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Bena–Mboi languages

Ɓəna–Mboi
Yungur
Geographic
distribution
Adamawa State, eastern Nigeria
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Language codes
Glottologbena1258

The Bena–Mboi (Ɓəna–Mboi) a.k.a. Yungur languages form a branch of the Adamawa family. They are spoken in central Adamawa State, eastern Nigeria, just to the east of Lafia LGA.

Idiatov & van de Velde (2019) classify the Bena–Mboi languages as Benue-Congo.[1]

Classification

In the Adamawa Languages Project website, Kleinewillinghöfer (2011) classifies the Ɓəna-Mboi or Yungur group as follows.[2]

Ɓəna-Mboi (Yungur)
  • Ɓəna
    • Ɓəna Yungur
    • Ɓəna Lala
      • Ɓəna Lala of Yang
      • Ɓəna Lala of Bodwai (Bodɛ)
        • Robma
        • (Robma of) Dingai
  • Mboi (Gəna)
    • Mboi of Livo; Mboi of Gulungo
    • Mboi of Haanda; Mboi of Banga
  • Kaan (Libo)

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]

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)
Ɓena Yungur Ɓəna is divided into 17 clans each of which is said to have a distinct speech-form, but they are too closely related to actually be distinct dialects. Ebina, Binna, Gbinna Ebəna Ɓəna Lala (not recommended), Purra (general term for northern Ɓəna) Yungur, Yangur Yungirba, Yungur 44,300 (1963) probably including Lala and Roba; fewer than 100,000 (1990 est.) Adamawa State, Song and Guyuk LGAs
Kaan Yungur Libo Adamawa State, Guyuk LGA
Lala cluster Yungur Lala Ɓəna 30,000 (SIL); 44,300 with Ɓəna (1963) Adamawa State, Guyuk, Song and Gombi LGAs
Yang Yungur Lala Yan Lalla
Roba Yungur Lala Gworam
Ebode Yungur Lala Ẹbode
Mboi cluster Yungur Mboi Mboire, Mboyi 3,200 (1973 SIL) Adamawa State, Song LGA
Gana Yungur Mboi Gəna Mboire, Mboyi 1,800 (LA 1971) Adamawa State, Song LGA, northwest of Song. Livo village and associated hamlets
Banga Yungur Mboi Adamawa State, Song LGA, west of Loko. Banga village and associated hamlets
Haanda Yungur Mboi Handa 1,370 (LA 1971) Adamawa State, Song LGA, west of Loko. Handa village and associated hamlets
Voro Yungur Vɔrɔ Ebəna, Ebina Ɓena Woro Yungur Adamawa State, Song and Guyuk LGAs, south of the Dumne road. Waltande and associated hamlets.

References

  1. ^ Idiatov, Dmitry; van de Velde, Mark. 2019. Bena-Mboi is Benue-Congo. Adamawa Conference, Department of Anthropology & African Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 9–11 September 2019.
  2. ^ Kleinewillinghöfer, Ulrich. 2011. Ɓəna-Mboi (Yungur) group. Adamawa Languages Project.
  3. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.

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