# Nupoid languages > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nupoid_languages > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Nupoid_languages.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nupoid_languages > Source revision: 1351227176 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Branch of volta-Niger African language}} {{Infobox language family |name=Nupoid |region=[Central Nigeria](/source/Middle_Belt); along the [Niger River](/source/Niger_River) from the confluence of the [Benue](/source/Benue_River) and north |familycolor=Niger-Congo |fam2=[Atlantic–Congo](/source/Atlantic%E2%80%93Congo) |fam3=[Volta–Niger](/source/Volta%E2%80%93Niger) |fam4={{sm|noi}} |child1=Ebira–Gade |child2=Nupe–Gbagyi |glotto=nupo1239 |glottorefname=Nupoid }} The '''Nupoid languages''' are a branch of [Volta–Niger](/source/Volta%E2%80%93Niger) spoken in west-central [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria), particularly in southeastern [Niger State](/source/Niger_State) and northern [Kogi State](/source/Kogi_State). They include the [Nupe](/source/Nupe_language), and [Ebira](/source/Ebira_language) languages, each with about 4 million speakers. Most Nupoid languages have 3 level tones.Blench, Roger. 2013. [http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/VN/Nupoid/Nupoid%20Overview%202013.pdf The Nupoid languages of west-central Nigeria: overview and comparative word list]. ==Languages== Roger Blench (2013: 4) classifies the Nupoid languages as follows. {{tree list}} *'''Nupoid''' **Ebira–Gade ***[Ebira](/source/Ebira_language) ***[Gade](/source/Gade_language) **Nupe–Gbagyi ***[Gwari](/source/Gwari_language) (Gbagyi, Gbari) ***Nupe ****[Asu](/source/Asu_language_(Nigeria)) ****Core Nupe *****Nupe cluster ******[Nupe](/source/Nupe_language) (Nupe–Nupe-Tako) ******[Dibo](/source/Dibo_language) *****Gupa cluster ******[Gupa-Abawa](/source/Gupa-Abawa_language) ******[Kakanda](/source/Kakanda_language) ******[Kami](/source/Kami_language) ******[Kupa](/source/Kupa_language) {{tree list/end}} In addition, [Koro Zuba](/source/Koro_Zuba_language) is close to Dibo.{{Cite web |title=ISO 639-3 Registration Authority Request for New Language Code Element in ISO 639-3 |url=https://iso639-3.sil.org/sites/iso639-3/files/change_requests/2020/2020-032_vkz.pdf |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=iso639-3.sil.org}} ==Names and locations== Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).{{Cite book|title=An Atlas of Nigerian Languages|last=Blench|first=Roger|publisher=Kay Williamson Educational Foundation|year=2019|edition=4th|location=Cambridge}} {| class="wikitable sortable" | style="font-size: 75%;" | ! Language !! Cluster !! Dialects !! Alternate spellings !! Own name for language !! [Endonym](/source/Endonym)(s) !! Other names (location-based) !! Other names for language !! [Exonym](/source/Exonym)(s) !! Speakers !! Location(s) |- | [Dibo](/source/Dibo_language) || || || || Dibo || Dibo || || Shitako, Zitako, Zhitako || Ganagawa, Ganagana || 4 18,200 (1931 DF); estimate more than 100,000 (1990) – an unknown number of Dibo living among the Gbari no longer speak their own language. || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Lapai LGA; Federal Capital Territory; [Nasarawa State](/source/Nasarawa_State), Nasarawa LGA |- | '''''Nupe–Nupe Tako cluster''''' || Nupe–Nupe Tako || Central Nupe has become the accepted literary form. || || || || || BassaNge|| || 360,000 (1952); 1,000,000 (1987 UBS) may include closely related languages || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Lavun, Mariga, Gbako, Agaie, and Lapai LGAs; [Kwara State](/source/Kwara_State), Edu and Kogi LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; [Kogi State](/source/Kogi_State), Bassa LGA. Lokoja |- | [Nupe (Central)](/source/Nupe_language) || Nupe–Nupe Tako || || Nife, Nyffe, Anupe || Nupe || Nupe || Nupe Central || Ampeyi, Anupecwayi, Anuperi, Tappah, Takpa, Tapa, Nupenci, Nupencizi || Anufawa, Nyffe || 283,000 (1931 DF); estimated 1,000,000 (2000) || |- | [Nupe Tako](/source/Nupe_language) || Nupe–Nupe Tako || || || || || || Ibara || Basa Nge || 19,100 (1931 DF) || [Kogi State](/source/Kogi_State), Bassa LGA, [Kwara State](/source/Kwara_State) |- | [Gade](/source/Gade_language) || || || Gede || Gade || Gade || || || || 60,000 (Sterk 1977) || [Federal Capital Territory](/source/Federal_Capital_Territory); [Nasarawa State](/source/Nasarawa_State), Nasarawa LGA |- | '''''[Ebira](/source/Ebira_language) cluster''''' || Ebira || || Igbirra, Igbira, Egbira, Egbura || || || || || || 154,500 (1952 P.Bruns), 500,000 (1980 UBS); about 1M (1989 Adive)Adive, John R. 1989. The verbal piece in Ebira. Arlington: Summer Institute of Linguistics and University of Texas, Arlington. || [Kwara State](/source/Kwara_State), Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs; [Nasarawa State](/source/Nasarawa_State), Nasarawa LGA; [Edo State](/source/Edo_State), Akoko–Edo LGA |- | [Okene](/source/Okene_language) || Ebira || || || || || || || || || [Kwara State](/source/Kwara_State), Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs |- | [Etuno](/source/Etuno_language) || Ebira || || tụnọ || || || || || Igara || || [Edo State](/source/Edo_State), Akoko–Edo LGA, Igara town |- | [Koto](/source/Okpoto_language_(Nupoid)) || Ebira || || || || || || || Igu (Egu, Ika, Bira, Birĩ, Panda || || [FCT Abuja](/source/FCT_Abuja), Abaji AAC,[Nasarawa State](/source/Nasarawa_State), Nasarawa LGA, Toto LGA and Umasha/Opanda towns, [Kogi State](/source/Kogi_State), Koton Karfe LGA |- | [Gbagyi](/source/Gbagyi_language) || || A spread of lects not clearly defined but the variation represented here by town names: Vwezhi, Ngenge (Genge, Gyange), or Tawari, Kuta, Diko, Karu, Louome, Kaduna || || || Ibagyi, Gbagye || East Gwari, Gwari Matai || Gwari || || 200,000 (1952 G&C) including Gbari; 250,000 (1985 UBS) || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Rafi, Chanchaga, Shiroro and Suleija LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; [Kaduna State](/source/Kaduna_State), Kachia LGA; [Nasarawa State](/source/Nasarawa_State), Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs |- | [Gbagyi Nkwa](/source/Gbagyi_Nkwa_language) || || || || Gbagyi || Gbagyi || || || || more than 50,000 (1989 est.) || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Rafi LGA |- | [Gbari](/source/Gbari_language) || || A spread of lects are named according to town names: Botai, Jezhu, Konge, Kwange (Agbawi, Wake, Wĩ Wahe, or Kwali, Paiko, Izom, Gayegi, Yamma (Gwari Gamma); other lects are also based on river locations: Shigokpna, Zubakpna, Abokpna, Sumwakpna || || || || Gwari Yamma, West Gwari || || || 200,000 (1952 G&C) including Gbagyi || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Chanchaga, Suleija, Agaie and Lapai LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; [Kaduna State](/source/Kaduna_State), Kachia LGA; [Nasarawa State](/source/Nasarawa_State), Nasarawa LGA |- | [Gupa–Abawa](/source/Gupa-Abawa_language) || || Gupa, Abawa || || || || || || || estimated more than 10,000 Gupa and 5,000 Abawa (1989) || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Lapai LGA around Gupa and Edzu villages |- | [Kami](/source/Kami_language) || || || || || || || || || more than 5000 (Blench 1989 est.) || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Lapai LGA, Ebo town & 11 villages |- | [Asu](/source/Asu_language_(Nigeria)) || || || || Asu || Asu || Abewa || Ebe || || 5000 (Blench 1987) || [Niger State](/source/Niger_State): Mariga LGA: several villages south of Kontagora on the Mokwa road |- | [Kakanda](/source/Kakanda_language) || Kakanda || Kakanda–Budon, Kakanda–Gbanmi/Sokun || Akanda || || || || Hyabe, Adyaktye || || 4,500 (1931); 20,000 (1989 Blench) || [Kwara State](/source/Kwara_State), Kogi LGA; [Niger State](/source/Niger_State), Agaie and Lapai LGAs; communities along the Niger centered on Bida) |- | [Kupa](/source/Kupa_language) || || || || || || || || || || [Kwara State](/source/Kwara_State), Kogi LGA, around Abugi (52 villages) |} ==Reconstructions== The following Proto-Nupoid reconstructions are from Blench (2013). {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Gloss !! Proto-Nupoid |- | tree || *ɔ́ʧĩ́ |- | leaf || #avini |- | charcoal || *ekana |- | sand || *mu-ʒin |- | smoke || *àmʷú |- | fire || *n-ra |- | wind || *efè |- | rain || *ègbã |- | to sharpen || *rɛ́ |- | elephant || *-dogba |- | buffalo || *ɛ̀ya; *ʊ̀-fá (?) |- | ''[Dioscorea guineensis](/source/Dioscorea)'' || *iti |- | ''[Colocasia esculenta](/source/Colocasia_esculenta)'' ([cocoyam](/source/taro)) || *-koko |- | ''[Sorghum bicolor](/source/Sorghum_bicolor)'' (guinea corn, [sorghum](/source/sorghum)) || *àkwʊ́ |- | one || *ɔ̀ɲɪ |- | three || *ɛ̀tá |- | four || *ɛ̀ɲi |- | five || *ɛ̀tsun |- | six || *twaɲi |- | seven || *ǹtwaba |- | ten || *ɛ̀bwʊ́n |} Some Proto-Nupe-Gbari crop name reconstructions are (Blench 2013): {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Gloss !! Proto-Nupe-Gbari |- | ''[Pennisetum americanum](/source/Pennisetum_americanum)'' (long-season [millet](/source/millet)) || *màkwú |- | ''[Pennisetum americanum](/source/Pennisetum_americanum)'' (short-season millet) || *sàkwú; *kpàyì |- | ''[Digitaria exilis](/source/Digitaria_exilis)'' || *-furu |} ==References== {{reflist}} {{CC-notice|cc=by3|url=https://rogerblench.info/}} ==External links== *[http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/VN/Nupoid/NupOP.htm Nupoid materials] ([Roger Blench](/source/Roger_Blench)) {{Volta-Niger languages}} {{Niger-Congo branches}} Category:Nupoid languages Category:Volta–Niger languages --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nupoid languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nupoid_languages) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nupoid_languages?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.