West Chadic languages

The West Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken principally in Niger and Nigeria. They include Hausa, the most populous Chadic language and a major language of West Africa.

West Chadic
Geographic
distribution
Niger, Nigeria
Linguistic classificationAfro-Asiatic
Subdivisions
Glottologwest2785
West Chadic per Newman (1977)
Main Chadic-speaking peoples in Nigeria
Hausa-speaking areas in Nigeria and Niger
Roger Blench's (2020) classification of West Chadic B

Languages

The branches of West Chadic go either by names or by letters and numbers in an outline format.[1]

In addition, Poki is unclassified within West Chadic.

Internal structure

George Starostin's (2010) internal classification of West Chadic[6] as presented in Blažek (2010):[7]

Roger Blench's (2021) internal classification of West Chadic:[8]

Distribution

Distributions of West Chadic branches:[9]

BranchCodePrimary locations
Distributions of West Chadic branches[9]
Hausa–GwandaraA1Northern Nigeria and Niger
Bole–TangaleA2Darazo LGA, Bauchi State; Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Borno states
AngasA3Shendam and Mangu LGAs, Plateau State
RonA4Mangu LGA, Plateau State
BadeB1Bade LGA, Borno State
South BauchiB2Darazo and Ningi LGAs, Bauchi State
North BauchiB3Bauchi State (Toro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi LGAs)

History of dispersal

Roger Blench (2022) suggests that West Chadic languages may have spread via a gradual agricultural dispersal in Central Nigeria, starting from 3,000–4,000 years ago. Blench notes that West Chadic morphology has been heavily influenced by Plateau languages, likely as a result of long-term intermarriage that occurred as West Chadic incomers took local wives who spoke Plateau languages.[10]

Reconstruction

Although no full reconstruction of West Chadic has been published, reconstructions of numerals for West Chadic and its subgroups have been proposed by Václav Blažek (2018).[7]

Phonology

The labial–velar consonants /kp/ and /gb/, widespread in Plateau and other Niger-Congo languages but uncommon in Chadic languages, can be found in Ron languages and in certain West Chadic A3 and Bole-Tangale languages. These consonants were borrowed from Plateau languages due to intensive long-term contact. However, other phonological features typical of Plateau and Niger-Congo languages such as ATR and vowel harmony are not found in West Chadic languages.[10]

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:[11]

ClassificationLanguage12345678910
A, A.1Gwandaradabiúkù / úɡú (Nimbia dialect)huru / furu (Nimbia dialect)bìyàri / bìyàr (Nimbia dialect)ʃídà / ʃídə́ (Nimbia dialect)bákwè / boʔo (Nimbia dialect)tákùʃì / táɡə́r (Nimbia dialect)tárà / tãrã (Nimbia dialect)ɡóm̀ / ɡóŋ̀ / ɡwóm (Nim. dialect)
A, A.1Hausaɗájábíjúʔúkù / ʔúkkù (West Hausa)fúɗúbìjárʃídà / ʃíddà (West Hausa)bákwàitákwàstáràɡóːmà
A, A.2, BoleBelemóoɗìbòlókùnúfòɗɗóbàaɗìbàccímóoɗìbáawùlóɓóorùɗó (2 x 4)ɓòowùnòbìmbáɗí
A, A.2, Bole, KarekareKarekarewáɗíbèːlúkúːnùːfèːɗúbàːɗúbàcóːɗì (5 + 1)bàcíbèːlú (5 + 2)fífèːɗú (2 x 4)ɓànnùmbáɗ
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperBolemóoɗìbòláukúnùmpòɗɗóbàɗìbàššimóoɗìbáawúlópóorɗó (2 x 4)ɓòonùmbìmbáɗí
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperBure (Bubure)móɗémálókúnúʄóɗóbáɗébásúmébásùmáló (5+ 2)ʄórʄóɗó (2 x 4)ɓárdzìmóɗé (10–1)bárbáɗè
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperGalambumúurim̀bàálkúunpáryábòoríbɪ́címɪ́nbùcù m̀bàl (5+ 2)hórróbàryà múuri (10–1)bár
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperGeramóóyimbùlúkúnúfúɗúbàaɗìbèeshímbìccìmbùlú (5+ 2)húrɗúɓànìnjà / barijabàrɗí / barr
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperGerumamô / monm̀bàalú / mbàalúŋkúnú / kúnúŋfúɗú / húɗúŋbàaɗì / bàalíbècə́mbàzə̀mbàalú (5+ 2)húrɗú / úrɗúŋɓár jàɓáráɗì / ɓárári
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperKholok (Widala)ɗókpèlòwbùnùmpèeròwfaàt / faàrfoòròmìnìpaàlìlàwbìrbìròw / pìrpìròwkómbóyɓùmmò
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperKirfi (Giiwo)móoɗìmbàlúkúnúfáɗáubòoɗbìccúunibìcímbàlu (5+ 2)fórfáɗó (2 x 4)bàr jà móoɗi (10–1)pàtà
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperMaakamōɗìbòllukūǹpaɗɗubìnkinùnɡā̀nù or bákwài (< Hausa)jìlaikwàlakbìmba
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperNgamomòɗibòlòkùnûhɔ̀ɗòbâtbàʔàʃìmòɗi (5 + 1)babìlò (5 + 2)hɔɔrɗò (2 x 4)ɓònùbimbaɗ (2 x 5) ?
A, A.2, Bole, Bole ProperNyammɔ̀dɔ́fùllúkkùnúŋhɔ̀dúkhwàtfárméfáró fùllúk (5 + 2)húrú ɡùdùk (2 x 4)láɡó mɔ̀dɔ́ (10–1)  ?kùumò (litː ' kumo ' = ear)
A, A.2, Tangale, DeraDera (Kanakuru)ɗuweyrapkunuparawbâtbyêmebwelàtorìmenwanɗumwe (10–1)ɡûm
A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale ProperKupto (Kutto)ɗékkíréfáláw/ páláwkùnùŋfàɗàw / pàɗàwfáat / páatfáyɗìn / páyɗìnfáyláw / páyláwfàrfìɗòwlèbìɗàkómó
A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale ProperKushiɗòkpə̀llòwtàatpéeròwfwàt / fúwàtfàràɡbànàŋfàrlówpìdiɗòwfɔ̀jèràwkpèmù
A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale ProperKwaamimúndípóllów / fóllówkúnúmpóɗòw / fóɗòwpáaɗí / fáaɗípáyíndì / fáyíndì (5 + 1)pópíllów / fófíllów (5 + 2)pówùrɗòw / fówùrɗòw (2 x 4) ?làmbáɗàkúmó
A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale ProperPero (Pipero)ɗókbélòwɡ͡bónòŋbéeɗòwpúat / fwátpáttira múndipáttira bélòwbídìdowkómpòy / kómvòykó / k͡púmmò
A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale ProperPiyamùndípèelówɡbùnùmpèeɗòwfàatpàtìrà mùndí (5 + 1)pàtìrà pèelów (5 + 2)pèdìpìɗów (2 x 4) ???kòmbòykùmmó
A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale ProperPo Tangale (1)dɔkràpkúnuŋpàdàófùwàtpàíndìpèláùpàpádà (2 x 4)làmbùdàɡ͡bɔmɔ
A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale ProperTangale (Shongom) (2)dɔ́krápkúnúŋsɛ́rɛɪ̀pʊ́wàdpáyɪ̀nɗɪ́péelòupárpàɗá (2 x 4)lámɓɗàɡ͡bɔ́mɔ́
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1Angas (Ngas)ɡàkbápkʷánfírpɛ̀tpìmí (5 + 1)pòbáp (5 + 2)pòkʷún (5 + 3)pòfár (5 + 4)sàr
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1Kofyarvəlkúnféerpaàtpèmə (5 + 1)pòɡòvəl (5 + 2)pòɡòkun (5 + 3)pòɡòfár (5 + 4)sàr
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1Miship (Chip) (1)kəmevəlkunfeerbaatpemee (5+ 1)pokvəl (5+ 2)pokkun (5+ 3)pokfaar (5+ 4)sár
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1Miship (Chip) (2)mevɨlkunfɛrpaàtpemɛ (5+ 1)pɔ̀ɡɔ̀vɨl (5+ 2)pɔ̀ɡɔ̀kun (5+ 3)pɔ̀ɡɔ̀far (5+ 4)sə̀r
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1Cakfem-Musherekumevelkunfeerpaatpeemee (5+ 1)feermeekum (4+ 3) ??feertiit (4 x 2) ??paatmeefeer (5+ 4)kakapaat (5 x 2) ??
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1Mwaghavul (Mupun / Sura)mə́ndòŋvə́lkúnféerpáatpéemè (5 + 1)póvə̀l (5 + 2)pòkún (5 + 3)pòféer (5 + 4)kàapàt və́l (5 x 2)  ???
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 2Goemai (Ankwe)mée, ɡə̀méevə́lkúnfə́rpʰá:tpʰə̀mə́ (5 + 1)pʰə̀və́l (5 + 2)pʰùkún (5 + 3)pʰə̀fár (5 + 4)sár
A, A.3, Angas Proper, 2Tal[mɛ́nɛ][vɨ́ɛ́l][kún][fɛi][pàːt][pɨ̀mɛ́][mɛ́fɛ́imɛ́kúːn][pàːfɛ́i][mɛ́ːpàː][sár]
A, A.4, Ron ProperRon (Daffo)ɗaŋɡâtful / fulályuhúnpúʔhárámakoŋmelokmafwaráʔyèlâmhùrè
B, B.1, DuwaiDuwaiɡùɗìyòʃirìfə̀ɗúvā̀ɗə̀jdə̀ɡərmasə̀və̀sə̀ri / tlə̀və̀sə̀riə̀jldàakòwā̀rìyàɡùumà
B, B.1, Bade ProperBadeɡàɗisərənkwanfəɗuvàɗìə̀zdùɡatkasàɬədàakwàwarayàɡuumà
B, B.1, Bade ProperNgizimkə́ɗə́n (counting), ɡàyí (enumat.)ʃírínkwánfə́ɗúvàaɗzə̀dùɡátkásàdándàfə́ɗú (2 x 4)kúɗkûvdàɡúmà
B, B.2Dira (Diri)numrɔpmɪyaxkənwupsɛnəmtəmmukkə̀ŋyɪniŋɡìwùzupsè (2 x 4) ?vwanùm (10–1) ?kwuɬ
B, B.2Miyawútə̀tsə̀rkìdifə̀ɗəvàaɬəmàaha (5+1) ?mààtsə̀r (5+2)fə́rfəɗə (2 x 4)kùcìyàdə́rɓitim
B, B.3Dass (of Dott)nə̀mrwápmààɣíwùupsínàmtámmàamaɣ / muumáɣwúsúrmàɣèwúsúpsì (2 x 4)nàturə́psi / nàtàrə́psizùp
B, B.3, BoghomBoghomnyìmɓáap / pā́p / ɡbwàapmóimúpsíndàuní / ndóonímàaknyàŋɡíɓóopsíʔáamsóyìm (10 -1)ŋəmàs / wuur nyìm
B, B.3, BoghomMangasnimɓíinmweenùpsitùunmàɣànyíŋɡiɡàamzikúrúmsazúp
B, B.3, EasternJiminintóorwámwaikán / mwenkánihyúnamtáŋ / namtámmáakooinkóoɡuhyú (2 x 4)kə́skəníntoo / kə́zə̀kə̀níntò (10 -1)ndəɓóo / ɗúbó
B, B.3, GuruntumGuruntumʃàakraapmiyaŋoosokʸuwunmôonnʸeeneɡèesauɗáarzùp
B, B.3, GuruntumZangwal (Zangur)nə́mkwáapmàyàwúusùnàmtàmmàaɡanyínìɡìʔáasuʔáasù (2 x 4)áatə̀nə̀nsúp
B, B.3, Zaar ProperGeji (Gyazi) (1)nə̀mlôpmèkanwupsìnàmtanmukkànitɡiwùsupsì (2 x 4) ?topsikuɬ
B, B.3, Zaar ProperGeji (Gezawa) (2)nɨ̀mlôpmèkənwupsìnə̀mtəŋmukkə̀nininɡiwùsupsì (2 x 4) ?nə̀topsikuɬ
B, B.3, Zaar ProperPolci (Palci)nɨ̀mrǒpmiyènwupsɨ̀nə̀mtəmmaɣàwusɨ̀rmìyen (4 + 3) ?wɨsɨpsɨ̀ (2 x 4) ?nàtoropsɨ̀zup
B, B.3, Zaar ProperSayanàmbə́ŋmbə̀ɬíŋmáajìiwúpsə̀nândə̀mlîimwátsə̀maítántántɔ́knándə́mzúp

References

  1. Blench, Roger. 2006. The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List (ms)
  2. Blench, Roger (2019). "Jakato: an undocumented language of Central Nigeria".
  3. Blench, Roger. 2017. Current research on the A3 West Chadic languages.
  4. Blench, Roger. Comparative Ron wordlist.
  5. Blench, Roger. 2012. Linguistic and cultural background to the North Bauchi region and the Wiihə people.
  6. Starostin, George. 2010. Afroasiatic classification: preliminary results of the modified glottochronological test. Manuscript.
  7. Blažek, Václav. 2018. The numerals of West Chadic. Topics in Chadic Linguistics IX. Papers from the 8th Biennial International Colloquium on the Chadic Languages, Bayreuth, February 4–5, 2016.
  8. Blench, Roger. 2021. The erosion of number marking in West Chadic Roger Blench. WOCAL, Leiden.
  9. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  10. Blench, Roger (2022). Contact between West Chadic and Plateau languages: new evidence languages: new evidence. 11–12 November 2022, presentation given at Universität Wien.
  11. Chan, Eugene (2019). "The Afro-Asiatic Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.
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