Southern Bantoid languages


Southern Bantoid is a branch of the Bantoid language family. It consists of the Bantu languages along with several small branches and isolates of eastern Nigeria and west-central Cameroon. Since the Bantu languages are spoken across most of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Bantoid comprises 643 languages as counted by Ethnologue, though many of these are mutually intelligible.

History

Southern Bantoid was first introduced by Williamson in a proposal that divided Bantoid into North and South branches.
The unity of the North Bantoid group was subsequently called into question, and Bantoid itself may be polyphyletic, but the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit, something that has not happened for Bantu itself.

Internal classification

According to Williamson and Blench, Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages, Jarawan, Tivoid, Beboid, Mamfe, Grassfields and Ekoid families. The Bendi languages are of uncertain classification; they have traditionally been classified with Cross River, but they may actually be Southern Bantoid. Blench suggests that Tivoid, Momo and East Beboid may form a group, perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru–Angwe:
Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund :

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
ClassificationLanguage12345678910
BantuLugandaemubbirissatunnyattaanomukaagamusanvumunaanamwendakkumi
NdemliNdemlimɔ̀hɔ́ífɛ́ítááítʃìjèítâŋtóhósàᵐbáfɔ̀ːmɔ́bùʔɛ̀dʒòm
TikarTikarmbɔʔɓîlêɲîʃæ̃̂ɸyuluʃâmɓìnìnìtæ̂nìwûm
TivoidEsimbi kēnə̄mə̄rākpə̄mākə̄lə̄mōɲīmātə̄nə̀mālālə̄mātə̄nə̀ mə̄rākpə̄ mōɲìōɲī mātə̄nə̀ mōɲī būɣù
TivoidEsimbi ɔ-nərâkpəá-kələoɲía-tənəa-lələà-tən râkpə ò-ɲi o-ɲí à-tən o-ɲí bùɣù
TivoidIpuloémɔ̀víàlvétàtvéɲìvétànvéɾátúmvéɾátúm nɔ̀mɔ̀ víɲèɲívíɲèɲí nɔ̀mɔ̀ épɔ́ːt
TivoidIyivemɔ̌mhjâltàtɲîntáŋə̀nkə̀lə̀kə̀tàtkə̀lə̀kə̀tàt kàt mɔ̀mú kíníkìnìtáŋìɲìn pùɛ̀
TivoidTivmɔ̀ḿ / mɔ́múhárútáŕúnjì:útã́ːátérátáŕútã́ː kàː úhár ániènìútã́ː kàː únjì: púè / púwè
Grassfields, MenchumBefangmóʔ fetáíɪ̀kᶣà ɪ̀tʲə̂nⁿdʊ̀fúèkᶣànátáí i.e. éfómóétʲə̂nékᶣà éɣúm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeFe'fe' nshʉ̀'pʉ́ɑ́tāākwɑ̀tîntōhōsə̀ǝ̀mbʉ́ɑ́hə̀ǝ̄vʉ̄'ʉ̄ghām
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeFe'fe' nshʉ̀'pʉ́ɑ́tāākwɑ̀tîntōhōsə̀ǝ̀mbʉ́ɑ́hə̀ə̄vʉ̄'ʉ̄ghām
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeGhomalayaə́mu'yaə́pʉə́ə́yaə́tâyápfʉə̀yaə́tɔ̂ntɔkɔ́sɔmbʉə́ə́hɔ̌mvʉ'ʉ́ghǎm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeMengaka yimɔ'ɔ / mɔ'yipá / payitét / tétnəkwɔ̀yitɛntɔ̌sambánəhǎnəvø'nəghám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeNda'nda'ncə̀'pə́ə́tékwòtɔ̀tósòmbə́ə́χópvɨ̀ʔgháp
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeNgiemboonmmɔ́'ɔmbʉ́antálekùantʉ̂antɔɡɔ́sɔ̀ɔn mbʉ́alefɔ̌ɔnlepfwɔʼɔ́leɡém
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeNgombayɛ́mɔ́'yɛ́páyɛ́tátyɛ́nɛ́kwayɛ́taayɛ́nɛ́ntúkúsaambáyɛ́nɛ́fɔ́myɛ́nɛ́pfú'únɛɡɛ́m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeNgombaletápwótárəkwotaatoɣəsaabwóləfaaləpfuʔúləɡham
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeNgwemɔ'fi-biə-tatlɛkwə-tɛ-ntulisaambiəlɛfɔlɛʙə̌ʔálɛ̄ɣɛ̀m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, BamilekeYemba wɔ́mɔ'ɔ́mémpīāmétɛ́tlekuametáantokóesambīālefaálevu'ɔ́legēm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaAwing mɔ̌pɛ́térə́nə̀kwàténə̀tóɣə́sàmbɛ́nə̀fémə́nə̀púʔə́nə̀ɣə́mə́
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaAwing mɔhpəːəteːrekwataantuɡusaːmbenɨfeːmenɨpuehnɨɡeːme
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaBafut mɔ́ʔɔ̂báàtárə̀kwààntáàntóʔòsàmbàfwámə́kwálìʔí / nɨ̀bùʔûtàwûm / nɨ̀wûm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaBafut mɔʔɔ̂baatarəkwàǹtaàntoʔosàmbàfwaməkwalɛ̀ʔɛtàɡhûm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaBambili-Bambui mɔ̀ʔɔ̀bə̀ɡə̀tyèkyàtɔ̀ɔ̀ntúúʃàmbànɨ̀fɔ̀ɔ̀nɨ̀bɛ̀ʔɛ̀nɨ̀ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaBambili-Bambui mɔʔɔbɨɡətyékɥatɔːn-túːʃambánɨ-fɔːnɨ-bɛʔɛnɨ-ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaBamukumbitm²mɔʔɔ⁷⁷ or tɑʔbɛ, bɨbɛ, mɨmbɛtɑrɨ, bɨ²tɑː⁷⁵ɾə², mɨntɑrɨnɨkwɑ, bɨnɨkwɑ, mɨnkwɑjitɑ̃, bɨtɑ̃, mɨntɑ̃jintoʔ, bɨntoʔ, mɨntoʔʃɑmbɛ, bɨʃɑmbɛ, mɨʃɑmbɛnɨfɔ̃, bɨnɨfɔ̃, mɨnɨfɔ̃nɨ²buʔ²¹, bɨnɨbuʔ, mɨnɨbuʔnɨwũ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaMendankwe-Nkwenmɔ̄hbəɡətarɔkuatanntɔ̄sāmbānəfahnəbuɔ̄hnəɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaMbəkum mɔ́ʔɔ̂bâtárə̂kwàtánə̀ntúɣúsàmbànɨ̀fámə́nɨ̀bùʔûnɨ̀ɣɨ̂m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaNgemba mɔ́ʔɔ́bǎtárékwàtâŋntúɡhə̂sámbǎnɨ̀fə̂ŋnɨ̀bvùʔə́nɨ̀wúmə̀
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NgembaPinyinmɔ́ʔɔ̀páátáɾə̀kwàtânə̀ǹtôsàmbânə̀fámə̂nə̀pùʔə̂nə̀wúmə̀
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NkambeKwajamũũ ˧˩baa ˦˧ta ˦kɥ ˧˩tɔ̃ ˦˧tɔ̃ ˨ fũ ˧sə ˨ mba ˧˨wɔ ˦ ŋkxɨt ˦bə ˦ ʁət ˨wəm˦
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NkambeLimbum mɔ̀ʔsíɾbáːtáːɾkjèːtântūːnfúsàːmbâwāːmíbɨ̀ʔɨ̂ / bɨ̀ɾɨ̂ɾɨ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NkambeLimbum mòʔsírbáātáarkyèetântūunfúsàambâwāamébʉ̀ʔʉ̂rʉ̂ʉ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NkambeMfumte mìʔincíbʉ́àtókweétóŋntunfúusɔ̀mbaawáamíbúumhúʔum
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NkambeYambamòʔfísbátɛʔkwètàŋntuuŋfúsàmbâfwamɛʔvə̀kɛʔhúm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBaba1 mɔ̀ʔmbántíkúátèntíóʔókpataɾfómə́ʃìpókòɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBaba jimàa / jímɔ̀jípàa / ji mbáji tára / ji ntíiji kwà / kpaji tèntúwó / tuʔokwàtar / kpataɾfómətʃìpóo / ʃipɔkòɣəm / ɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBafanjijimuʔu / muʔu³⁵ / tiʔæ⁵³jipɑɑ / piæ³⁵jitii / tii³⁵jikwə / kwə³jintɑ̃ĩ⁵³ / tɑ̃ĩ⁵³jintou / ntou⁵jikwætæ / kwætæ³⁵jifũɔ̃ / fũɔ̃⁵jipuʔu / puʔu³⁵jiɣwũ / ɣwũ⁵³
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBamali mʷəʔəpɛttɛtkʷatantɔkʷatʃønəfɔːnəpuʔunəɣu
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBambalangtɛʔipaatɾekʰwɛtiɛ̃ntiɡawkwatʃəɨfuõndipoʔuwuŋ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBamun mòʔmbàátɛ́tpkàtɛ̀nntúsàmbàfámə́kóvýʔɣə́m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBamun ímoʔípáaítɛtípkwàítɛ̀nítúuísambaífáməívʉ̀ʔʉ́ɣóm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunBangolanmɔ̀mbǎtétkpàtíjēǹtúhùkpáte̙tfótʃɛ̀ŋɔ́ʔɔ̀vwó
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunMedumbancʉ'bɑhɑtadkwɑ̀tɑ̂nntogǝsɑ̀mmbɑhɑfoməbwə̀'əgham
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, NunMungaka ɲíníbáāitɛ́tikwàitànintwúʔkwàtátifúmsʉibɔ́mɣóm / wɔm
Grassfields, MomoMoghamoímɔ̄ʔíbēítádíkwēítãtìfóɣə́sàmbéfàmíàbōɡìɣùm
Grassfields, MomoMundaniyea-mɔʔbebebetatbekpìbetã̀ã̂bentùabesã̀ã̀mbebefã̀ãbebə̀ʔaèɣɛm
Grassfields, MomoNgamambo -mɔ̀ʔbetádkwètânrɨ̀fúɣɔ́ / rʌ̀fúɣɔ́sàmbefàambɔ̀ɔkɣum
Grassfields, MomoNgamambo -mɔ̀ʔbétɑ́tkwètɑ̂nrɨ̀fúɣə́sɑ̀mbéfɑ̌mə̀bɔ̌kwúm
Grassfields, MomoNgie ìfìŋìbǐɡəìtáìkjùɡəìtɨŋìfəwìsàmbìɡəìfɨŋìàbəwìwùm
Grassfields, MomoNgie ìfìŋìbǐɡìtáìkɥǐɡìtʉ̄ŋìfœ́ìsàmbǐɡìfɔ̌ŋàbœ̀ìwùm
Grassfields, MomoNgwoŋwāʔfjēːtɛ́dkwɛ̀tânm̀fósàːmbjɛ̄fwɔ̌ːkɔ̄ːwūm
Grassfields, RingBamunka mɔ̌ʔbuǔtiâkʷìtaântɨ̌ʔtə́kʷiǐtiâ ?fɔ̌ŋbɔ̀mɔ̂ʔ ?wûŋ
Grassfields, RingBamunka mɔʔ Lbuː RFtià Fkʷi Lta Fntʉ̀ʔ Ftəkʷitia HHF ?fɔ̃ Rbɔmɔʔ R ?wũ L
Grassfields, RingWushimùɔ́ʔbātɨ́ə̀ʔtsə̀tɛ́ɛ̀ǹtùɔ́ʔtsə̀tɨ́ə̀ʔ fə́mə́bùfə̀mùɔ́ʔ ?vóó
Grassfields, Ring, CenterBabanki mùʔbòtáʔkàʔtànǹtʉ̀fə́sòmbôfwòmə́àbʉ̀múʔ wúm
Grassfields, Ring, CenterBummɔ̀kbàtâtkìktântúfásàmbâfâmábúlá mɔ̀k ìwûm
Grassfields, Ring, CenterKomnòʔbòtalkàe / kæ̀tâynntufansòmbo / nsombônfamabulamòʔivɨm
Grassfields, Ring, CenterKukmɔ̀ʔbòːtóːkɪ̀ːkòtâːtóːfə́sōːmboːfāːmə́buː́mɔ̀ʔ ?íɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, CenterKungmɔ̀ʔbə̀ːtə́ːkʲə̀kə̀tàʲtūːfə́sɛ̀ːⁿbɛːfɛ̀ːmə́bólímɔ̀ʔ ?ìɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, CenterMmenmɔ̀ʔpɛ᷆tákjātâɲtūfɜ́sɛ̄mbɛ᷇fāmmɜ́pʊ̄lɜ̄mɔ̀ʔ ēɣə̆̀m
Grassfields, Ring, CenterOkumɔɔbaataakwɪʲtanntuufəsaambaɛfaaməbuuməkɛvəm
Grassfields, Ring, EastLamnso'mɔ̀ʔɔ́nbààtáárkwɛ̀ɛ̀tànntùùfúsààmbàwāāmɛ́bvə̀ʔə̀ɣwə̀m
Grassfields, Ring, WestAghem mɔ̀ʔbə̀ˠàtə́ˠátʃʲàkòtɛ̀ʲtǔ̞ːsə̀ˠàⁿbə̄ˠāɪ́fǎːtɛ̄ⁿdzū̞ˠū̞ɪ́ɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, WestAghem mɒ̀ʔbɨ̀ɣàtɨ́ɣácìakɔ̀tɛ̀tǒosɨ̀ɣàmbɨ̀ɣàɛ́ʔfáatèndzùɣòé-ʔɣɨ́m
Grassfields, Ring, WestIsumɔ̀ʔbèːtsíːtʃàʔìtàːntsìfɔ́ŋsèmbèfáːmə́bùkə́ívə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, WestLaimbuemòʔbòtókjə̀ʔtáìtɔ̀ɔ́sùmbôìfámábə́lə́mɔ̀ʔɨɣɨ́m
Grassfields, Ring, WestWehmóbə̀ɣə́tə̀ɣə́kaikə́tátùbə́səɣ-mbə̀ɣifámtàndzúiɣə́m
Yemne-KimbiAjumbumʷə̀fʲə̂ŋtòɲìkpɛ̂kʲàtònàtònànàkpɛ̂ɲìkòɲ
Yemne-KimbiMundablim¹.mö³²m¹.fɪe³²n¹.tɔ³²n¹.de²kpɔn²tʃi²ta²nɔ¹³tɔ²ne¹ne¹kpa²ne¹dzo²fɯ²
Yemne-KimbiMungbam -m̩̀ / -mù-fìn /-fá-tì / -tēè-ɲ̩̀ / -nìkpáān / kpōalētɛ̀ / -lētè-ɲ̩̀tɛ̄ / -ɲītɛ-nə̀nè / -nə̄nèkpánə̀ɲ̩̀ / kpānāɲìdʒūhɛ́ / dʒóhó
Yemne-KimbiMunbam -mwə́nə̀ / -mù / – mù-fè /-fō / -fé-tɛ̄ / -tēa / -tè-ɲə̄nə́ / -ɲì / -ɲìkpòōnə́ / kpɛ̄n / kpààɲì-lētɛ̀ / -létēa / -lētɛ̀-ɲītɛ̀ / -ɲītə̀ / -ɲītɛ̀-ɲīɲì ~ -ɲìɲì / --ɲìɲì / -ɲìɲìkpɔ̄ndʒùɲì / -ɲìnkpɛ̄nkwîn / kwîn / kwɔ̂n