Firan
NativenameFəràn, Fɨràn
RegionPlateau State
StatesNigeria
Speakers5,000
Date2019
Refe25
FamilycolorNiger-Congo
Fam 2Atlantic–Congo
Fam 3Benue–Congo
Fam 4Plateau
Fam 5Central ?
Fam 6Izeric
Iso 3fir
Glottofira1238
GlottorefnameFiran
Firan language
Personyes Fɨràn
Peopleyes Bèfɨràn
LanguageFɨràn
RootFɨràn[1]

Firan or Fəràn (also Ibaas) is a Plateau language[2] closely related to Izere. Most Firan speakers are multilingual in Firan, Hausa, English, Iten and sometimes Berom.[3]

Phonology

Consonants

Consonants of Firan [SIL][3]
BilabialLabiodentalAlveolarPostalveolarPalatalVelarLabialvelarGlottal
Plosiveb pd tɡ kɡ͡b k͡p
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Sibilant affricatedz tsd̠ʒ t̠ʃ
Sibilant fricativez s ʃ
Non-sibilant fricative ɸv f ç ɣ h
Approximant j w
Tap/flap ɾ
Trill r
Lateral approximant l
Consonants of Firan [Blench][4]
BilabialLabiodentalAlveolarPostalveolarPalatalVelarLabialvelarGlottal
Plosiveb pd tɡ kɡ͡b k͡p
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Sibilant affricatetsd̠ʒ t̠ʃ
Sibilant fricativez~dz s ʃ
Non-sibilant fricativef h
Approximant j ɥ w
Tap/flap ɾ
Lateral approximant l

/Cj/ and /Cw/ sequences are permitted but are uncommon

Vowels

Vowels of Firan [SIL][3]
FrontNear-frontCentralNear-backBack
Close i ɨ u
Near-close ɪ ʊ
Close-mid e o
Mid ə
Open-mid ɛɜ/ə ɔ
Opena/ɑ
Vowels of Firan [Blench][4]
FrontNear-frontCentralNear-backBack
Close i ɨ u
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Opena

Tones

There are 5 tones -- high, mid, low, rising and falling. The rising and falling tones are described as 'aris[ing] from sequences of level tones', but it is not clear what is meant by that, as there are no long vowels in the language.[4]

References

  1. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages. 4th ed. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "A Sociolinguistic Profile of the Firan [fir] Language of Plateau State, Nigeria". SIL International. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ Roger Blench, 2024, Introduction to a preliminary dictionary of the Fɨran language of Central Nigeria

Further reading