaTowns; Gora, AnkwaKaduna State, Kachia LGA
Kadara clusterNorthernKadara
EdaNorthernKadaraAdaraÀnda pl. ÀdaÈdàKadara22,000 (NAT 1949); 40,000 (1972 Barrett). Towns: Adunu, Amale, Dakalo, Ishau, Kurmin Iya, Kateri, Bishini, Doka (Kaduna road)Kaduna State, Kachia LGA; Niger State, Paikoro LGA
EdraNorthernKadaraÀndara pl. ÀdaraÈdràKadaraTowns; Maru, Kufana, Rimau, Kasuwan Magani, IriKaduna State, Kachia, Kajuru LGAs
EnezheNorthernKadaraÀndara pl. ÀdaraÈdràKadaraTowns; Maru, Kufana, Rimau, Kasuwan Magani, IriKaduna State, Kachia, Kajuru LGAs
KuluNorthwesternIkolu, IkuluAnkuluBekulu6,000 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
IkryoNorthwesternsg. à-kró pl. ā-króìkryóWest KuturmiTwo villagesKaduna State, Kachia LGA
ObiroNorthwesternsg. óbìrò pl. òbíròìbìròWest KuturmiAntara villageKaduna State, Kachia LGA
AjiyaNorthwesternAjuliAjiyaAjiyaIdon, Idong, Idon-Doka-Makyali3 townsKaduna State, Kachia LGA
Ajuwa-AjeghaNorthwesternAjuwaAjuwaTowns; Kalla, Afogo, Iburu, Idon, MakyaliKaduna State, Kajuru LGA

Footnotes

  1. Blench, Roger M. 2018. Nominal affixes and number marking in the Plateau languages of Central Nigeria. In John R. Watters (ed.), East Benue-Congo: Nouns, pronouns, and verbs, 107–172. Berlin: Language Science Press. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1314325
  2. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

References

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