Geji language


Geji is a minor Chadic dialect cluster of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The three varieties are Buu, Gyaazi and Mәgang. The latter two are quite similar.

Varieties

Blench lists:
  • Buu
  • Gyaazi, Mәgang
Zaranda, an exonym for Bu, endonym Bùù, is a Chadic language spoken in the South of Bauchi State, in Nigeria, belonging to the South-Bauchi West group of Chadic languages. Although generally associated with Bolu, Pelu and Geji, Buu stands apart from these other lects with which there is no intercomprehension. Most of the Buu population has migrated from the original location of the
Zaranda village to the present Zaranda where they have abandoned their language for Hausa and Fulfulde. The few that have retained their language live in Zaranda Habe, in houses scattered in the hills, gathering around the chief once a year for the traditional religious festivities. It is believed to be clearly distinct and probably a separate language.
Gezawa, Gaejawa are exonyms for Geji, endonym Gyaazә. Bagba is a loconym.
Mәgang is spoken by about 3,000-4,000 speakers in the following 8 villages of Bauchi LGA, Bauchi State.
Village nameIPANotes
Byerubʲèrúp
Haɗobilangháɗòbíla᷄ŋ
Baking Kurabàkíŋ kúráHausa name
Pakimipákìmī
Beddarebéddárè
Ballabāllā
Bәm Mәgangbә̄m mә̀ga᷄ŋ
MakyeramàkʲéráHausa name

Belu and Pelu are variant spellings of Byeru, also spelled Pyaalu or Fyalu.

Numerals

The Mәgang numerals are:
NumeralMәgang
oneɗéɗә᷄m
twoɗélóp
threeɗèmèkáŋ
fourɗu᷄psí
fiveɗènàntә́ŋ
sixɗә́màkā
sevenɗèníŋgī
eightɗíwsә́psı᷄
ninenētʷópsī
tenɗēkúɬ