Mel languages


The Mel languages are a branch of Niger–Congo languages spoken in Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The most populous is Temne, with about two million speakers; Kissi is next, with half a million.

Languages

Mel has traditionally been classified as the bulk of a southern branch of a West Atlantic branch of Niger–Congo. However, these are geographic and typological rather than genealogical groups; Segerer shows that there is no exclusive relationship between Mel and the other southern languages, Sua and Gola.
Fields splits Mel into a Highlands group originating in Guinea, and also a Bullom-Kisi-Gola group.
Fields proposes that the homeland of Proto-Mel is located in the north-central highlands of Sierra Leone just to the south of the Lesser Scarcies River, rather than on the coast. The homeland of Proto-Highlands is located along the middle stretches of the Konkoure River in Guinea, just to the northeast of Conakry.

Comparative vocabulary

Comparison of basic vocabulary words in the Mel languages from Fields :
Languageeyeearnosetoothtonguemouthbloodbonetreewatereatname
Sitemudɔ-fɔrlʊŋʊsa-lolYmde-sekte-meraku-sume-tyirkʊ-bɛntkʊ-tɔkdɔ-munki-dite-we / me-we
Landumada-fɔra-lʊnʊs, a-rʊnsta-soth, ta-suthda-sekda-merakʊ-suŋma-tsir, ma-cirkʊ-bʊntke-tog, kʊ-tɔɔkda-mun, m-ancki-ditayif
Temnefora-lʊns, a-lʊsa-suth, a-sotsekra-mersaŋtsirbant, kʊ-bonthn-anʈm-antdi; sombonʈ; n-es
Bullomfollnuiminɛ-changmulliŋ, li–mɛliŋɲɛnnkongpahrummendyoilillɛ
Kisihɔltennileŋmiŋndociŋndediɔ-muleŋsondookoowaŋpaayɔmndomɛŋndaŋdiodiolaŋ
Golae-fenue-miasiame-miel, o-mie, meer-oo-na, ɲasa, ma-sei, ma-senke-kpake-kul, kulumai, mande, mandidze, dzɛe-del

Comparison of basic vocabulary words in the Mel languages, and also Sua and Gola, from Wilson : Limba has also been added from Clarke.
Languageeyeearnosetoothtonguemouthbloodbonetreewatername; surname
Baga Madurida-fɔr / i- / sə-a-läŋgäs / i-ta-sot / ma-da-sek / i-da-mer / sə-ku-suŋ / cu-koonɛke-bantkə-tɔɔk / i-ba-munta-we / ma-; lambe
Baga Sitemudɔ-fɔr / Ø- / sə-a-laŋəs / sə- / Ø-a-loləm / Ø-de-sek / Ø-te-mer / me-ku-su / cu-mɛ-tsirko-tɔk / tsə-da-mun
Baga Kobada-fɔr / ɛ-a-rəns / ɛ-ta-sot / ma-da-sek / ɛ-da-mɛrku-soŋ / tsə-ma-tsirke-bant / tsə-kə-tɔkna-munkə-teŋk
Landumada-fɔr / ɛ- / sə-a-ləŋəs / yɛ-ta-soot / mada-sek / ɛ-da-mera / sə-kə-suŋ / cə-ma-cirkə-tɔɔʐ / yɛ-da-mun; m-ancsta-yif / ma-
Temnerə-fɔr / ɛ-ä-ləns / ɛ-ä-sot̪ / mə-rə-sek / ɛ-rə-merkə-səŋ / tə-mə-tirkə-bänt̪ŋ-ənt / y-; ä-tɔk 'firewood'm-äntŋ-es / m-
Sherbrohɔ́l / ti-nṵ́ɪ́ / ti-mín / si-caŋ / n-màlíŋ / ti-sùmŋkɔ̀ŋpaktɔ̀kmɛ́nlíl / n-, si-
Mmanifɔl / thifɔlnyu / thinyumin / thimincaŋ /ncaŋdi-miliŋ / mamiliŋeñɛn / nñɛnkòó-wáŋpak / thipakyɔ̀m-ndóm̄ɛni–lɛlu / n-lɛlu
Kisihɔ̀l-téŋnì-léŋmǐŋ-ndócìŋ-ndédìɔ̀mù-léŋsòndò-ónkongpàà-o-thɔkmɛ̀ŋ-ndáŋdìò-
Sua-fɔn / i-n-nihi-seeny / m--wɛy / m--dɛmɛtɛ / i-k-tumbu / i-m-siinŋ-wuh-taany / i-m-minyn-wey / i-; n-konto / i-
Golaéfèkénûé-mḭakésia̰ómiè, kémiè, kémièlóńá̰másḛ̀i, másɛ̀nkégòa, kégwàkekuu, kekulmamal, mamæedel
Limbafoya, hoya ha;
pl. taya ta		kuluha ko;
pl. ŋaliha ŋa		hutini ha;
pl. ta ta		hutiti ha;
pl. ta ta		filiŋ ha;
pl. tafiliŋ ta		foti ha;
pl. ta ta		marēŋ ma, masini makutoli ko;
pl. ŋa ŋa, ba ba		kuieŋ ko;
pl. ŋa ŋa		mandi makēn ko;
pl. ŋakēn ŋa