# Kwanka language

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kwanka_language
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kwanka_language.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanka_language
> Source revision: 1278936608
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Dialect of Nigeria}}
{{distinguish|Kadung language (Chad)}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Kadung
|altname=Kadun
|nativename=
|states=[Nigeria](/source/Nigeria)
|region=[Plateau State](/source/Plateau_State), [Bauchi State](/source/Bauchi_State)
|speakers=20,000 
|date=2003
|ref=e18
|familycolor=Niger-Congo
|fam2=[Atlantic–Congo](/source/Atlantic%E2%80%93Congo_languages)
|fam3=[Volta–Congo](/source/Volta%E2%80%93Congo_languages)
|fam4=[Benue–Congo](/source/Benue%E2%80%93Congo_languages)
|fam5=[Plateau](/source/Plateau_languages)
|fam6=[Tarokoid](/source/Tarokoid_languages)
|dia1=Kadung (Kadun)
|dia2=Ya (Boi)
|dia3=Bijim (incl. Legeri)
|lc1=jbm |ld1=Bijim
|lc2=dkg |ld2=Kadung 
|lc3=tyy |ld3=Tiyaa
|glotto=vagh1247
|glottorefname=Vaghat-Ya-Bijim-Legeri
}}

'''Kadung''', or '''Kadun''' (Kwaŋ), is a [dialect cluster](/source/dialect_cluster) of [Plateau languages](/source/Plateau_languages) in Nigeria.

==Varieties==
{{Infobox ethnonym|Vaghat|Avaghat|Tivaghat|root=Vaghat}}
{{Infobox ethnonym|Ya|Aya|Tiya|root=Ya}}

Kadung or Kadun is the main variety. Others are Ya (''Tiyaa'') and Bijim.

Vaghat is perceived as distinct from Kadung. Mutual intelligibility between Vaghat/Kadung, Ya and Bijim is fairly low. Kadung and Bijim are more closely related to each other, while Yaa is more divergent.<ref>Blench, Roger. 2023. ''The Sur-Myet (Tapshin) language of Central Nigeria and its affinities''. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.</ref>

Kadung and Ya are endonyms, with loconyms Kadung and Kadun and Boi for Ya.

==Distribution==
The main settlements are Chinpyàk, Kwànkà, Làrkà, Bùkòʃì, Wùyà, Gileŋ, Kùmbùl, Kaduŋ, Wùʃìmà, ɗə̀kdèy, Kwándarì, Rɔ̀k, Jàrkàn, Dùfyàm, Amusha, and others. They are located in [Pankshin](/source/Pankshin) LGA and [Mangu](/source/Mangu%2C_Nigeria) LGA, [Plateau State](/source/Plateau_State). Surrounding languages are [Mwaghavul](/source/Mwaghavul_language), [Ngas](/source/Ngas_language), [Pyem](/source/Pyem_language), and [Fulani](/source/Fulani_language).<ref>Blench, Roger. 2021. ''[https://www.academia.edu/49231501/The_Kwa%C5%8B_language_of_Central_Nigeria_and_its_affinities The Kwaŋ language of Central Nigeria and its affinities]''.</ref>

===Vaghat===
{{See also|Vaghat people}}
The Vaghat originally lived in the following hill settlements in [Tafawa Balewa](/source/Tafawa_Balewa%2C_Bauchi) and [Bogoro](/source/Bogoro) LGAs in southwestern [Bauchi State](/source/Bauchi_State).<ref name="Vaghat language">Blench, Roger. 2022. ''[https://www.academia.edu/67521000/Introduction_to_Vaghat_language Introduction to Vaghat language]''. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.</ref>

*Akusha
*Anjere (no longer inhabited)
*Aruti
*Dala
*Goŋzi
*Gwoɓi (no longer inhabited). There is a cave where the skulls of Vaghat ancestors are kept.
*Kaduk (no longer inhabited)
*Kudal (central village where the chief lived)
*Kwafa
*Maŋgar
*Yaghap
*Yalas
*Yaŋ
*Yɔghɔs (Yaush)
*Yise
*Zhindir

Today, the Vaghat have also moved to many towns and settlements spread across [Bauchi State](/source/Bauchi_State), [Plateau State](/source/Plateau_State), and [Kaduna State](/source/Kaduna_State) (mostly near [Zaria](/source/Zaria)).<ref name="Vaghat language"/>

Vaghat highland clans are: Āyàlàs, Àyìtūr, Àtòròk, Āyīpàɣí, Āyīgònì, Àyàkdàl, Àyánàvēr, Āyàtōl, Àyàʒíkʔìn, Àyìʤìlìŋ, Áyàshàlà, and Àzàrā.<ref name="Vaghat religion"/>

Vaghat lowland clans are: Āyàlàs, Àyàkdàl, Àyàʒíkʔìn, Àyàgwàr, and Àyàgyēr.<ref name="Vaghat religion"/>

The Vaghat people also have a cave in a mountain where they keep the skulls of their ancestors.<ref name="Vaghat religion">Blench, Roger. 2022. ''[https://www.academia.edu/66847818/Skull_cults_and_soul_arrows_the_religion_of_the_Vaghat_people Skull-cults and soul arrows: the religion of the Vaghat people]''. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.</ref>

==Further reading==
* Blench, Roger. 2021. ''[https://www.academia.edu/49231501/The_Kwa%C5%8B_language_of_Central_Nigeria_and_its_affinities The Kwaŋ language of Central Nigeria and its affinities]''. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
* Blench, Roger. 2022. ''[https://www.academia.edu/67521000/Introduction_to_Vaghat_language The Vaghat language of Central Nigeria]''. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
* Blench, Roger. 2022. ''[https://www.academia.edu/66847818/Skull_cults_and_soul_arrows_the_religion_of_the_Vaghat_people Skull-cults and soul arrows: the religion of the Vaghat people]''. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Platoid languages}}
Category:Tarokoid languages
Category:Languages of Nigeria

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kwanka language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanka_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanka_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.