West Benue-Congo languages

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The West Benue-Congo languages in Nigeria and Benin, marked in nuances of yellowish green
The West Benue-Congo languages in Nigeria and Benin, marked in nuances of yellowish green
West Benue-Congo
Geographic
distribution:		 mainly Nigeria, also Benin and Togo
Genetic
classification:		 Niger-Congo
 Atlantic-Congo
  Volta-Congo
   Benue-Congo
    West Benue-Congo
Subdivisions:
Defoid
Idomoid
Nupoid
Ayere-Ahan
Ukaan
Akpes
Ija-Zuba

The West Benue-Congo languages are a compound of four Groups of the Benue-Congo languages, spoken by about 50 Million people, most of them living in Nigeria. Among these are the most important languages of southern Nigeria, Yoruba language in the southwest, Igbo language (Ibo) in Biafra, Edo language, between them, and Nupe language near river Niger north of the Yoruba region. All four languages form the main part of one of the five main subgroups. The fifth one is connected with Idoma language, spoken near lower river Benue.

Contents

[edit] Subgroups:

    • Yoruboid
      • Yoruba: Yoruba language (20-22 Mio.), Isekiri (500 000), Ife (150 000), Nago (180 000); Lucumi (ritual language in Cuba)
      • Igala: Igala (1 000 000)
    • Akoko: Akoko (North-Akoko, Arigidi) (50 000)
    • Ayere-Ahan: Ayere (3 000), Ahan (300)
    • Edoid
      • Delta: Epie, Engenni, Degema (each 10-20 thousand)
      • Southwest: Urhobo (550 000), Isoko (320 000)
      • North Central: Edo (Bini) (1 Mio), Esan (200 000), Emai-Iuleha-Ora (100 000), Yekhee (275 000)
      • Northwest: Iyayu, Uhami, Ukue, Ehueun (5000 - 10000 ), Okpamheri (30 000), Aduge
    • Igboid
      • Igbo: Igbo language (Ibo) (18 Mio.), Ogbah (170 000), Ikwere (200 000), Izi-Ezaa-Ikwo-Mgbo (600 000), Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni (150 000)
      • Ekpeye: Ekpeye (30 000)
    • Nupoid
      • Nupe-Gbayi: Nupe (1 Mio): Gbagyi (700 000), Gbari (300 000), Dibo (Shitako) (100 000)
      • Ebira-Gade: Igbira (Ebira) (1 Mio), Gade (60 000)
    • Idomoid
      • Akweya: Idoma (600 Tsd), Igede (250 000), Agatu, Yala, Etulo, Eloyi
      • Yatye-Akpa: Akpa, Ekpari (5000-10000)
    • Oko: Oko-Eni-Osayen (10 000)
    • Ukaan: Ukaan (20 000)
    • Akpes: Akpes (10 000)
    • Ija-Zuba: Ija-Zuba (Koro-Afiki) (cluster of dialects)

The contraction of Yoruboid, Akoko and Ayere-Ahan to a unit called Defoid languages has recently been left.

[edit] Characteristics

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Wikimedia

[edit] External links

Languages