West Chadic languages

{{Short description|Afro-Asiatic language branch of West Africa}}

{{Infobox language family |name = West Chadic |region = Niger, Nigeria |familycolor = Afro-Asiatic |fam2 = Chadic |glotto = west2785 |glottorefname = West Chadic |child1 = A.1: Hausa–Gwandara |child2 = A.2: Bole–Tangale |child3 = A.3: Angas |child4 = A.4: Ron |child5 = B.1: Bade |child6 = B.2: Warji |child7 = B.3: Barawa |map = West Chadic Languages.jpg |mapcaption = West Chadic per Newman (1977) }}

The '''West Chadic languages''' of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken principally in Niger and Nigeria. They include Hausa, the most populous Chadic language and a major language of West Africa.

==Languages== The branches of West Chadic go either by names or by letters and numbers in an outline format.<ref>Blench, Roger. 2006. [http://rogerblench.info/Language/Afroasiatic/General/AALIST.pdf The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List] (ms)</ref>

{{tree list}} *'''West Chadic''' **'''Hausa–Gwandara''' (A.1): Hausa, Gwandara **'''Bole–Angas''' (?) ***'''Bole–Tangale''' (A.2) ****North (Bole proper): Bure, Karekare, Bole, Gera, Geruma, Deno, Galambu, Giiwo, Kubi, Ngamo, Maaka (Maagha), Ɓeele, Daza (Dazawa), ?Pali ****South (Tangale): Kwaami, Pero, Piya-Kwonci, Kholok, Nyam, Kushi (Goji), Kutto (Kupto), Tangale, Dera (Kanakuru) ***'''Angas''' ('''Central West Chadic'''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Blench|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Blench|date=2019|title=Jakato: an undocumented language of Central Nigeria|url=https://www.academia.edu/40680338}}</ref>) (A.3)<ref name="Blench2017">Blench, Roger. 2017. [https://www.academia.edu/35507157/CURRENT_RESEARCH_ON_THE_A3_WEST_CHADIC_LANGUAGES Current research on the A3 West Chadic languages].</ref> ****Ngasic: Ngas (Angas), Belnəng ****Mwaghavulic: Mwaghavul, Mupun (Mapun), Takas (Toos); Cakfem-Mushere ****Miship (Chip) ****Pan cluster *****Chakato/Jorto *****Jipal, Mernyang (Mirriam), Kwagallak, Kofyar (Doemak), Bwol, Goram, Jibyal ****Nteng ****Tel (Tɛɛl, Montol) ****Talic: Tal, Pyapun, Koenoem ****Goemaic: Goemai ****Yiwom (Ywom, Gerka)<ref name="Blench2017"/> ***'''Ron''' (A.4):<ref>Blench, Roger. [https://www.academia.edu/9598030/Comparative_Ron_wordlist Comparative Ron wordlist].</ref> Fyer, Tambas, Ron (Bokkos, Daffo-Butura, Mangar, Monguna), Shagawu, Duhwa (Karfa), Kulere (Tof, Richa, Kamwai-Marhai), Mundat, Sha **'''Bade–Warji''' (?) ***'''Bade''' (B.1): Duwai; Bade, Shira (†), Ngizim, Teshenawa (†), Auyokawa (†) ***'''Warji''' ('''North Bauchi'''<ref>Blench, Roger. 2012. ''[http://www.rogerblench.info/Archaeology/Africa/Background%20to%20the%20North%20Bauchi%20area.pdf Linguistic and cultural background to the North Bauchi region and the Wiihə people]''.</ref>) (B.2): Pa'a; Warji, Diri, Ciwogai, Kariya (Vinahə), Mburku, Miya, Siri, Zumbun (Jimbin), Ajawa (†) **'''Barawa''' ('''South Bauchi''') (B.3) ***'''Zaar''': Dass; Geji, Polci (Polchi), Saya, Zari, Zeem ***'''Guruntum''': Guruntum-Mbaaru, Ju, Tala, Zangwal ***'''Boghom''': Jimi, Jum; Boghom, Kir-Balar, Mangas {{tree list/end}}

In addition, Poki is purportedly West Chadic, but no data is available.

==Internal structure== George Starostin's (2010) internal classification of West Chadic<ref>Starostin, George. 2010. ''Afroasiatic classification: preliminary results of the modified glottochronological test''. Manuscript.</ref> as presented in Blažek (2010):<ref name="Blažek"/>

{{tree list}} *'''West Chadic''' **West Chadic A ***Hausa–Gwandara ***{{tree list/branching}} ****Ron ****Bole-Angas *****Bole–Tangale *****Angas–Sura **West Chadic B ***Bade–Ngizim ***Bauchi ****North Bauchi ****South Bauchi {{tree list/end}}

Roger Blench's (2021) internal classification of West Chadic:<ref>Blench, Roger. 2021. ''[https://www.academia.edu/46654471/The_erosion_of_number_marking_in_West_Chadic The erosion of number marking in West Chadic Roger Blench]''. WOCAL, Leiden.</ref>

{{tree list}} *'''West Chadic''' **Hausa–Gwandara **Core West Chadic ***Ron ***Bole–Tangale ***Bade–Ngizim ***North Bauchi ***South Bauchi, A3 (Central-West) {{tree list/end}}

==Distribution== Distributions of West Chadic branches:<ref name="BlenchAtlas4">{{Cite book|title=An Atlas of Nigerian Languages|last=Blench|first=Roger|publisher=Kay Williamson Educational Foundation|year=2019|edition=4th|isbn=|location=Cambridge|pages=}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" ! Branch !! Code !! Primary locations |+ '''Distributions of West Chadic branches'''<ref name="BlenchAtlas4"/> |- | Hausa–Gwandara || A1 || Northern Nigeria and Niger |- | Bole–Tangale || A2 || Darazo LGA, Bauchi State; Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Borno states |- | Angas || A3 || Shendam and Mangu LGAs, Plateau State |- | Ron || A4 || Mangu LGA, Plateau State |- | Bade || B1 || Bade LGA, Borno State |- | South Bauchi || B2 || Darazo and Ningi LGAs, Bauchi State |- | North Bauchi || B3 || Bauchi State (Toro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi LGAs) |}

==History of dispersal== Roger Blench (2022) suggests that West Chadic languages may have spread via a gradual agricultural dispersal in Central Nigeria, starting from 3,000–4,000 years ago. Blench notes that West Chadic morphology has been heavily influenced by Plateau languages, likely as a result of long-term intermarriage that occurred as West Chadic incomers took local wives who spoke Plateau languages.<ref name="West Chadic Plateau">Blench, Roger (2022). ''[https://www.academia.edu/89023379/Contact_between_West_Chadic_and_Plateau_languages_new_evidence_languages_new_evidence Contact between West Chadic and Plateau languages: new evidence languages: new evidence]''. 11–12 November 2022, presentation given at Universität Wien.</ref>

==Reconstruction== Although no full reconstruction of West Chadic has been published, reconstructions of numerals for West Chadic and its subgroups have been proposed by Václav Blažek (2018).<ref name="Blažek">Blažek, Václav. 2018. [https://www.academia.edu/38395395/ChadicWest_Numerals.pdf The numerals of West Chadic]. ''Topics in Chadic Linguistics IX''. Papers from the 8th Biennial International Colloquium on the Chadic Languages, Bayreuth, February 4–5, 2016.</ref>

==Phonology== The labial–velar consonants /kp/ and /gb/, widespread in Plateau and other Niger-Congo languages but uncommon in Chadic languages, can be found in Ron languages and in certain West Chadic A3 and Bole-Tangale languages. These consonants were borrowed from Plateau languages due to intensive long-term contact. However, other phonological features typical of Plateau and Niger-Congo languages such as ATR and vowel harmony are not found in West Chadic languages.<ref name="West Chadic Plateau"/>

==Numerals== Comparison of numerals in individual languages:<ref name="ChanNumeralsAA">{{Cite web|url=https://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/channumerals/Afro-Asiatic.htm|title=The Afro-Asiatic Language Phylum|last=Chan|first=Eugene|publisher=Numeral Systems of the World's Languages|date=2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%" ! Classification !! Language !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 |- | A, A.1 || Gwandara || da || bi || úkù / úɡú (Nimbia dialect) || huru / furu (Nimbia dialect) || bìyàri / bìyàr (Nimbia dialect) || ʃídà / ʃídə́ (Nimbia dialect) || bákwè / boʔo (Nimbia dialect) || tákùʃì / táɡə́r (Nimbia dialect) || tárà / tãrã (Nimbia dialect) || ɡóm̀ / ɡóŋ̀ / ɡwóm (Nim. dialect) |- | A, A.1 || Hausa || ɗájá || bíjú || ʔúkù / ʔúkkù (West Hausa) || fúɗú || bìjár || ʃídà / ʃíddà (West Hausa) || bákwài || tákwàs || tárà || ɡóːmà |- | A, A.2, Bole || Bele || móoɗì || bòló || kùnú || fòɗɗó || bàaɗì || bàccímóoɗì || báawùló || ɓóorùɗó (2 x 4) || ɓòowùnò || bìmbáɗí |- | A, A.2, Bole, Karekare || Karekare || wáɗí || bèːlú || kúːnùː || fèːɗú || bàːɗú || bàcóːɗì (5 + 1) || bàcíbèːlú (5 + 2) || fífèːɗú (2 x 4) || ɓànnù || mbáɗ |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Bole || móoɗì || bòláu || kúnùm || pòɗɗó || bàɗì || bàššimóoɗì || báawúló || póorɗó (2 x 4) || ɓòonùm || bìmbáɗí |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Bure (Bubure) || móɗé || máló || kúnú || ʄóɗó || báɗé || básúmé || básùmáló (5+ 2) || ʄórʄóɗó (2 x 4) || ɓárdzìmóɗé (10–1) || bárbáɗè |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Galambu || múuri || m̀bàál || kúun || páryá || bòorí || bɪ́címɪ́n || bùcù m̀bàl (5+ 2) || hórró || bàryà múuri (10–1) || bár |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Gera || móóyi || mbùlú || kúnú || fúɗú || bàaɗì || bèeshím || bìccìmbùlú (5+ 2) || húrɗú || ɓànìnjà / barija || bàrɗí / barr |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Geruma || mô / mon || m̀bàalú / mbàalúŋ || kúnú / kúnúŋ || fúɗú / húɗúŋ || bàaɗì / bàalí || bècə́m || bàzə̀mbàalú (5+ 2) || húrɗú / úrɗúŋ || ɓár jà || ɓáráɗì / ɓárári |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Kholok (Widala) || ɗók || pèlòw || bùnùm || pèeròw || faàt / faàr || foòròmìnì || paàlìlàw || bìrbìròw / pìrpìròw || kómbóy || ɓùmmò |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Kirfi (Giiwo) || móoɗì || mbàlú || kúnú || fáɗáu || bòoɗ || bìccúuni || bìcímbàlu (5+ 2) || fórfáɗó (2 x 4) || bàr jà móoɗi (10–1) || pàtà |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Maaka || mōɗì || bòllu || kūǹ || paɗɗu || bà || bìnkinù || nɡā̀nù or bákwài (< Hausa) || jìlai || kwàlak || bìmba |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Ngamo || mòɗi || bòlò || kùnû || hɔ̀ɗò || bât || bàʔàʃìmòɗi (5 + 1) || babìlò (5 + 2) || hɔɔrɗò (2 x 4) || ɓònù || bimbaɗ (2 x 5) ? |- | A, A.2, Bole, Bole Proper || Nyam || mɔ̀dɔ́ || fùllúk || kùnúŋ || hɔ̀dúk || hwàt || fármé || fáró fùllúk (5 + 2) || húrú ɡùdùk (2 x 4) || láɡó mɔ̀dɔ́ (10–1) ? || kùumò (litː ' kumo ' = ear) |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Dera || Dera (Kanakuru) || ɗuwey || rap || kunu || paraw || bât || byême || bwelà || torìmen || wanɗumwe (10–1) || ɡûm |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale Proper || Kupto (Kutto) || ɗékkíré || fáláw/ páláw || kùnùŋ || fàɗàw / pàɗàw || fáat / páat || fáyɗìn / páyɗìn || fáyláw / páyláw || fàrfìɗòw || lèbìɗà || kómó |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale Proper || Kushi || ɗòk || pə̀llòw || tàat || péeròw || fwàt / fúwàt || fàràɡbànàŋ || fàrlów || pìdiɗòw || fɔ̀jèràw || kpèmù |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale Proper || Kwaami || múndí || póllów / fóllów || kúnúm || póɗòw / fóɗòw || páaɗí / fáaɗí || páyíndì / fáyíndì (5 + 1) || pópíllów / fófíllów (5 + 2) || pówùrɗòw / fówùrɗòw (2 x 4) ? || làmbáɗà || kúmó |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale Proper || Pero (Pipero) || ɗók || bélòw || ɡ͡bónòŋ || béeɗòw || púat / fwát || páttira múndi || páttira bélòw || bídìdow || kómpòy / kómvòy || kó / k͡púmmò |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale Proper || Piya || mùndí || pèelów || ɡbùnùm || pèeɗòw || fàat || pàtìrà mùndí (5 + 1) || pàtìrà pèelów (5 + 2) || pèdìpìɗów (2 x 4) ??? || kòmbòy || kùmmó |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale Proper || Po Tangale (1) || dɔk || ràp || kúnuŋ || pàdàó || fùwàt || pàíndì || pèláù || pàpádà (2 x 4) || làmbùdà || ɡ͡bɔmɔ |- | A, A.2, Tangale, Tangale Proper || Tangale (Shongom) (2) || dɔ́k || ráp || kúnúŋ || sɛ́rɛɪ̀ || pʊ́wàd || páyɪ̀nɗɪ́ || péelòu || párpàɗá (2 x 4) || lámɓɗà || ɡ͡bɔ́mɔ́ |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1 || Angas (Ngas) || ɡàk || báp || kʷán || fír || pɛ̀t || pìmí (5 + 1) || pòbáp (5 + 2) || pòkʷún (5 + 3) || pòfár (5 + 4) || sàr |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1 || Kofyar || mé || vəl || kún || féer || paàt || pèmə (5 + 1) || pòɡòvəl (5 + 2) || pòɡòkun (5 + 3) || pòɡòfár (5 + 4) || sàr |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1 || Miship (Chip) (1) || kəme || vəl || kun || feer || baat || pemee (5+ 1) || pokvəl (5+ 2) || pokkun (5+ 3) || pokfaar (5+ 4) || sár |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1 || Miship (Chip) (2) || me || vɨl || kun || fɛr || paàt || pemɛ (5+ 1) || pɔ̀ɡɔ̀vɨl (5+ 2) || pɔ̀ɡɔ̀kun (5+ 3) || pɔ̀ɡɔ̀far (5+ 4) || sə̀r |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1 || Cakfem-Mushere || kume || vel || kun || feer || paat || peemee (5+ 1) || feermeekum (4+ 3) ?? || feertiit (4 x 2) ?? || paatmeefeer (5+ 4) || kakapaat (5 x 2) ?? |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 1 || Mwaghavul (Mupun / Sura) || mə́ndòŋ || və́l || kún || féer || páat || péemè (5 + 1) || póvə̀l (5 + 2) || pòkún (5 + 3) || pòféer (5 + 4) || kàapàt və́l (5 x 2) ??? |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 2 || Goemai (Ankwe) || mée, ɡə̀mée || və́l || kún || fə́r || pʰá:t || pʰə̀mə́ (5 + 1) || pʰə̀və́l (5 + 2) || pʰùkún (5 + 3) || pʰə̀fár (5 + 4) || sár |- | A, A.3, Angas Proper, 2 || Tal || [mɛ́nɛ] || [vɨ́ɛ́l] || [kún] || [fɛi] || [pàːt] || [pɨ̀mɛ́] || [mɛ́fɛ́imɛ́kúːn] || [pàːfɛ́i] || [mɛ́ːpàː] || [sár] |- | A, A.4, Ron Proper || Ron (Daffo) || ɗaŋɡât || ful / fulál || yuhún || púʔ || hárá || makoŋ || melok || mafwaráʔ || yèlâm || hùrè |- | B, B.1, Duwai || Duwai || ɡùɗìyò || ʃirì || kô || fə̀ɗú || vā̀ɗ || ə̀jdə̀ɡərma || sə̀və̀sə̀ri / tlə̀və̀sə̀ri || ə̀jldàakò || wā̀rìyà || ɡùumà |- | B, B.1, Bade Proper || Bade || ɡàɗi || sərən || kwan || fəɗu || vàɗì || ə̀zdù || ɡatkasà || ɬədàakwà || warayà || ɡuumà |- | B, B.1, Bade Proper || Ngizim || kə́ɗə́n (counting), ɡàyí (enumat.) || ʃírín || kwán || fə́ɗú || vàaɗ || zə̀dù || ɡátkásà || dándàfə́ɗú (2 x 4) || kúɗkûvdà || ɡúmà |- | B, B.2 || Dira (Diri) || num || rɔp || mɪyaxkən || wupsɛ || nəmtəm || mukkə̀ || ŋyɪniŋɡì || wùzupsè (2 x 4) ? || vwanùm (10–1) ? || kwuɬ |- | B, B.2 || Miya || wútə̀ || tsə̀r || kìdi || fə̀ɗə || vàaɬə || màaha (5+1) ? || mààtsə̀r (5+2) || fə́rfəɗə (2 x 4) || kùcìyà || də́rɓitim |- | B, B.3 || Dass (of Dott) || nə̀m || rwáp || mààɣí || wùupsí || nàmtám || màamaɣ / muumáɣ || wúsúrmàɣè || wúsúpsì (2 x 4) || nàturə́psi / nàtàrə́psi || zùp |- | B, B.3, Boghom || Boghom || nyìm || ɓáap / pā́p / ɡbwàap || mói || múpsí || ndàuní / ndóoní || màak || nyàŋɡí || ɓóopsí || ʔáamsóyìm (10 -1) || ŋəmàs / wuur nyìm |- | B, B.3, Boghom || Mangas || nim || ɓíin || mween || ùpsi || tùun || màɣà || nyíŋɡi || ɡàamzi || kúrúmsa || zúp |- | B, B.3, Eastern || Jimi || nintóo || rwá || mwaikán / mwenkán || ihyú || namtáŋ / namtám || máakoo || inkóo || ɡuhyú (2 x 4) || kə́skəníntoo / kə́zə̀kə̀níntò (10 -1) || ndəɓóo / ɗúbó |- | B, B.3, Guruntum || Guruntum || ʃàak || raap || miyaŋ || ooso || kʸuwun || môon || nʸeene || ɡèesau || ɗáar || zùp |- | B, B.3, Guruntum || Zangwal (Zangur) || nə́m || kwáap || màyà || wúusù || nàmtàm || màaɡa || nyínìɡì || ʔáasuʔáasù (2 x 4) || áatə̀nə̀n || súp |- | B, B.3, Zaar Proper || Geji (Gyazi) (1) || nə̀m || lôp || mèkan || wupsì || nàmtan || mukkà || nitɡi || wùsupsì (2 x 4) ? || topsi || kuɬ |- | B, B.3, Zaar Proper || Geji (Gezawa) (2) || nɨ̀m || lôp || mèkən || wupsì || nə̀mtəŋ || mukkə̀ || nininɡi || wùsupsì (2 x 4) ? || nə̀topsi || kuɬ |- | B, B.3, Zaar Proper || Polci (Palci) || nɨ̀m || rǒp || miyèn || wupsɨ̀ || nə̀mtəm || maɣà || wusɨ̀rmìyen (4 + 3) ? || wɨsɨpsɨ̀ (2 x 4) ? || nàtoropsɨ̀ || zup |- | B, B.3, Zaar Proper || Saya || nàmbə́ŋ || mbə̀ɬíŋ || máajìi || wúpsə̀ || nândə̀m || lîim || wátsə̀maí || tántán || tɔ́knándə́m || zúp |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://aflang.humanities.ucla.edu/language-materials/chadic-languages/yobe/ The Yobe Languages Research Project] by the late Russell G. Schuh of UCLA * [http://africanlanguages.org/chadic_west.html West Chadic resources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524073609/http://www.africanlanguages.org/chadic_west.html |date=2011-05-24 }} at africanlanguages.org

Category:Chadic languages Category:West Chadic languages Category:Languages of Nigeria