Plateau languages
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The Plateau (or Platoid) languages are spoken by 3.5 million people on the Jos Plateau and in adjacent areas in Central Nigeria. They are also called Central Nigerian languages. They are part of the Benue-Congo family, which is in turn part of the Niger-Congo family. There are about 40 Plateau languages.
They are more similar to the Bantoid languages than the West Benue-Congo languages, but less similar to them than the Cross River languages. The term Plateau languages or Platoid languages subsumes eleven subgroups, which aren't more similar among each other than to the Bantoid languages. Therefore the subgroups are considered genetical units. The Plateau group is none.
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[edit] Subgroups
Six od the subgroups have more than 100 000 speakers each. five are very small.
The six larger subgroups:
- The Kainji languages are spoken by about 900 000 speakers, in all. They are divided into a hierarchy of subgroups themselves. The four most important languages are Tsuvadi (150 000), Clela (C'lela, Lela) (100 000), Ciningini (80 000), Tsiningini (80 000).
- The North-West-Plateau languages are spoken by about 750 000 speakers. The most important ones are Kwanka (220 000), Eggon (150 000), Jaba (100 000), Mada (100 000)
- The Central Plateau group with half a million of speakers contains the languages Kaje = Jju (300 000) and Katab (Tyap) (130 000)
- The largest language of the South Plateau group (about 400 000) is Berom with 300 000 speakers.
- The Tarok group consists of little more than the Tarok language itself with 300 000 speakers.
- The Takun (Jukunoid) languages (300 000 speakers) have developed from the language of the medieval Jukun state.
[edit] Characteristics
Only some of the languages have nominal classes, as the Bantu lanuages have. Adjectives and possessive forms are generally spoken behind the described noun.
