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

The Biu–Mandara or Central Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. The most widely spoken is Kamwe, with 300,000 speakers.

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).^[1]

South
- South^[2]
  - 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:^[3]

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):

Notes

^ Gravina, R. (2014). The phonology of Proto-Central Chadic: the reconstruction of the phonology and lexicon of Proto-Central Chadic, and the linguistic history of the Central Chadic languages (Doctoral dissertation, LOT: Utrecht).
^ Languages are closer to each other than are those of the northern branch
^ Blench, 2006. The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List (ms)

References

Central Chadic resources at africanlanguages.org

[1] Gravina, R. (2014). The phonology of Proto-Central Chadic: the reconstruction of the phonology and lexicon of Proto-Central Chadic, and the linguistic history of the Central Chadic languages (Doctoral dissertation, LOT: Utrecht).

[2] Languages are closer to each other than are those of the northern branch

[3] Blench, 2006. The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List (ms)

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