East Kainji languages


The East Kainji languages are spoken in a compact area of the Jos Plateau in Nigeria, near Jos. There are more than 20 of them, most of which are poorly studied.

History

East Kainji languages are less internally diverse than some of the other Plateau branches in the Nigerian Middle Belt. Historically, the East Kainji branch had been influenced by Chadic languages that no longer exist in the region. Today, there are at most 100,000 speakers of East Kainji languages, with almost all languages of the languages being threatened by larger languages such as Hausa and English. Although they are morphologically simple, they have 4-level tones instead of the 3-level tones typical of the region.
At the time of the British conquest, several of these languages were in the process of shifting from duodecimal to decimal systems. Languages attested with such systems include Janji, Gure-Kahugu and Piti.

Features

Compared to the neighbouring Plateau languages, East Kainji languages are morphologically simple. They have four level tones, as opposed to most other languages in the Nigerian Middle Belt having only three level tones. The fourth tone in East Kainji languages originated as a superhigh tone used to mark plurals.
Syllables in East Kainji languages are generally open. Blench suggests that the East Kainji branch is most closely related to Basa, since both have V-CVCV phonotactic structures.

Classification

East Kainji was once thought to be a primary branch of the Kainji languages, but this is no longer the case. Impressionistically, Piti and Atsam appear to be distinct, but the rest form a continuous dialect chain.
The East Kainji languages have historically undergone influence from non-Hausa West Chadic languages. East Kainji is not as internally diverse as West Kainji.

''Ethnologue''

Ethnologue indicates several branches; these will be retained here for reference:

Blench (2018)

Most recent Kainji classification by Blench :Amic languages: MapTsamic languages: Tsam, Ngmgbang, Bishi Kaduna languages: Gbiri-Niragu, Shuwa-Zamani, Vori, Kurmi, Mala-Ruma, Bin, Kono, Kaivi, Vono, Tumi, Dungu, Nu North-central cluster: Lemoro, Janji, Iguta, Zora '

Blench (2012)

In Blench's 2012 classification, Piti–Atsam is named "Southern". Northern Jos is named "Jos", and the Jera languages are named "Northern Jos", which he further subdivides into several dialect clusters; Amo is placed in this group.
In the tree below given by Blench, East Kainji is split into a core Jos group and peripheral Southern group.Southern group: Piti, AtsamJos group :

Shimizu (1982)

Classification of the Northern Jos group according to Shimizu :
Shimizu also reconstructs Proto-Northern Jos.

''Glottolog''

Glottolog's classification is similar to Blench's, but the Piti–Atsam name is retained. In this classification, all languages except for Piti–Atsam are grouped under "Jos". Amo, while within the "Jos" group, is left out of both Kauru and Jera.
Only Kurama, Gbiri-Niragu, Jere, Sanga and Lemoro have more than a few thousand speakers.

Names and locations

Below is a comprehensive list of East Kainji language names, populations, and locations from Blench.
LanguageBranchClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonymOther names Other names for languageExonymSpeakersLocationNotes
MapAmicAmon, AmongTimapKumap pl. AmapBa3,550 Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA-
AtsamAsg. Tsam, pl. AtsamChawai, Chawe, Chawi10,200 ; 30,000 Kaduna State, Kachia LGA-
BishiARiban was formerly listed as a dialect, but is clearly a distinct languageAbisi, Bisixx pl. AbishiPitti1,600 ; Live in at least 26 villages Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
NgmgbangAFormerly listed as a dialect of Bishi, but is clearly a distinct languageRibamRigmgbangfew villages Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
Lere cluster "Northern Jos"Lere 765 ; 1,000 ; languages extinctBauchi State, Toro LGA-
Si"Northern Jos"Lere RishuwaKauruKuzamani-
Gana "Northern Jos"Lere Extinct-
Takaya "Northern Jos"Lere TauraExtinct-
Gamo–Ningi clusterGamo-NingiGamo–Ningi15,000 but most speak Hausa.Bauchi State, Ningi LGA-
GamoGamo-NingiGamo–Ningitì-Gamodòò-Gamo pl. à-ndi-GamoButanciiButa, Butawa, ButuThere are some 32 settlements of Gamo, but of these only Kurmi still spoke the language in 1974.-
NingiGamo-NingiGamo–Ningi-
IgutaCAnagutaNaraguta2,580 ; 3,000 Plateau State, Bassa LGA-
JanjiCJenjiTìjánjíAjanjiAnafejanzi360 Plateau State, Bassa LGA-
Jere clusterCJereJera, Jeere23,000 Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Bauchi State, Toro LGA-
BozeCJereBoze is divided into 3 dialects, εGorong, εKɔkɔŋ as well as a third rather divergent speech form, εFiruAnabezeeBozeunaBoze pl. anaBozeBujiεGorong, εKɔkɔŋ εFiru . Due to language loss, especially in road settlements, there are considerably more ethnic Boze. Ethnologue figures are total district populations, not speakers.Plateau State, Bassa LGA. Both sides of the Jos-Zaria road, directly north of Jos.-
GusuCJereGussumi–Sangasg. o–Sanga, pl. a–SangaAnibau, Anosangobari2,350 Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Bauchi State, Toro LGA-
JereCJereEzelleAnazele, AzelleJengre4,500 Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA-
Ibunu-LɔrɔCJereBunuÌbunu; iLɔrɔÀnarubùnu, ; ɔnɔLɔrɔ pl. AnoLɔrɔRebina, Ribina, Rubunu2,000 ; 1500 in four villagesBauchi State, Toro LGA-
PanawaCJereiPanawaunuPanawa pl. anaPanawaBujiyel1600 CAPRO. 3500 in five villagesBauchi State, Toro LGA-
TunzuCone person Tunzú, people àTunzûìTunzûDugusa, Duguza2500 speakers, though there are likely 2000 more ethnic Tunzu who do not speak the language.Plateau State, Jos East Local Government, main settlement at N10˚ 02, E 9˚ 06. Bauchi State, Toro LGA -
Sheni-Ziriya-Kere clusterCSheni-Ziriya-Kere-
SheniCSheni-Ziriya-KereShani, ShainitiSenione person onoSeni, people anaSeni6 fluent speakers remaining out of ethnic community of about 1500 Kaduna State, Lere LGA. Two settlements, Sheni and Gurjiya -
Kere CSheni-Ziriya-Kereextinct Kaduna State, Lere LGA. Kere-
Ziriya CSheni-Ziriya-KereJiriyaextinct Bauchi State: Toro LGA: Ziriya -
NuKauruTinuBinu pl. AnuKinugu, Kinuka, Kinuku460 ; 500 ; 3000. About seven villagesKaduna State, Saminaka LGA-
TumiKauruTutumiKitimi635 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
BinKauruBinatìBinbìBin pl. áBinBoganaBinawa220, 2,000. 4 villages ca. 3-4000 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA. About 15 km west of Mariri, along the Geshere road.-
Gbiri–Niragu clusterKauruGbiri–Niragu5,000 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA-
GbiriKauruGbiri–NiraguIgbiri, Agari, AgbiriGura, Gure, Guri-
NiraguKauruGbiri–NiraguAnirago, AniraguKafugu, Kagu, Kahugu, Kapugu-
KuramaKauruTikurumiAkurumiBagwama 11,300 Kaduna State, Saminaka and Ikara LGAs; Kano State, Tudun Wada LGA-
RumaKauruRuramaTurumaArumarumaBagwama 2,200 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA-
Shuwa–ZamaniKauruKaduna State, Saminaka LGA-
VoriKauruTiVoriPiVori pl. AVoriSrubu, Skrubu, Surubu, ZurubuFiti1,950 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGA-
DunguKauruDungi, Dingi, Dwingi, Dunjawa310 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
KonoKauruKonu, Kwono1,550 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
MalaKauruTumalaAmalaRumaya, Rumaiya1,800 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
VonoKauruKivɔnɔAvɔnɔKibolo, Kiwollo, Kiballo335 ; 500 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
KaiviKauruKaibi650 Kaduna State, Saminaka LGAno data-
GyemLameGema2000 Bauchi State, Toro LGA, Lame district-
ShauLameShoLìsháùAlmost extinctBauchi State, Toro LGA, villages of Shau and Mana-
Kudu–Camo clusterNingiKudu–CamoBasa said to be a sub–groupLanguage moribund, perhaps extinctBauchi State, Ningi LGA-
KuduNingiKudu–CamoKudaProbably extinct-
CamoNingiKudu–CamoChamoProbably extinct-
LemoroNorth-CentralLimorroEmoroAnemoroAnowuru2,950 Plateau State, Bassa LGA; Bauchi State, Toro LGA-
SangaNorth-CentralAŋma AsangaAsanga1,700 ; 5,000 Bauchi State, Toro LGA, Lame district-
ZoraNorth-CentraliZorauZora pl. aZoraCikobu, Chokobo425, 19 speakers ; 10 settlements close to N10˚ 21.7, E 8˚ 50.6. About 3-4000 ethnic Zora.Plateau State, Bassa LGA-

Lexical comparison

The following table shows the singular and plural forms for ‘arm, hand’ from various East Kainji language varieties. Names in parentheses are from Williamson. The data has been combined by Blench from Williamson, Shimizu, and Blench's unpublished field data.
LanguageCluster‘arm, hand’‘arms, hands’
Bishi Southernmoɔk
Atsam Southernwɔk
Kudu Ningimò-ri
Camo Ningiùkérí
Gamo Ningiù-ʔáraà-ʔára
Gyem Lameò-meᵏcè-rèèku
ShauLameu-ʔaratu-ʔara
SiLereàya
GanaLereù-ʔaya
Takaya Lereàyà
IzoraNorth-centralù-ʔaratààra
eMoroNorth-centralwàʔaratàara
SangaNorth-centralò-ʔàratà-ʔàra
Janji North-centraltààre
εBoze North-centralò-wàrètàre
iZeleNorth-centralò-warètà-are
iBunu North-centralù-wárétà-áré
iPanawaNorth-centralù-wárétì-wáré
iLoroNorth-centralù-wárétàáré
iGutaNorth-centralù-wɨrɨtɨ̀-ɨ̀rɨ
tiMap North-centralù-cáràà-cárà
Ziriya †Sheniàyí
Sheni Shenitayauta-taya
GbiriKauruka-kiarana-
NiraguKauruka-ʧaraKahu
Surubu Kauruka-ʧarana-
Kurama Kaurutá-árétí-
KonoKauruu-carai-cara