East Kainji languages

The East Kainji languages are spoken in a compact area of the Jos Plateau in Nigeria, near Jos. There are more than 20 of them, most of which are poorly studied.

East Kainji
Geographic
distribution		Kaduna, Plateau, and Bauchi states, Nigeria
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo
Glottologeast2404

History

East Kainji languages are less internally diverse than some of the other Plateau branches in the Nigerian Middle Belt (Blench 2007). Historically, the East Kainji branch had been influenced by Chadic languages that no longer exist in the region.[1] Today, there are at most 100,000 speakers of East Kainji languages, with almost all languages of the languages being threatened by larger languages such as Hausa and English.[1] Although they are morphologically simple, they have 4-level tones instead of the 3-level tones typical of the region.[1]

At the time of the British conquest, several of these languages were in the process of shifting from duodecimal to decimal systems. Languages attested with such systems include Janji, Gure-Kahugu (Gbiri-Niragu) and Piti.[2]

Features

Compared to the neighbouring Plateau languages, East Kainji languages are morphologically simple. They have four level tones, as opposed to most other languages in the Nigerian Middle Belt having only three level tones. The fourth tone in East Kainji languages originated as a superhigh tone used to mark plurals.[1]

Syllables in East Kainji languages are generally open (CV).[1] Blench (2020) suggests that the East Kainji branch is most closely related to Basa, since both have (C)V-CVCV phonotactic structures.[3]

Classification

East Kainji was once thought to be a primary branch of the Kainji languages, but this is no longer the case.[4] Impressionistically, Piti and Atsam appear to be distinct, but the rest form a continuous dialect chain.[5]

The East Kainji languages have historically undergone influence from non-Hausa West Chadic languages. East Kainji is not as internally diverse as West Kainji.[1]

Ethnologue

Ethnologue indicates several branches; these will be retained here for reference:[6]

Blench (2018)

Most recent Kainji classification by Blench (2018:83):[7]

Blench (2012)

In Blench's 2012 classification, Piti–Atsam is named "Southern". Northern Jos is named "Jos", and the Jera languages are named "Northern Jos", which he further subdivides into several dialect clusters; Amo is placed in this group.[8]

In the tree below given by Blench (2012), East Kainji is split into a core Jos group and peripheral Southern group.[9]

Shimizu (1982)

Classification of the Northern Jos group according to Shimizu (1982: 165):[10]

Northern Jos

Shimizu (1982) also reconstructs Proto-Northern Jos.

Glottolog

Glottolog's classification is similar to Blench's, but the Piti–Atsam name is retained. In this classification, all languages except for Piti–Atsam are grouped under "Jos". Amo, while within the "Jos" group, is left out of both Kauru and Jera (or "Northern Jos", following Blench).[11]

Only Kurama, Gbiri-Niragu, Jere, Sanga and Lemoro have more than a few thousand speakers.

Names and locations

Below is a comprehensive list of East Kainji language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[12]

LanguageBranchClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)Notes
MapAmicAmon, AmongTimapKumap pl. AmapBa3,550 (NAT 1950)Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA
AtsamAsg. Tsam, pl. AtsamChawai, Chawe, Chawi10,200 (1931 Gunn); 30,000 (1972 Barrett)Kaduna State, Kachia LGA
BishiARiban (Ngmgbang) was formerly listed as a dialect, but is clearly a distinct languageAbisi, Bisixx pl. AbishiPitti1,600 (NAT 1950); Live in at least 26 villages (Ajaegbu et al. 2013)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
NgmgbangAFormerly listed as a dialect of Bishi, but is clearly a distinct languageRibamRigmgbangfew villages (Ajaegbu et al. 2013)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
Lere cluster (extinct)"Northern Jos"Lere (extinct)765 (NAT 1949); 1,000 (1973 SIL); languages extinctBauchi State, Toro LGA
Si"Northern Jos"Lere (extinct)RishuwaKauruKuzamani
Gana (extinct)"Northern Jos"Lere (extinct)Extinct
Takaya (extinct)"Northern Jos"Lere (extinct)TauraExtinct
Gamo–Ningi clusterGamo-NingiGamo–Ningi15,000 but most speak Hausa.Bauchi State, Ningi LGA
GamoGamo-NingiGamo–Ningitì-Gamodòò-Gamo pl. à-ndi-GamoButanciiButa, Butawa, ButuThere are some 32 settlements of Gamo, but of these only Kurmi still spoke the language in 1974 (Shimizu 1982).
NingiGamo-NingiGamo–Ningi
IgutaCAnagutaNaraguta2,580 (HDG); 3,000 (1973 SIL)Plateau State, Bassa LGA
JanjiCJenjiTìjánjíAjanjiAnafejanzi360 (NAT 1950)Plateau State, Bassa LGA
Jere clusterCJereJera, Jeere23,000 (1972 SIL)Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Bauchi State, Toro LGA
BozeCJereBoze is divided into 3 dialects, εGorong, εKɔkɔŋ as well as a third rather divergent speech form, εFiruAnabezeeBozeunaBoze pl. anaBozeBujiεGorong (2500?), εKɔkɔŋ (3000) εFiru (1500?) (Blench est, 2003). Due to language loss, especially in road settlements, there are considerably more ethnic Boze. Ethnologue figures are total district populations, not speakers.Plateau State, Bassa LGA. Both sides of the Jos-Zaria road, directly north of Jos.
GusuCJereGussumi–Sangasg. o–Sanga, pl. a–SangaAnibau, Anosangobari2,350 (1936 HDG)Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Bauchi State, Toro LGA
JereCJereEzelleAnazele, AzelleJengre4,500 (1936 HDG)Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA
Ibunu-LɔrɔCJereBunuÌbunu; iLɔrɔÀnarubùnu, (Anorubuna, Narabuna); ɔnɔLɔrɔ pl. AnoLɔrɔRebina, Ribina, Rubunu2,000 (LA 1971); 1500 (Blench 2003) in four villagesBauchi State, Toro LGA
PanawaCJereiPanawaunuPanawa pl. anaPanawaBujiyel1600 CAPRO (1995a). 3500 (Blench 2003) in five villagesBauchi State, Toro LGA
TunzuCone person Tunzú, people àTunzûìTunzûDugusa, Duguza2500 speakers (Blench 2003 est.), though there are likely 2000 more ethnic Tunzu who do not speak the language.Plateau State, Jos East Local Government (5 villages), main settlement at N10˚ 02, E 9˚ 06. Bauchi State, Toro LGA (2 villages)
Sheni-Ziriya-Kere clusterCSheni-Ziriya-Kere
SheniCSheni-Ziriya-KereShani, ShainitiSenione person onoSeni, people anaSeni6 fluent speakers remaining out of ethnic community of about 1500 (Blench 2003)Kaduna State, Lere LGA. Two settlements, Sheni (N10˚ 22.6, E 8˚ 45.9) and Gurjiya (N10˚ 21.5, E 8˚ 45.2)
Kere (extinct)CSheni-Ziriya-Kereextinct (Blench 2003)Kaduna State, Lere LGA. Kere
Ziriya (extinct)CSheni-Ziriya-KereJiriyaextinct (ethnic community ca. 2000)Bauchi State: Toro LGA: Ziriya (N10˚ 22.6, E 8˚ 50)
NuKauruTinuBinu pl. AnuKinugu, Kinuka, Kinuku460 (NAT 1949); 500 (1973 SIL); 3000 (est. 2016). About seven villagesKaduna State, Saminaka LGA
TumiKauruTutumiKitimi635 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
BinKauruBinatìBinbìBin pl. áBinBoganaBinawa220 (NAT 1949), 2,000 (1973 SIL). 4 villages (2016) ca. 3-4000 (est.)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA. About 15 km west of Mariri, along the Geshere road.
Gbiri–Niragu clusterKauruGbiri–Niragu5,000 (1952 W&B)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA
GbiriKauruGbiri–NiraguIgbiri, Agari, AgbiriGura, Gure, Guri
NiraguKauruGbiri–NiraguAnirago, AniraguKafugu, Kagu, Kahugu, Kapugu
KuramaKauruTikurumiAkurumiBagwama (also refers to Ruma)11,300 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Saminaka and Ikara LGAs; Kano State, Tudun Wada LGA
RumaKauruRuramaTurumaArumarumaBagwama (also refers to Kurama)2,200 (NAT 1948)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA
Shuwa–ZamaniKauruKaduna State, Saminaka LGA
VoriKauruTiVoriPiVori pl. AVoriSrubu, Skrubu, Surubu, ZurubuFiti1,950 (NAT 1948)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA
DunguKauruDungi, Dingi, Dwingi, Dunjawa310 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
KonoKauruKonu, Kwono1,550 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
MalaKauruTumalaAmalaRumaya, Rumaiya1,800 (NAT 1948)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
VonoKauruKivɔnɔAvɔnɔKibolo, Kiwollo, Kiballo335 (NAT 1949); 500 (1973 SIL)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
KaiviKauruKaibi650 (NAT 1949)Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data
GyemLameGema2000 (est. 2015)Bauchi State, Toro LGA, Lame district
ShauLameShoLìsháùAlmost extinctBauchi State, Toro LGA, villages of Shau and Mana
Kudu–Camo clusterNingiKudu–CamoBasa said to be a sub–groupLanguage moribund, perhaps extinctBauchi State, Ningi LGA
KuduNingiKudu–CamoKudaProbably extinct
CamoNingiKudu–CamoChamoProbably extinct
LemoroNorth-CentralLimorroEmoroAnemoroAnowuru2,950 (1936 HDG)Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Bauchi State, Toro LGA
SangaNorth-CentralAŋma AsangaAsanga1,700 (NAT 1950); 5,000 (1973 SIL)Bauchi State, Toro LGA, Lame district
ZoraNorth-CentraliZorauZora pl. aZoraCikobu, Chokobo425 (1936 HDG), 19 speakers (March 2016); 10 settlements close to N10˚ 21.7, E 8˚ 50.6. About 3-4000 ethnic Zora.Plateau State, Bassa LGA

Lexical comparison

The following table shows the singular and plural forms for ‘arm, hand’ from various East Kainji language varieties.[3] Names in parentheses are from Williamson (1972).[13] The data has been combined by Blench (2020) from Williamson (1972), Shimizu (1979, 1982),[14][15][16] and Blench's unpublished field data.

LanguageCluster‘arm, hand’‘arms, hands’
Bishi (Piti)Southernmoɔk
Atsam (Chaw)Southernwɔk
Kudu (Kuda)Ningimò-ri
Camo (Cham)Ningiùkérí
Gamo (Buta)Ningiù-ʔáraà-ʔára
Gyem (Gyem)Lameò-meᵏcè-rèèku
ShauLameu-ʔaratu-ʔara
SiLereàya
GanaLereù-ʔaya
Takaya (Taur)Lereàyà
IzoraNorth-centralù-ʔaratààra
eMoroNorth-centralwàʔaratàara
SangaNorth-centralò-ʔàratà-ʔàra
Janji (Janj)North-centraltààre
εBoze (Buji)North-centralò-wàrètàre
iZeleNorth-centralò-warètà-are
iBunu (Ribn)North-centralù-wárétà-áré
iPanawaNorth-centralù-wárétì-wáré
iLoroNorth-centralù-wárétàáré
iGutaNorth-centralù-wɨrɨtɨ̀-ɨ̀rɨ
tiMap (Amo)North-centralù-cáràà-cárà
Ziriya †Sheniàyí
Sheni (Shen)Shenitayauta-taya
GbiriKauruka-kiarana-
NiraguKauruka-ʧaraKahu
Surubu (Surb)Kauruka-ʧarana-
Kurama (Krma)Kaurutá-árétí-
KonoKauruu-carai-cara

See also

References
  1. Blench, Roger. 2007. Language families of the Nigerian Middle Belt and the historical implications of their distribution. Presented to the Jos Linguistic Circle in Jos, Nigeria, July 25, 2007.
  2. Shuji Matsushita, "Decimal vs. Duodecimal: An interaction between two systems of numeration"
  3. Blench, Roger. 2020. The East Kainji languages of Central Nigeria.
  4. "Roger Blench: Kainji languages". www.rogerblench.info.
  5. Blench 2004, The status of the East Kainji languages of Central Nigeria, p. 8
  6. "Eastern". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  7. Blench, Roger M. 2018. Nominal affixing in the Kainji languages of northwestern and central Nigeria. In John R. Watters (ed.), East Benue-Congo: Nouns, pronouns, and verbs, 59–106. Berlin: Language Science Press. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1314323
  8. Blench 2004, The status of the East Kainji languages of Central Nigeria, p. 10
  9. Blench, Roger (2012). "The Kainji languages of northwestern and central Nigeria" (PDF). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  10. Shimizu, Kiyoshi, 1982. Die North-Jos Gruppe der Plateau=Spreachen Nigerias. Afrika und Übersee, vol. 65.2 (1982), 161-210.
  11. "Glottolog 3.0 - Kainji Lake". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  12. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  13. Williamson, Kay .1972. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist: Vol. 2. Ibadan: West African Linguistic Society.
  14. Shimizu, Kiyoshi. 1979. Five wordlists with analyses from the northern Jos group of Plateau languages. In: Afrika und Übersee 62, 4: 253-271.
  15. Shimizu, Kiyoshi. 1982a. Ten more wordlists with analyses from the northern Jos group of Plateau languages. In: Afrika und Übersee 65, 1: 97-134.
  16. Shimizu, Kiyoshi. 1982b. Die Nord-Jos-Gruppe der Plateausprachen Nigerias. In: Afrika und Übersee 65, 2: 161-210. Westermann, Dietrich & Margaret A. Bryan 1952. Languages of West Africa: Part II. London: OUP for IAI.

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