Benue–Congo languages

Major subdivision of the Niger–Congo language family

Benue–Congo

East Benue–Congo
Geographic
distribution| Africa, from Nigeria eastwards and southwards
Linguistic classification| Niger–Congo?

* Atlantic–Congo
* Volta–Congo
* Benue–Congo

Subdivisions|

* Bantoid
* Cross River
* Defoid
* Jukunoid
* Kainji
* Plateau
* Ukaan
* Fali of Baissa
* Tita

Glottolog| benu1247

The Benue–Congo languages shown within the Niger–Congo language family. Non-Benue–Congo languages are greyscale.

Benue–Congo (sometimes called East Benue–Congo) is a major branch of the Volta-Congo languages which covers most of Sub-Saharan Africa.

## Subdivisions[edit]

Central Nigerian (or Platoid) contains the Plateau, Jukunoid and Kainji families, and Bantoid–Cross combines the Bantoid and Cross River groups.

Bantoid is only a collective term for every subfamily of Bantoid–Cross except Cross River, and this is no longer seen as forming a valid branch, however one of the subfamilies, Southern Bantoid, is still considered valid. It is Southern Bantoid which contains the Bantu languages, which are spoken across most of Sub-Saharan Africa. This makes Benue–Congo one of the largest subdivisions of the Niger–Congo language family, both in number of languages, of which Ethnologue counts 976 (2017), and in speakers, numbering perhaps 350 million. Benue–Congo also includes a few minor isolates in the Nigeria–Cameroon region, but their exact relationship is uncertain.

The neighbouring Volta–Niger branch of Nigeria and Benin is sometimes called "West Benue–Congo", but it does not form a united branch with Benue–Congo. When Benue–Congo was first proposed by Joseph Greenberg (1963), it included Volta–Niger (as West Benue–Congo); the boundary between Volta–Niger and Kwa has been repeatedly debated. Blench (2012) states that if Benue–Congo is taken to be "the noun-class languages east and north of the Niger", it is likely to be a valid group, though no demonstration of this has been made in print.[1]

The Benue–Congo branches of Nigeria and Cameroon

The branches of the Benue–Congo family are thought to be as follows:

* Bantoid–Cross languages
* Cross River
* Northern Bantoid
* Southern Bantoid
* Central Nigerian languages, also known as Platoid
* Jukunoid
* Kainji
* Plateau

Ukaan is also related to Benue–Congo; Roger Blench suspects it might be either the most divergent (East) Benue–Congo language or the closest relative to Benue–Congo.

Fali of Baissa and Tita are also Benue–Congo but are otherwise unclassified.

The Benue-Congo homeland and dispersal of the sub-branches[2]

## Branches and locations (Nigeria)[edit]

Below is a list of major Benue–Congo branches and their primary locations (centres of diversity) within Nigeria based on Blench (2019).[3]

Distributions of Benue–Congo branches in Nigeria[3] Branch | Primary locations

|

Cross River | Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers States
Bendi | Obudu and Ogoja LGAs, Cross River State
Mambiloid | Sardauna LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Dakoid | Mayo Belwa LGA, Taraba State and adjacent areas
Jukunoid | Taraba State
Yukubenic | Takum LGA, Taraba State
Kainji | Kauru LGA, Kaduna State and Bassa LGA, Plateau State; Kainji Lake area
Plateau | Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States
Tivoid | Obudu LGA, Cross River State and Sardauna LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Beboid | Takum LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Ekoid | Ikom and Ogoja LGAs, Cross River State; Cameroon
Grassfields | Sardauna LGA, Taraba State; Cameroon
Jarawan | Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, and Taraba States

## Comparative vocabulary[edit]

Sample basic vocabulary for reconstructed proto-languages of different Benue-Congo branches:

Branch | Language | eye | ear | nose | tooth | tongue | mouth | blood | bone | tree | water | eat | name

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Benue-Congo | Proto-Benue-Congo[4] | *-lito | *-tuŋi | *-zua | *-nini, *-nino; *-sana; *-gaŋgo | *-lemi; *-lake |  | *-zi; *-luŋ | *-kupe | *-titi; *-kwon | *-izi; *-ni |  | *-zina
Kainji | Proto-Northern Jos[5] | **iji (lì-/à-) | *toŋ (ù-/tì-) | *nyimu (bì-/ì-) | *ʔini (lì-/à-) | *lelem (lì-/à-) | *nua (ù-/tì-) | *nyì(aw) (mà-) |  | *ti (with reduplication) (ù-/tì-) | *nyi (mà-) | *lia | *ji(a) (lì-/sì-)
Plateau | Proto-Jukunoid[6] | *giP (ri-/a-) | *tóŋ (ku-/a-) | *wíǹ (ri-/a-) | *baŋ (ku-/a-); *gyín (ri-/a-) | *déma (ri-/a-) | *ndut (u-/i-) | *yíŋ (ma-) | *kup (ku-/a-) | *kun (ku-/i-) | *mbyed | *dyi | *gyin (ri-/a-)
Plateau | Proto-Kagoro[7] | *-gi | *-two |  | *nii[ŋ] | *-dyam | *-nu[ŋ] | *-suok | *-kup | *-kwan | *-sii |  |
Plateau | Proto-Jaba[7] | *gu-su | *gu-to[ŋ] |  | *-gi[ŋ] | *ga-lem | *ga-nyu | *ba-zi | *gu-kup |  |  |  |
Plateau | Proto-Beromic[7] | *-gis | *-toŋ |  | *-ɣiŋ | *-lyam | *-nu | *nì-ji | *-kup | *-kon | *-sii |  |
Plateau | Proto-Ninzic[7] | *ki-sị́ | *ku-tóŋ |  | *ki-Nyin / *-Nyir | *ì-rem | *-nuŋ / *-n[y]uŋ | *ma-ɣì | *kù-kụp | *ù-kon | *a-ma-sit |  |
Cross | Proto-Upper Cross[8] | *dyèná | *-ttóŋ(ì) | *dyòná | *-ttân | *-dák | *-mà | *-dè; *-yìŋ | *-kúpà | *-tté | *-nì | *dyá | *-dínà
Cross | Proto-Lower Cross[9] | *ɛ́-ɲɛ̀n / *a- | *ú-tɔ́ŋ / *a- | *í-búkó | *é-dɛ̀t / *a- | *ɛ́-lɛ́mɛ̀ / *a- | *í-núà | *-ɟìːp | *ɔ́-kpɔ́ | *é-tíé | *ˊ-mɔ́ːŋ | *líá | *ɛ́-ɟɛ́n
Cross | Proto-Ogoni[10] | *adɛ́ɛ̃ | *ɔ̀tɔ́̃ | *m̀ bĩɔ́̃ | *àdáNa | *àdídɛ́Nɛ́ |  | *m̀ miNi, *m̀ muNu | *ákpogó | *èté | m̀ mṹṹ | *dè | *àbée
Grassfields | Proto-Grassfields[11] | *Ít` | *túŋ-li | *L(u)Í` | *sòŋ´ | *lím` | *cùl` | *lém`; *cÌ´ | *gÚp; *kúi(n)´ | *tí´ | *LÍb; *kÌ´; *mò´ | *lÍa | *lÍn`; *kúm
Grassfields | Proto-Ring[12] | *túɛ̀ | *túndé | *dúì, *tɔ́ŋ | *túŋɔ̀, *góìk | *dɔ́mì, *dídè | *dúɔ̀ | *dúŋá, *káŋù | *gúpɛ́ | *kák`, *tíɛ́ | *múɔ̀ | *dúɛ̀ | *dítɔ́, *gíd'
Bantu | Proto-Bantu[13] | *i=jíco | *kʊ=tʊ́i | *i=jʊ́lʊ | *i=jíno; *i=gego | *lʊ=lɪ́mi | *ka=nʊa; *mʊ=lomo | *ma=gilá; *=gil-a; *ma=gadí; *=gadí; *mʊ=lopa; *ma=ɲínga | *i=kúpa | *mʊ=tɪ́ | *ma=jíjɪ; *i=diba (HH?) | *=lɪ́ -a | *i=jína
Bantu | Swahili | jicho | sikio | pua | jino | ulimi | kinywa | damu (Ar.) | mfupa | mti | maji | la | jina

## See also[edit]

* List of Proto-Benue-Congo reconstructions (Wiktionary)
* Systematic graphic of the Niger–Congo languages with numbers of speakers

## References[edit]

1. ^ Roger Blench, Niger-Congo: an alternative view
2. ^ Watters JR (2018). Watters, John R (eds.). East Benue-Congo: Nouns, pronouns, and verbs (pdf). Berlin: Language Science Press. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1314306. ISBN 978-3-96110-100-9.
3. ^ a b Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
4. ^ de wolf, Paul. 1971. The Noun-Class System of Proto-Benue-Congo. Janua Linguarum. Series Practica 167. The Hague: Mouton.
5. ^ Shimizu, Kiyoshi (1982). "Die Nord-Jos-Grüppe der Plateau-Sprachen Nigerias". Afrika und Übersee (in German). 65 (2): 161–210. ISSN 0002-0427.
6. ^ Shimizu, Kiyoshi. 1980. Comparative Jukunoid, 3 vols. (Veröffentlichungen der Institute für Afrikanistik und Ägyptologie der Universität Wien 7–9. Beiträge zur Afrikanistik 5–7). Vienna: Afro-Pub.
7. ^ a b c d Gerhardt, Ludwig (1983). Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen des Nigerianischen Plateaus. Afrikanistische Forschungen (in German). Vol. 9\. Glückstadt: J. J. Augustin. ISBN 3-87030-062-0.
8. ^ Dimmendaal, Gerrit J. (1978). The Consonants of Proto-Upper Cross and their Implications for the Classification of the Upper Cross Languages (PhD). Leiden University. OCLC 37049861.
9. ^ Connell, Bruce. n.d. Comparative Lower Cross wordlist. Unpublished manuscript.
10. ^ Blench, Roger and Kay Williamson. 2008. The Ogoni languages: comparative word list and historical reconstructions.
11. ^ Hyman, L.M. 1979. Index of Proto-Grassfields Bantu roots. Ms. U.S.C.; CBOLD; accessed from Comparalex.
12. ^ Paulin, Pascale. 1995. Etude comparative des langues du groupe Ring: langues Grassfields de l'ouest, Cameroun. MA thesis, Université Lumière Lyon 2.
13. ^ Schadeberg, Thilo C. 2003\. Historical linguistics. In Derek Nurse and Gérard Philippson (eds.), The Bantu languages. (Routledge language family series 4. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-700-71134-5

* Wolf, Paul Polydoor de (1971) The Noun Class System of Proto-Benue–Congo (Thesis, Leiden University). The Hague/Paris: Mouton.
* Williamson, Kay (1989) 'Benue–Congo Overview', pp. 248–274 in Bendor-Samuel, John & Rhonda L. Hartell (eds.) The Niger–Congo Languages – A classification and description of Africa's largest language family. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America.

## External links[edit]

* ComparaLex, database with Benue-Congo word lists
* Web resources for the Benue–Congo languages
* Journal of West African Languages: Benue-Congo
* Proto-Benue-Congo Swadesh list Archived 2021-07-09 at the Wayback Machine (de Wolf 1971)

* v
* t
* e

Platoid languages

Jukunoid|

* Como Karim
* Etkywan
* Hõne
* Jan Awei
* Jiba
* Jibu
* Jiru
* Jukun
* Kpan
* Kuteb
* Lau
* Nyifon
* Shoo-Minda-Nye
* Tigon Mbembe
* Wannu
* Wapan
* Wãpha

Kainji|

| Kambari|

* Cipu
* Baangi
* Kimba
* Shingini
* Vadi
* Wenci
* Yumu

|

Basa|

* Basa-Benue
* Basa-Gumna
* Basa-Gurara
* Basa-Kontagora
* Basa-Kwali
* Basa-Makurdi
* Koromba
* Bassa Nge

Kamuku|

* Cinda-Regi
* Eastern Acipa
* Hungworo
* Kagare
* Rogo
* Rubaruba
* Shama

Shiroro|

* Baushi
* Fungwa
* Gurmana
* Pongu

Northwest|

* Damakawa
* Gwamhi-Wuri
* Hun-Saare
* Lela
* ut-Ma'in

Lakes|

* Laru (Shen)
* Lopa (Rerang)
* ? Reshe

East|

| Northern|

* Gamo-Ningi
* Gyem
* Iguta
* Izora
* Janji
* Kudu-Camo
* Lemoro
* Lere
* Shau
* Ziriya

|

Kauru|

* Bina
* Dungu
* Gbiri-Niragu
* Kaivi
* Kinuku
* Kono
* Kurama
* Mala
* Ruma
* Shuwa-Zamani
* Vori (Surubu)
* Tumi
* Vono

Shammo|

* Zele
* Boze
* Panawa
* Sanga
* Gusu
* Moro
* Loro
* Bunu
* ? Tunzu

Other|

* Atsam
* Map
* Piti

Plateau|

| Tarokoid|

* Kusur–Myet
* Kwang
* Pe
* Shall-Zwall
* Tarok
* Yangkam

|

South|

* Ake
* Eggon
* Jijili
* Jili

Alumic|

* Alumu
* Toro
* Sambe
* Hasha
* Nigbo

Ninzic|

* Bu-Ninkada
* Ce
* Gbətsu
* Gwantu
* Kanufi
* Mada
* Ningye
* Ninka
* Ninkyop
* Ninzo
* Nkɔ
* Nungu
* Ayu

East|

* Barkul
* Fyam
* Horom

Central|

* Ashe (Koro)
* Ajuwa
* Cori
* Dangana
* Doka
* Fəràn
* Gwara
* Gyong
* Hyam
* Idon
* Idun
* Iku
* Izere
* Jju
* Kadara
* Kamanton
* Kulu
* Kuturmi
* Rigwe
* Shamang
* Tyap
* Yeskwa
* Zhire

Beromic|

* Berom
* Cara
* Iten
* Nincut

Yukubenic|

* Akum
* Beezen
* Bete
* Kapya
* Lufu
* Yukuben

Ndunic|

* Ahwai

others|

* Eloyi

* v
* t
* e

Niger-Congo branches

Atlantic-Congo|

| Atlantic|

* Bak
* Bijago
* Mel
* Rio Nunez
* Senegambian
* Nalu
* Limba
* Gola
* Sua

|

(Ivory Coast and Ghana)|

* Kru
* Kwa
* Dompo
* Ega
* Mbre
* Siamou
* Mangree ?
* Mpra ?

Volta-Niger|

* Akpes
* Ayere-Ahan
* Edoid
* Gbe
* Idomoid
* Igboid
* Nupoid
* Yoruboid
* Akoko
* Oko
* Ukaan

Benue-Congo|

| Platoid|

* Jukunoid
* Kainji
* Plateau

|

Cross River|

* Central Delta
* Lower Cross River
* Upper Cross River
* Ogoni

Northern Bantoid|

* Dakoid
* Mambiloid
* Tikar

Southern Bantoid|

* Bantu
* Beboid
* Bendi
* Ekoid
* Grassfields
* Tivoid

Savannas|

| Adamawa|

* Bena-Mboi
* Bikwin-Jen
* Bua
* Fali
* Kim
* Mbum (Kebi-Benue)
* Mumuye
* Samba-Duru
* Tula-Waja
* Yendang (Maya)
* Day
* Kwah (Baa)
* Longuda
* Nyingwom (Kam)

|

Ubangian|

* Banda
* Gbaya
* Mba
* Ngbaka (Mundu-Baka)
* Sere (Ndogo)
* Zande
* Ngbandi

Gur|

* Central Gur
* Senufo
* Kulango
* Miyobe
* Tiefo
* Tusian
* Viemo
* Samo (Burkina) ?

Mande|

| Southeast|

| Eastern|

* Bissa
* Busa-Boko
* Shanga-Tyenga
* Samo (Burkina) ?

|

Southern|

* Dan-Goo-Tura
* Guro-Yaure
* Mwa-Wan
* Gban-Beng
* Mano

West|

| Central West
(Manding-Kpelle)|

* Jogo
* Vai-Kono
* Manding
* Mokole
* Soso-Jalonke (Susu-Yalunka)
* Southwest Mande

|

Northwest
(Samogo-Soninke)|

* Soninke-Bozo
* Samogo (partial: Duun-Sembla)
* Bobo
* Jowulu (Jɔ)

Kordofanian|

* Katla
* Lafofa
* Rashad
* Talodi-Heiban

others|

* Dogon
* Ijoid
* Defaka

isolates|

* Bangime
* Laal
* Jalaa ?
* Komta ?

unclassified|

* Degere ?
* Rimba ?
* Dima-Bottego ?
* Omaio ?
* "Serengeti-Dorobo" ?
* Wawu ?

(proto-languages)|

* Proto-Niger-Congo
* Proto-Yoruboid
* Proto-Bantu

Authority control databases

National|

* Spain
* Germany

Other|

* IdRef

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