Adamawa languages
Encyclopedia
The Adamawa languages are a putative family of 80–90 languages scattered across the Adamawa Plateau
in central Africa, in Nigeria
, Cameroon
, Central African Republic
, and Chad
, spoken altogether by only one and a half million people (as of 1996). Joseph Greenberg
classified them as one branch of the Adamawa–Ubangi family of Niger–Congo languages
. They are among the least studied languages in Africa
, and include many endangered language
s; by far the largest is Mumuye
, with 400,000 speakers. A couple of unclassified languages—notably Laal
and Jalaa
—are found along the fringes of the Adamawa area.
Greenberg postulated the group as part of Adamawa–Ubangian (then called Adamawa–Eastern), and divided them into 14 numbered groups. Group G3, Daka (or Dakoid), is now known to be a branch of Benue–Congo. The relationships of the other branches has undergone considerable revision. Boyd (1989) added the Day language
and classified them as follows:
The Fali languages
(G11) were excluded.
Kleinewillinghöfer (1996) modified Waja–Jen by splitting Bikwin–Jen into two branches and moving Baa up as a primary branch of Adamawa. He was agnostic about the inclusion of Fali.
(2008) has posited that the Adamawa languages are a geographic grouping, not a language family, and has broken up its various branches in his proposal of the Savannas
family. He retained Boyd and Kleinewillinghöfer's Leko–Nimbari and Mbum–Day families, but gave them no special connection to each other. The Waja–Jen branch he reduced to G7, G9, & G10; the Waja languages are reassigned with the Kam isolate. Fali is excluded from Savannas altogether. The placement of Baa is not clear.
of Cameroon
is agreed to belong to the Adamawa group, but its position within Adamawa is as yet unclear. It has been speculated that the unclassified Laal language
of Chad
may be Adamawa; the Jalaa language
of Nigeria
is probably not Adamawa, but shows heavy Adamawa influence.
Adamawa Plateau
The Adamawa Plateau is a plateau region in west-central Africa stretching from south-eastern Nigeria through north-central Cameroon to the Central African Republic. The plateau was named after Fulani Muslim leader Modibo Adama. The part of the plateau that lies in Nigeria is more popularly known...
in central Africa, in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
, and Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, spoken altogether by only one and a half million people (as of 1996). Joseph Greenberg
Joseph Greenberg
Joseph Harold Greenberg was a prominent and controversial American linguist, principally known for his work in two areas, linguistic typology and the genetic classification of languages.- Early life and career :...
classified them as one branch of the Adamawa–Ubangi family of Niger–Congo languages
Niger–Congo languages
The Niger–Congo languages constitute one of the world's major language families, and Africa's largest in terms of geographical area, number of speakers, and number of distinct languages. They may constitute the world's largest language family in terms of distinct languages, although this question...
. They are among the least studied languages in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and include many endangered language
Endangered language
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use. If it loses all its native speakers, it becomes a dead language. If eventually no one speaks the language at all it becomes an "extinct language"....
s; by far the largest is Mumuye
Mumuye language
Mumuye is the most important of the Adamawa languages. It is currently classified in the Leko–Nimbari branch of Savanna languages, as Adamawa is no longer considered a valid family...
, with 400,000 speakers. A couple of unclassified languages—notably Laal
Laal language
Laal is an unclassified language spoken by 749 people in three villages in the Moyen-Chari prefecture of Chad on opposite banks of the Chari River,...
and Jalaa
Jalaa language
Jalaa Centúúm or Cen Tuum is an endangered language of northeastern Nigeria , of uncertain origins...
—are found along the fringes of the Adamawa area.
Greenberg postulated the group as part of Adamawa–Ubangian (then called Adamawa–Eastern), and divided them into 14 numbered groups. Group G3, Daka (or Dakoid), is now known to be a branch of Benue–Congo. The relationships of the other branches has undergone considerable revision. Boyd (1989) added the Day language
Day language
Day is a Mbum–Day language of southern Chad, spoken by 49,916 as of that country's 1993 census....
and classified them as follows:
- Leko–Nimbari (or Chamba–Mumuye)
- DuruDuru languagesThe Duru languages are a group of Savanna languages spoken in northern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. They were labeled "G4" in Joseph Greenberg's Adamawa language-family proposal.-Languages:*Duli *Dii: Duupa, Dii, Dugun*Voko–Dowayo...
: G4 - LekoLeko languagesThe Leko languages are a small group of languages spoken in northern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria. They were labeled "G2" in Joseph Greenberg's Adamawa language-family proposal.The languages are:*Kolbila*Nyong*Chamba Leko*Wom.-External links:...
: G2 - Mumuye–Yendang: G5
- NimbariNimbari languageThe Nimbari language was a member of the Leko–Nimbari group of Savanna languages. It was spoken in northern Cameroon.Nimbari was labeled "G12" in Joseph Greenberg's Adamawa language-family proposal....
: G12
- Duru
- Mbum–Day
- BuaBua languagesThe Bua languages are a subgroup of the Mbum–Day subgroup of the Savanna languages spoken by fewer than 30,000 people in southern Chad in an area stretching roughly between the Chari River and the Guera Massif. They were labeled "G13" in Joseph Greenberg's Adamawa language-family proposal...
: G13 - KimKim languagesThe Kim languages are a small group of the Mbum–Day languages of the provisional Savanna family, spoken in southern Chad. They are:*Kim*Besme*GoundoGoundo is nearly extinct, and Besme has only a thousand or so speakers....
: G14 - MbumMbum languagesThe Mbum languages are a small group of the Mbum–Day branch of the erstwhile Adamawa languages, spoken in southern Chad, northwestern Central African Republic, northern Cameroon, and eastern Nigeria...
: G6 - DayDay languageDay is a Mbum–Day language of southern Chad, spoken by 49,916 as of that country's 1993 census....
- Bua
- Waja–Jen
- Bikwin–Jen (or Jen): G9
- Tula–WiyaaWaja languagesThe Waja or Tula–Wiyaa languages are a branch of the provisional Savanna languages, closest to Kam , spoken in eastern Nigeria....
(or Waja): G1 - Bəna–Mboi (or Yungur): G7
- BaaBaa languageBaa, also known as Kwa, Kwah, is a Niger–Congo language of uncertain affiliation; the more it has been studied, the more divergent it appears. Joseph Greenberg counted it as one of the Waja–Jen languages of the Adamawa family. Boyd assigned it its own branch within Waja–Jen. Kleinewillinghöfer ...
- LongudaLonguda languageLonguda is a Niger–Congo language of Nigeria. Joseph Greenberg counted it as a distinct branch, G10, of his Adamawa family. Boyd assigned it a branch within Waja–Jen. When Blench broke up Adamawa, Longuda was made a branch of the Bambukic languages.The number of speakers is unknown...
: G10
- Nyimwom (or Kam: G8)
The Fali languages
Fali languages
Fali is a language, or pair of languages, of northern Cameroon. Included in Greenberg's Adamawa languages , it was excluded from that family by Boyd...
(G11) were excluded.
Kleinewillinghöfer (1996) modified Waja–Jen by splitting Bikwin–Jen into two branches and moving Baa up as a primary branch of Adamawa. He was agnostic about the inclusion of Fali.
Validity
More recently, Roger BlenchRoger Blench
Roger Blench is a British linguist, ethnomusicologist and development anthropologist. He has an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and remains based in Cambridge, England...
(2008) has posited that the Adamawa languages are a geographic grouping, not a language family, and has broken up its various branches in his proposal of the Savannas
Savanna languages
-External links:* – Blench* by Michael & Charlene Ayotte, 2002. SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 2002-048.* , Tourneaux...
family. He retained Boyd and Kleinewillinghöfer's Leko–Nimbari and Mbum–Day families, but gave them no special connection to each other. The Waja–Jen branch he reduced to G7, G9, & G10; the Waja languages are reassigned with the Kam isolate. Fali is excluded from Savannas altogether. The placement of Baa is not clear.
Unclassified Adamawa languages
The Oblo languageOblo language
Oblo is a poorly attested, unclassified, and possibly extinct language of northern Cameroon. It was assumed to be one of the Adamawa languages, but hasn't been included in recent classifications....
of Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
is agreed to belong to the Adamawa group, but its position within Adamawa is as yet unclear. It has been speculated that the unclassified Laal language
Laal language
Laal is an unclassified language spoken by 749 people in three villages in the Moyen-Chari prefecture of Chad on opposite banks of the Chari River,...
of Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
may be Adamawa; the Jalaa language
Jalaa language
Jalaa Centúúm or Cen Tuum is an endangered language of northeastern Nigeria , of uncertain origins...
of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
is probably not Adamawa, but shows heavy Adamawa influence.
External links
- List of Adamawa languages – Blench
- Tula-Wiyaa languages – Blench
- Leeko group – Blench
- The Perema (Wom) language of northeastern Nigeria: classification, phonology and noun morphology (PDF) by Roger M. Blench, 2000. Mallam Dendo, Cambridge.
- A rapid appraisal survey of Gbete (PDF) by Jason Diller & Kari Jordan-Diller, 2002. SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 2002-050.
- A sociolinguistic survey of the Mambay language of Chad and Cameroon (PDF) by Cameron Hamm, 2002. SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 2002-039.
- Rapid appraisal and lexicostatistical analysis surveys of Dama, Mono, Pam, Ndai and Oblo (PDF) by Michael & Charlene Ayotte, 2002. SIL Electronic Survey Reports SILESR 2002-048.
- Karang – SIL-Cameroon
- SIL-Cameroon bibliography
- Langue kim
- Langue tupuri
- Vocabulaires comparés des instruments aratoires dans le Nord-Cameroun, Tourneaux