Nupoid languages


The Nupoid languages are a branch of Volta–Niger spoken in west-central Nigeria, particularly in southeastern Niger State and northern Kogi State. They include the Nupe, and Ebira languages, each with about 4 million speakers. Most Nupoid languages have 3 level tones.

Languages

Roger Blench classifies the Nupoid languages as follows.
In addition, Koro Zuba is close to Dibo.

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench.
LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonymOther names Other names for languageExonymSpeakersLocation
DiboDiboDiboShitako, Zitako, ZhitakoGanagawa, Ganagana4 18,200 ; estimate more than 100,000 – an unknown number of Dibo living among the Gbari no longer speak their own language.Niger State, Lapai LGA; Federal Capital Territory; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA
Nupe–Nupe Tako clusterNupe–Nupe TakoCentral Nupe has become the accepted literary form.BassaNge360,000 ; 1,000,000 may include closely related languagesNiger State, Lavun, Mariga, Gbako, Agaie, and Lapai LGAs; Kwara State, Edu and Kogi LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kogi State, Bassa LGA. Lokoja
Nupe (Central)Nupe–Nupe TakoNife, Nyffe, AnupeNupeNupeNupe CentralAmpeyi, Anupecwayi, Anuperi, Tappah, Takpa, Tapa, Nupenci, NupenciziAnufawa, Nyffe283,000 ; estimated 1,000,000
Nupe TakoNupe–Nupe TakoIbaraBasa Nge19,100 Kogi State, Bassa LGA, Kwara State
GadeGedeGadeGade60,000 Federal Capital Territory; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA
Ebira clusterEbiraIgbirra, Igbira, Egbira, Egbura154,500, 500,000 ; about 1M Kwara State, Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA; Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA
OkeneEbiraKwara State, Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs
EtunoEbiratụnọIgaraEdo State, Akoko–Edo LGA, Igara town
KotoEbiraIgu, or Tawari, Kuta, Diko, Karu, Louome, KadunaIbagyi, GbagyeEast Gwari, Gwari MataiGwari200,000 including Gbari; 250,000 Niger State, Rafi, Chanchaga, Shiroro and Suleija LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kaduna State, Kachia LGA; Nasarawa State, Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs
Gbagyi NkwaGbagyiGbagyimore than 50,000 Niger State, Rafi LGA
GbariA spread of lects are named according to town names: Botai, Jezhu, Konge, Kwange ; other lects are also based on river locations: Shigokpna, Zubakpna, Abokpna, SumwakpnaGwari Yamma, West Gwari200,000 including GbagyiNiger State, Chanchaga, Suleija, Agaie and Lapai LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kaduna State, Kachia LGA; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA
Gupa–AbawaGupa, Abawaestimated more than 10,000 Gupa and 5,000 Abawa Niger State, Lapai LGA around Gupa and Edzu villages
Kamimore than 5000 Niger State, Lapai LGA, Ebo town & 11 villages
AsuAsuAsuAbewaEbe5000 Niger State: Mariga LGA: several villages south of Kontagora on the Mokwa road
KakandaKakandaKakanda–Budon, Kakanda–Gbanmi/SokunAkandaHyabe, Adyaktye4,500 ; 20,000
KupaKwara State, Kogi LGA, around Abugi

Reconstructions

The following Proto-Nupoid reconstructions are from Blench.
GlossProto-Nupoid
tree*ɔ́ʧĩ́
leaf#avini
charcoal*ekana
sand*mu-ʒin
smoke*àmʷú
fire*n-ra
wind*efè
rain*ègbã
to sharpen*rɛ́
elephant*-dogba
buffalo*ɛ̀ya; *ʊ̀-fá
Dioscorea guineensis*iti
Colocasia esculenta *-koko
Sorghum bicolor *àkwʊ́
one*ɔ̀ɲɪ
three*ɛ̀tá
four*ɛ̀ɲi
five*ɛ̀tsun
six*twaɲi
seven*ǹtwaba
ten*ɛ̀bwʊ́n

Some Proto-Nupe-Gbari crop name reconstructions are :
GlossProto-Nupe-Gbari
Pennisetum americanum *màkwú
Pennisetum americanum *sàkwú; *kpàyì
Digitaria exilis*-furu