Plateau languages

Group of Benue–Congo languages of central Nigeria

Plateau

Platoid
Geographic
distribution| Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states, Nigeria
Linguistic classification| Niger–Congo?

* Atlantic–Congo
* Volta-Congo
* Benue–Congo
* Plateau

Glottolog| benu1248

The Plateau languages shown within Nigeria

The forty or so Plateau languages are a tentative group of Benue–Congo languages spoken by 15 million people on the Jos Plateau Southern Kaduna , Nasarawa State and in adjacent areas in central Nigeria.

Berom and Eggon have the most speakers. Most Plateau languages are threatened and have around 2,000-10,000 speakers.[1]

Defining features of the Plateau family have only been published in manuscript form (Blench 2008). Many of the languages have highly elaborate phonology systems that make comparison with poor data difficult.

## Contents

* 1 Branches and locations
* 2 Classification
* 2.1 Blench (2018)
* 2.2 Blench (2008)
* 2.3 Gerhardt (1983)
* 3 Language list
* 4 Morphology
* 5 Reconstructions
* 6 Numerals
* 7 See also
* 8 Footnotes
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## Branches and locations[edit]

Below is a list of major Plateau branches and their primary locations (centres of diversity) based on Blench (2019).[2]

Distributions of Plateau branches[2] Branch | Primary locations

|

Alumic | Akwanga LGA, Nasarawa State
Beromic | Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State and adjacent areas
Central | Kachia and Jema'a LGAs, Kaduna State
East | Mangu LGA, Plateau State
Ndunic | Sanga LGA, Kaduna State
Ninzic | Jema'a LGA, Kaduna State and Akwanga LGA, Nasarawa State
South | Lafia LGA, Nasarawa State
Tarokoid | Langtang and Wase LGAs, Plateau State

## Classification[edit]

Little work has been done on the Plateau languages, and the results to date are tentative.

### Blench (2018)[edit]

Blench (2018:112) gives the following classification of the Plateau languages.[3]

Plateau |  |  |

Tarokoid (5)

|

|  |  South |  |  |

Eggonic (2)

|

Jilic (2–4)

|  | ? East (2–3)  |  |  |

Bo-Rukul

|

Horom-Fyem

Ndunic (Ahwai) (1–3)

Alumic (4)

Ninzic (13–14)

|  | ? West-Central area (~20) |  |  |

Rigwe

|

Tyapic

Izeric

Hyamic

Koro

Gyongic

North-West

Beromic (4)

? Eloyi

### Blench (2008)[edit]

The following classification is taken from Blench (2008).[4] Most of the branches are discrete constituents, though Central is a residual grouping and there are doubts about some of the purported Ninzic languages. Plateau languages as a whole share a number of isoglosses, as do all branches apart from Tarokoid.

Plateau |  |  |

Tarokoid (5)

|

|  |  |

Eloyi

|

South |  |  |

Eggonic (2)

|

Jilic (2–4)

Ndunic (Ahwai) (1–3)

Alumic (4)

Ninzic (13–14)

? East (2–3)

? Central (20)

Beromic (4)

Glottolog adds the Yukubenic languages.[5] Blench, however, places Yukubenic in the Jukunoid family,[6] following Shimizu (1980).[7]

### Gerhardt (1983)[edit]

Classification of Plateau languages by Gerhardt (1983),[8] based on Maddieson (1972):[9]

Plateau 1a, 1b (Kainji languages)
Plateau 2

* Yeskwa, Lungu, Koro
* Kamanton, Kagoma, Jaba cluster, Nandu-Tari
* Afuzare, Kaje, Iregwe
* Kagoro, Ataka, Katab (including Kachicheri, Kafanchan), Marwa
* Kadara, Kuturmi, Ikulu, Idong, Doka, Iku-Gora-Ankwa

Plateau 3

* Migili (?, L. G.)
* Birom (including Aboro, Afango)
* Aten

Plateau 4

* Ayu
* Kwanka-Boi-Bijim-Shall-Zwall
* Ninzam, Mada, Gwantu, Numana-Nunku, Nindem, Kaningkon, Kanufi
* Rukuba

Plateau 5

* Yashi
* Eggon, Nungu, Ake, Jidda-Abu

Plateau 6

* Pyam
* Horom

Plateau 7

* Tarok (= Yergam)
* Bashar
* Pai

Plateau 8

* Mabo-Barkul

Plateau 9

* Eloyi

Plateau 10

* Turkwam, Arum-Chesu

Note: Plateau 1 languages, consisting of Plateau 1a and 1b, are now classified separately as Kainji languages.

## Language list[edit]

List of Plateau languages given by Blench (2018):[3]

Northwest

* Eda
* Edra
* Acro
* Obiro
* Kulu
* Ẹjẹgha (Idon)
* Doka
* Ẹhwa (Iku-Gora-Ankwe)

Beromic

* Berom
* Cara
* Iten
* Shall-Zwall

West-Central (area)

* Izeric
* Izere of Fobur
* Icèn, Ganàng, Fəràn
* Rigwe
* Southern Zaria (now Southern Kaduna)
* Tyapic
* Jju
* Tyap
* Gworok
* Takad (Attakar)
* Tyecarak (Kacicere)
* Sholyio
* Fantswam (Kafancan)
* Tyuku
* Koro
* Ashe
* Tinɔr (Waci-Myamya)
* Idũ, Gwara
* Nyankpa-Barde
* Hyamic
* Shamang
* Cori
* Hyam
* Zhire
* Shang
* Gyongic
* Gyong (Kagoma)
* Nɡhan (Kamanton)

Ninzic

* Ninzo
* Ce
* Bu-Niŋkada
* Mada
* Numana-Nunku-Gwantu-Numbu
* Ningye-Ninka
* Anib
* Ninkyob
* Nindem
* Nungu
* Ayu

Ndunic

* Ndun (Tari)

Alumic

* Toro, Alumu-Təsu
* Hasha
* Sambe

Southern

* Eggonic
* Eggon
* Ake
* Jilic
* Jili
* Jijili

Southeastern (?)

* Fyem
* Horom
* Bo-Rukul

Tarokoid

* Tarok
* Pe (Pai)
* Kwang-Ya-Bijim-Legeri
* Yaŋkam (Bashar)
* Sur (Tapshin)

Eloyi

Nisam is a presumed Plateau language once spoken in Nince Village, Kaduna State, but its place within the Plateau branch cannot be ascertained due to the lack of linguistic data. In 2005, there was only one speaker of Nisam.[10]

## Morphology[edit]

Proto-Plateau nominal prefixes:[3]

* *ni- (corresponding to Bantu noun class 9 *n- for animals and inanimate objects)
* *V- for person, *bV- for people
* *N- prefixes, homorganic with the following consonant
* *nV- ~ *mV- (both singular and plural), which mark liquids, mass nouns, and abstract nouns

Only some of the languages have nominal classes, as the Bantu languages have, where in others these have eroded. In many Plateau languages, many CV- prefixes have become fossilised, replaced by V- prefixes, or disappeared altogether.[3] The large numbers of consonants in many languages is due to the erosion of noun-class prefixes.

In Plateau languages, adjectives and possessive forms generally follow the noun.

## Reconstructions[edit]

Some Proto-Plateau quasi-reconstructions proposed by Roger Blench (2008) are:

No. | Gloss | Proto-Plateau

|
|

1. | tree | #ku-kon V-kon
2. | leaf | #(g)yaNa
4. | dew | #-myeŋe
12. | wind | #-gbulu
21. | hunger | #igbyoŋ
25. | ear | #ku-toŋ(ɔ)
26. | mouth | #ku-nyu
30. | female breast | #ambɛŋ
31. | navel | #i-kumbu
32. | bone | #-kupu
35. | blood | #-(n)ji
64. | twelve/ten | #isok-

## Numerals[edit]

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:[11]

Classification | Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

South | Lijili | lō̥ | àbē̥ | àtʃé̥ | ànàró̥ | àsó̥ | mìnzí | mútá | rúnó̥ | zàtʃé̥ | zàbè̥
Beromic | Aten (Iten) | dáy | fà | tàt / tʃàt | nàːs | wí | tàːrà | nìtà | nàràs | dùːdʒàŋ | dùːbɔ̀
Beromic | Berom (Birom) | ɡwīnìŋ / (d)īnìŋ (Roots) | -bā | -tāt | -nāːs | -tūŋūn | -tī̄ː mìn | -tāːmà (5+ 2) | -rwīːt (5+ 3) | syāː-tāt (12- 3) | syāː-tāt (12- 2)
Central, South-Central | Irigwe (Rigwe) | ˀzrú | ˀʍʲè | ˀt͡sʲɛ̀ | ˀni | ˀt͡ɕʷòô | rít͡sʲɛ́ | nat͡sʲɛ́ | klaǹvà | kruvájá | ʃʷá
Central, South-Central | Jju (Kaje) | əyriŋ | əhwa | ətat | ənaai | əpfwɔn | əkitat (2 x 3) | ətiyriŋ | ənaimbvwak | əkumbvuyriŋ | swak
Central, South-Central | Tyap (Kataf) | əɲiuŋ/ ʒyiuŋ | əfeaŋ/ sweaŋ | ətat/ t͡sat | ənaai/ ɲaai | əfwuon/ t͡swuon | ətaa | ənatat | əninai/ ərinai | əkubunyiuŋ | swak
Northern | Ikulu (Kulu) | íńjí | íńpààlá | íńtáá | íńnāā | íńcūū | íńcúnú | tɔ́ɔ̀pāā | níǹnāā (2 x 4) ? | tɔ́ɔ̀llāā | nùkɔ̄p
Southeastern | Fyam (Pyem) | kʲéŋ | por | táár | naas | tóón | táárin | támor | tʃínít | téres | dukút
Tarokoid | Tarok (Yergam) | ùzɨ̀ŋ | ùpàrɨ́m | ùʃáɗɨ́ŋ | ùnèɗɨ́ŋ | ùtúkún | ùk͡pə́ɗɨ́ŋ | ùfàŋʃát | ùnə̀nnè | ùfàŋzɨ́ŋtɨ́ŋ | ùɡ͡bə́pei
Western, Northwestern, Hyamic | Hyam (Jabba) | ʒìnì | fe̠ri | taat | naaŋ | twoo | twaani (5+ 1) ? | twarfo (5+ 2) ? | naaraŋ (2 x 4) ? | mbwan kɔb (10 - 1) | kɔ́b
Western, Northwestern, Koro | Yeskwa (Nyenkpa) | ènyí | ènvà | èntât | ènnà | èntyúò | èncí | tònvà | tóndát | tyúôrá | ókóp
Western, Southwestern, A | Mada (Madda) | ɡyə̄r | ywā | tar | nlyɛ̄ | tun | tānnɛ̀n | tāmɡ͡bā | tāndà | tīyār | ɡùr
Western, Southwestern, A | Ninzo | jír | há | tár | nə̄(s) | ʈʷí | tānì | tāŋɡ͡bā | tāndàr | tīr(s) | wūr
Western, Southwestern, A | Rukuba (Che) | ɡyín | -hàk | -tát | -nàs | -túŋ | tàiŋ | taŋbák | taːrat | taːras | uwùruk
Western, Southwestern, B | Eggon (1) | ákiə́n | àhàà | àtráá | ùɲí | òtnó | ùfín (5+ 1) | àfóhà (5+ 2) | àfóté (5+ 3) | àfúúɲí (5+ 4) | ókpo
Western, Southwestern, B | Eggon (2) | òrí | ɔ̀hà | ɔ̀cá | òɲì | ɔ̀tnɔ̂ | ə̀fĩ́ (5+ 1) | ɔ̀fɔ́hà (5+ 2) | ɔ̀fɔ́tɛ́ (5+ 3) | ɔ̀fɔ̂ɲí (5+ 4) | ɔ̀kbɔ́

## See also[edit]

* List of Plateau reconstructions (Wiktionary)
* Systematic graphic of the Niger–Congo language family

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ^ Blench, Roger. 2007. Language families of the Nigerian Middle Belt and the historical implications of their distribution. Presented to the Jos Linguistic Circle in Jos, Nigeria, July 25, 2007.
2. ^ a b Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
3. ^ a b c d Blench, Roger M. 2018. Nominal affixes and number marking in the Plateau languages of Central Nigeria. In John R. Watters (ed.), East Benue-Congo: Nouns, pronouns, and verbs, 107–172. Berlin: Language Science Press. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1314325
4. ^ Blench, Roger (April 2008). "Prospecting Proto-Plateau" (PDF). p. 2.
5. ^ "Glottolog 3.0 - Yukubenic". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
6. ^ "Jukunoid". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
7. ^ Roger Blench (15 November 2005). "Is there a boundary between Plateau and Jukunoid? (PDF Download Available)". ResearchGate. pp. 3, 5. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
8. ^ Gerhardt, Ludwig. 1983. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen des Nigerianischen Plateaus. Glückstadt: Verlag J. J. Augustin.
9. ^ Maddieson, Ian. 1972. The Benue-Congo Languages of Nigeria. Sheet 1 and 2: Plateau. Mimeographed paper. Ibadan.
10. ^ Blench, Roger M. 2012. Akpondu, Nigbo, Bəbər and Nisam: moribund or extinct languages of central Nigeria Babur.
11. ^ Chan, Eugene (2019). "The Niger-Congo Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.

## References[edit]

* Blench (2008) Prospecting proto-Plateau. Manuscript.

This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.

## External links[edit]

* Plateau materials from Roger Blench
* ComparaLex, database with Plateau word lists

* 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|

* Kwang
* Pe
* Sur
* Tarok
* Yankam

|

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
* Shall-Zwall

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 ?

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