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Bikwin–Jen languages

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Bikwin–Jen
Jen
Geographic
distribution		Taraba State, eastern Nigeria
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Language codes
GlottologNone
bikw1235  (Bikwin–Jen)

The Bikwin–Jen or simply the Jen languages form a branch of the Adamawa family. They are spoken in and around Karim Lamido LGA (to the north of Jalingo LGA) in Taraba State, and in other nearby states of eastern Nigeria.

Bikwin-Jen may not necessarily be a coherent group. Due to the internal diversity of Bikwin-Jen, Guldemann (2018) suggests that Bikwin and Jen could form separate groups.[1]

Classification

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Norton & Othaniel (2020) and Norton (2019) refer to Bikwin–Jen simply as Jen. Kleinewillinghöfer (2015) uses the name Bikwin–Jen.

Kleinewillinghöfer (2015)

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Kleinewillinghöfer (2015) classifies the Bikwin-Jen group as follows in the Adamawa Languages Project website.[2]

Bikwin-Jen

Norton & Othaniel (2020)

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Classification of the Jen languages by Norton & Othaniel (2020):[3]

Jen

Burak-Loo

Maghdi, Mak

Kyak-Moo-Leelau

Tha

Doso-Dza

Language names, ISO codes, and autonyms of the Jen languages (Norton & Othaniel 2020):[3]

ISO 639-3 code Language name Autonym(s)
bys Burak [ɓʊ̄ːrɑ̀k]
ldo Loo (Shungo Galdemaru, Shungo Waamura, Tadam) [ʃʊ̀ŋɔ́]; [lō] ‘head’
gmd Maghdi (Tala) [mɑ̀kdī], [mɑ̂ɣdī]
pbl Mak (Lee Mak) of Panya and Zoo [mɑ̀k], [lè mɑ̀k] ‘they (of) Mak’
bka Kyak (Bambuka) [kjɑ᷅ k̃ ]
gwg Moo (Gomu) [mɔ̄]
ldk Leelau (Munga Leelau) [lê ləù] ‘road (to) Lau’
mko Munga Doso [mɨŋɡɑ̃ dɔsɔ] ‘river original’
jen Dza of Jen and Joole [i-d͡zə] (d͡zə ‘reed plant sp.’)
thy Tha (Joole Manga) [ðə̀], [ɲwɑ́ ðɑ́] (ɲwɑ́ ‘mouth’)

Norton & Othaniel (2020) also reconstruct more than 250 words for Proto-Jen.[3]

Norton (2019)

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Jen cluster classification according to Norton (2019):[4]

  • Jen
  • Burak, Loo
  • Maghdi, LeeMak
  • Kyak-Moo-LeeLau (Munga LeeLau)
  • Tha (Joole Manga)
  • Doso-Dza (Munga Doso; Dza-Joole)

Language varieties that are part of the Jen cluster according to Norton (2019):[4]

Jen cluster
  • Burak
  • Loo of Galdemaru and Waamura
  • Maghdi (Tala)
  • Mak (LeeMak) of Panya and Zoo
  • Kyãk (Bambuka)
  • Moo (Gomu)
  • LeeLau (Munga LeeLau)
  • Munga Doso
  • Dza (Jenjo) and Joole
  • Tha (Joole Manga)

Names and locations

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

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)
Tha Bikwin-Jen Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA and Adamawa State, Numan LGA. Joole Manga Dìdí village
Dza Jen Dza, Ja nnwa’ Dzâ Èédzá, ídzà Jenjo, Janjo, Jen 6,100 (1952). Figures for Dza may include other Jen groups such as Joole and Tha (q.v.)
Joole Jen èèʒìì nwá èèʒìì Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA and Adamawa State, Numan LGA. Along the Benue River.
Mingang Doso Jen Munga ŋwai Mәngàn Mingang Doso Dosọ Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA. 15 km. East of Karim Lamido town. One village and associated hamlets.
Burak Bikwin yu Ɓuurak pl. yele Ɓuurak nyuwǎ Ɓúúrák ‘Yele Shongom [name of an LGA] 4,000 (1992 est.) Gombe State, Shongom LGA, Burak town. 25 villages. A highly distinctive form is spoken in Tadam village.
Kyak Bikwin Kyãk Kyãk Bambuka 10,000 (SIL) Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, Bambuka
Leelạu Bikwin Lelo Munga One village and an associated hamlet Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA. 15 km. East of Karim Lamido town.
Loo Bikwin Shúŋ̣ ó ̣ Shúŋ̣ ó–̣ North, Shúŋ̣ ó–̣ South 8,000 (1992 est.) Kaltungo LGA, Gombe State, Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA. 30 km. North of Karim Lamido town. Lo village and associated hamlets.
Maghdi Bikwin Mághdì Mághdì sg., lee Mághdì pl. Widala also applies to Kholok Fewer than 2,000 (1992) Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA. A section of the Widala
Mak Bikwin Panya, Zo Mak LeeMak Panya, Panyam (From Poonya, the name of a founding hero) Zoo Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA. 15 km. north of Karim Lamido town.
Mɔɔ Bikwin ŋwaa Mɔ́ɔ̀ yáá Mɔ̀ɔ̀ Gwomo, Gwom, Gwomu, Gomu Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Güldemann, Tom (2018). "Historical linguistics and genealogical language classification in Africa". In Güldemann, Tom (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of Africa. The World of Linguistics series. Vol. 11. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 58–444. doi:10.1515/9783110421668-002. ISBN 978-3-11-042606-9. S2CID 133888593.
  2. ^ Kleinewillinghöfer, Ulrich. 2015. Bikwin-Jen group. Adamawa Languages Project.
  3. ^ a b c Norton, Russell; Othaniel, Nlabephee (2020). "The Jen language cluster: A comparative analysis of wordlists" (PDF). Language in Africa. 1 (3): 17–99. doi:10.37892/2686-8946-2020-1-3-17-99.
  4. ^ a b Norton, Russell (2019). "The Jen cluster: comparative analysis of wordlists".
  5. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

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