Biu–Mandara languages

Biu–Mandara
Biu–Mandara
Central Chadic
Geographic; distribution	Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon
Linguistic classification	Afro-Asiatic Chadic Biu–Mandara; ;
Subdivisions	South; Hurza; North;
Glottolog	bium1280

Main Chadic-speaking peoples in Nigeria.

The Biu–Mandara or Central Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.

A reconstruction of Proto-Central Chadic has been proposed by Gravina (2014).^[1]

Languages[]

Gravina (2014)[]

Gravina (2014) classifies Central Chadic as follows, as part of a reconstruction of the proto-language. Letters and numbers in parentheses correspond to branches in previous classifications. The greatest changes are breaking up and reassigning the languages of the old Mafa branch (A.5) and Mandage (Kotoko) branch (B.1).^[2]

South
- South^[3]
  - Bata (A.8)
    - Bata Proper: Bacama, Bata, Fali, Gude, Gudu, Holma (†), Jimi, Ngwaba (from A.1 Tera), Nzanyi, Sharwa
    - Tsuvan: Tsuvan, Zizilivakan
  - Daba (A.7)
    - Daba Proper: Daba, Mazagway Hidi
    - Mina: Mina, Mbudum
    - Buwal: Buwal, Gavar
  - Mafa (= South A.5 Mafa (d)): Mafa, Mefele, Cuvok
  - Tera (A.1):
    - East Tera: Boga, Ga'anda, Hwana
    - (West Tera): Jara, Tera
  - Sukur (A.6)
Hurza
- Hurza (from A.5 Mafa): Vame, Mbuko
North
- Margi–Mandara–Mofu
  - Margi (A.2)
    - Bura: Bura, Cibak, Putai, Nggwahyi
    - Margi Proper: Kilba, Margi South, Margi
  - Mandara (A.4):
    - Wandala: Mandara (Malgwa), Glavda
    - Dghwede: Cineni, Dghwede, Guduf, Gava, Gvoko
    - Podoko: Podoko, Matal (from A.5 Mafa)
  - Mofu (part of South A.5 Mafa)
    - Tokombere: Ouldeme, Mada, Muyang, Molokwo
    - Meri: Zulgo, Gemzek, Merey, Dugwor
    - Mofu Proper: Mofu North, Mofu-Gudur
- Maroua
  - Maroua (part of South A.5 Mafa (c)): Giziga North, Giziga South, Mbazla
- Lamang
  - Lamang (West A.4 Wandala): Lamang, Hdi, Mabas
- Higi
  - Higi (A.3): Bana, Hya, Psikyɛ, Kamwe, Kirya-Konzel
- Musgum – North Kotoko
  - Kotoko Island: Buduma
  - Kotoko North: Mpade, Afaɗə, Malgbe, Maltam
  - Musgum (B.2): Musgum, Mbara, Muskum (†)
- Kotoko Centre
  - Kotoko Centre: Lagwan, Mser
- Kotoko South
  - Kotoko South: Zina, Mazera
- Gidar

Jilbe was not classified, as no sources were available.

Blench (2006)[]

The branches of Biu–Mandara traditionally go by either names or letters and numbers in an outline format. Blench (2006) organizes them as follows:^[4]

Tera (A.1): Tera, Pidlimdi (Hinna), Jara, Ga'anda, Gabin, Boga, Ngwaba, Hwana
Bura–Higi
- Bura (A.2): Bura-Pabir (Bura), Cibak (Kyibaku), Nggwahyi, Huba (Kilba), Putai (Marghi West), Marghi Central (Margi, Margi Babal), Marghi South
- ? Kofa
- Higi (A.3): Kamwə (Psikyɛ, Higi), Bana, Hya, ? Kirya-Konzəl
Wandala–Mafa
- Wandala (Mandara) (A.4)
  - East: Wandala (Mura, Mandara, Malgwa), Glavda (Gəlvaxdaxa)
  - Parəkwa (Podoko)
  - West: Gəvoko, Guduf-Gava (Cineni), Dghweɗe, Hdi (Xədi, Hedi, Tur), Lamang, Woga, Vemgo, Mabas
  - Sukur (Sakwun, A.6)
- Mafa (A.5)
  - Northeast Mafa: Vame (Pəlasla), Mbuko, Gaduwa
  - Matal (Muktele)
  - South Mafa
    - (a) Wuzlam (Ouldémé), Muyang, Maɗa, Məlokwo
    - (b) Zəlgwa-Minew, Gemzek, Ɗugwor, Mikere, Merey
    - (c) North Giziga, South Giziga, North Mofu, Mofu-Gudur (South Mofu), Baldemu (Mbazlam)
    - (d) Cuvok, Mafa, Mefele, Shügule
Daba (A.7)
- North Daba: Buwal (Gadala), Gavar (Kortchi)
- South Daba: Mina (Besleri, Hina), Daba (Mazagway), Mbədam
Bata (Gbwata) (A.8): Bacama, Bata (Gbwata), Sharwa, Tsuvan, Gude, Fali of Mubi, Zizilivakan (Ulan Mazhilvən, Fali of Jilbu), Jimi (Jimjimən), Gudu, Holma (†), Nzanyi
Mandage (Kotoko) (B.1)
- South Mandage: Msər (Kousseri), Lagwan (Logone)
- ? Jilbe
- North Mandage: Afaɗə, Maslam, Malgbe (Gulfey), Mpadə
Buduma (Yedina)
East–Central
- Gidar (Kaɗa)
- Munjuk (B.2): Mbara, Muskum (Muzuk) (†), Mpus, Beege (Jafga), Vulum (Mulwi)
- Mida'a (< B.1): Jina, Majəra

Newman (1977)[]

Central Chadic classification per Newman (1977):

Names and locations (Nigeria)[]

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations (in Nigeria only) from Blench (2019).^[5]

**Distributions of Biu–Mandara branches in Nigeria**^[5]
Branch	Code	Primary locations
Tera	A1	Gombi LGA, Adamawa State and Biu LGA, Borno State
Bata	A8	Mubi LGA, Adamawa State
Higi	A3	Michika LGA, Adamawa State
Mandara	A4	Gwoza LGA, Borno State and Michika LGA, Adamawa State

South[]

Language	Branch	Cluster	Dialects	Alternate spellings	Own name for language	Endonym(s)	Other names (location-based)	Other names for language	Exonym(s)	Speakers	Location(s)	Notes
Daba	Daba				Daba					A single village, less than 1,000. Mostly in Cameroun	Adamawa State, Mubi LGA. Between Mubi and Bahuli
Mafa	Mafa		Mafa (Mofa) in Nigeria. Cameroon dialects divided into West, Central and Eastern.	Mofa					Matakam (not recommended)	2,000 (1963), 136,000 in Cameroon (1982 SIL)	Borno State, Gwoza LGA; mainly in Cameroon
Sakun	Sukur				Sakun, Gemasakun	Gә̀mà Sákún	Sugur	Adikummu Sukur		5,000 (1952); 10,000 (1973 SIL). 7 villages	Adamawa State, Madgali LGA
Ga’anda cluster	Tera	Ga’anda			Tlәka’andata pl. Ka’andәca	Kaɓәn		Mokar [name of the place where the rolling pot stopped]		7,600 (1952); 10,000 (1973 SIL);␣4. Six villages	Adamawa State, Gombi LGA
Kaɓәn	Tera	Ga’anda		Gabin	Tlәkaɓәnɗa pl. Kaɓәnca					12 villages
Fәrtata	Tera	Ga’anda			Tlәfәrtata pl. Fәrtaca					5 villages
Boga	Tera			Boka						5 villages	Adamawa State, Gombi LGA
Hwana	Tera			Hona, Hwona						6,604 (1952 W&B); 20,000 (1973 SIL), estimate more than 20,000 (Blench 1987)	Adamawa State, Gombi LGA, Guyuk and 30 other villages
Jara	Tera			Jera						4,000 (SIL)	Borno State, Biu LGA; Bauchi State, Ako LGA	Also refers to the languages of the Jarawan Bantu group including: the Jarawa cluster, Mbárù, Gùra, Rúhû, Gubi, Dulbu, Láb WIKI

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Biu–Mandara
Central Chadic
Geographic distribution	Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon
Linguistic classification	Afro-Asiatic Chadic Biu–Mandara
Subdivisions	South Hurza North
Glottolog	`bium1280`