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Kainji languages

Subfamily of Benue–Congo languages of west-central Nigeria From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kainji languages
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The Kainji languages are a group of about 60 related languages spoken in west-central Nigeria. They form part of the Central Nigerian (Platoid) branch of Benue–Congo.

Quick Facts Geographic distribution, Linguistic classification ...
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Demographics

Four of the most widely spoken Kainji languages are Tsuvadi (150,000), Cishingini and Tsishingini (100,000 each)—all from the Kambari branch; and Clela (C'lela, Lela) (100,000), of the Northwest Kainji branch. In total, there were about one million speakers of Kainji languages (1990s estimate) in Nigeria.

History

Proto-Kainji is estimated by Blench (2012) to be 3,000 to 4,000 years old. Its broken distribution today is likely due to the historical northward expansion of the Nupoid languages.[1]

Morphology

Proto-Kainji nominal prefixes:[2]

  • *mV- for liquids and other mass nouns
  • *u- for person, *ba- for people
  • *kV- for diminutive and perhaps also augmentative; also found in some Plateau languages

Classification

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The most divergent of the Kainji languages are Reshe, Laru and Lopa, which may form a branch together. Subclassification of the other branches is not yet clear. A bipartite division between East Kainji and West Kainji is no longer maintained, with West Kainji now being paraphyletic.

Blench (2018)

Most recent Kainji classification by Blench (2018:64):[2]

Blench (2012)

Blench's (2012) classification is:[1]

McGill (2012)

A revised classification of the Kainji languages by McGill (2012) splits Kainji into the Lake and Central branches.[3]

Gerhardt (1983)

Classification of Plateau 1a (now West Kainji) and Plateau 1b (now East Kainji) languages by Gerhardt (1983),[4] based on Maddieson (1972):[5]

  • Plateau 1a
    • Laru-Lopa
    • Reshe
    • Kambari cluster
    • Ngwoi, Kamuku cluster, Bassa-Kontagora, Ashaganna
    • Bassa-Kaduna, Bassa-Kuta, Gurmana, Pongo, Baushi, Ura, Bassa-Kwomu
    • Dakarkari, Duka, Pəku-Kəri-Wipsi cluster, Lyase
  • Plateau 1b
    • Kuda-Chamo, Butu-Ningi, Gyema, Taura, Lemoro-Sanga, Janji, Shani, Buji-Ibunu-Jere-Gus, Anaguta
    • Kuzamaini, Kurama, Rumaya, Ruruma, Binawa, Kono, Surubu
    • Kaivi, Kiballo, Kitimi, Kinuku, Dungi, Gure-Kahugu
    • Amo
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Names and locations

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Below is a comprehensive list of Kainji language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[6]

Note: West Kainji is geographical rather than genealogical.

More information Group, Primary locations ...

East Kainji

West Kainji

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Numerals

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Comparison of numerals in individual languages:[7]

More information Classification, Language ...
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References

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