Ubangian languages


The Ubangian languages form a diverse linkage of some seventy languages centered on the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are the predominant languages of the CAR, spoken by 2–3 million people, including one of its official languages, Sango. They are also spoken in Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.

External classification

classified the then-little-known Ubangian languages as Niger–Congo and placed them within the Adamawa languages as "Eastern Adamawa". They were soon removed to a separate branch of Niger–Congo, for example within Blench's Savanna languages. However, this has become increasingly uncertain, and Dimmendaal states that, based on the lack of convincing evidence for a Niger–Congo classification ever being produced, Ubangian "probably constitutes an independent language family that cannot or can no longer be shown to be related to Niger–Congo." Blench includes Ubangian within Niger–Congo. Güldemann notes that although evidence for the inclusion of Ubangi within Niger-Congo is still weak, the same also applies to many other branches which are uncontested members of Niger-Congo.

Internal classification

Boyd and Moñino removed the Gbaya and Zande languages. The half dozen remaining branches are coherent, but their interrelationships are not straightforward. Williamson & Blench propose the following arrangement:
In addition, there is the Ngombe language, whose placement is uncertain due to a paucity of data.
Note: The ambiguous name Ngbaka is used for various languages in the area. Generally, singular Ngbaka language refers to one of the main Gbaya languages, whereas plural Ngbaka languages refers to a branch of Ubangian.

Güldemann (2018)

Güldemann recognises seven coherent "genealogical units" within Ubangian, but is agnostic about their positions within Niger–Congo.
Sample basic vocabulary of Ubangian languages from Moñino :
ClassificationLanguageeyeearnosetoothtonguemouthbloodbonewatertreeeatname
GbayaProto-Gbaya*gbà.l̥í/l̥í*zɛ̀rà*zɔ̰̀p*ɲín*léɓé ~ lémbè*nú*tɔ̀k*gbà̰là̰*l̥ì*tè*ɲɔŋ/l̥i*l̥ín ~ l̥íŋ
GbayaGbaya Bodoegbà.yík/yíkzèrzɔ̀kɲínléɓénútɔ̀kgbàɲàyìtèɲɔŋ/yiɲín
GbayaGbaya Biyandagbà.lí/lízàlàzɔ̀yínìlémbènútɔ̀kgbàlàlìtèyɔŋlíŋ
GbayaGbeyagbà.rí/rízɛ̀ràzɔ̰̀p ~ zɔ̰̀fɔ̰̀ɲínlép ~ léfénútɔ̰̀kgbà̰rà̰rìtèɲɔŋ/riɲín
GbayaManzal̥īzàràzɔ̰̀gòkòlɛ̀fɛ̀nūtɔ̀gbà̰l̥à̰l̥ìtèɲɔŋɔl̥ī
GbayaMbodomolízàràzɔ̀pɲínílémbénúngíàgbàlàlìtìɲɔŋlíŋ
GbayaBangandogbà.lí/líjàlàjɔ̀ɲíìɗàmbènúmbɛ́gbààlìtèɲɔŋgi/lilí
GbayaBofigbà.lī/līzàràzɔ̰̀?lēmbénūtɔ̀ʔɔ̀gbàlàlìtèɲɔŋlíŋ
NgbandiSangolɛ́mɛ́hɔ̰́pēmbēmēngāyángámɛ́nɛ̄ ~ ménēbìōngúkɛ̄kɛ̄ ~ kēkētɛ̀īrī
NgbandiYakomalɛ̄mɛ̄hɔ̰̄tɛ̰̄mɛ̄ngáɲɔ̄, yāngāmɛ́rɛ́bỳōngúkɛ̄kɛ̄tɛ̀ʔīrī
NgbandiKpatirilámɛ́hɔ̄tɛ́mīngā.ɲɔ̄ɲɔ̄mɛ́lɛ̄bìngúwìtɛ̀īrī
BakaNgbaka Mabozí.là/làzḛ̀-hṵ̄tḛ̄-mīnī-mò-nzḛ̄-kúà-ngónáāhō̰ʔēlē-
BakaMonzombolà-zḛ̀ɲō̰tḛ̄-mīmò-nzḛ̄bēyèngólózō̰ʔē
BakaGbanzililà/lí.làzèʔō̰, ŋwūtɛ́- ~ té-mīlī ~ mēlēmò-nzɛ̄kúà-ngónázɔ̄yēlē
BakaBakalà-jɛ̀-ɓàngà-tɛ̄-mī-mò-njɛ̄, māndābékèngōlōjōʔē-
BakaMayogojǐlà/bólà-jɛ́ó-tɛ́-mí-búngɔ́tɛ́běkì-ngúndùlá-zō-lé
BakaMundujíà/rràgógó.jɛ̀gòtɛ́míkɔ́.mòngɔ́tɛ́bíkìngúrrózózòírí
MbaNdunga-levà-/bùlá-jɔ̀mbɔ́-mbētú-tɛ́-mí-mó-ɓíndá-ɓéɓéngó-gá--zɔ́-ɗe-
MbaMba-nelá-/sí-jɔ̄mbɔ̄-hɔ̄mbɔ̀-tɛ́-mí-cé-, mbɔ̀cɔ̀-zí-ɓēɓēngó-gá-zɔ̄-ɗé-
MbaDongo-kolɔ̀-/sīē-gyêŋù-tɛ̀-lyò-mò-nzì-ɓèɓèngó-pá-zó-lì-
MbaAma-lo-fá-/-kúmbú--sí--wá̰--sɛ́--mɛ́--mú--kúkú-ngátī--ngù--ngbúgàsú--lí-
SereSererɔ̄tèhɔ̀tìmɛ̀nzɛ̄zùmùkpɔ̀kpɔ́ngɔ̄múzɔ̀mà
SereBelanda [Viri language|Bare]vʌ̄.lō/tì.lósùŋòvʌ̄.tìmènzōmvēlēkʊ.ɓílìngōngʊ́zàlè
BandaBanda language|Lìndá]àlà/ēcīə̄tūngāwɨ̄ə̄ʒītīmààmàə̄njīgbābīə́ngúāyɔ̄zɨ̄ʔɨ̄rɨ̄
BandaYàngerelàlà/cīcītūtūmàwōzīzītìmèmàmànjīnjīgbēbīngúngúndōjō zēʔērē
BandaNgàòàlà/cícīūtūmàwū, ūwūīʒītīmààmàīnjīgbāgbīúngúōyōzīʔīrī
BandaVàrààlà/cácūōtūngāwūēʒītīmààmàə̄njīgbābīə́ngúāyɔ̄zɨ̄ʔārā
BandaWójòàlà/cɛ́cūūtūṵ̄w̰ṵ̄kājītāmbīàmàīʒīgbābīúngúōyōzɨērē
BandaDákpáàlà/cácūōtūə̄wūə̄ʒītīmààmàə̄ʒīgbābīə́ngúndɔ̄gɔ̄rɔ̄zɨ̄ʔīrē ~ ʔērē
BandaLàngbàsilàlà/cácùtūtūwūwūʒīʒītīmàmàmàʒīʒīgbābīngúngúyōyōzɨʔēʁə̄
BandaMbanzacélà/cúcūtūtūw̰ṵ̄w̰ṵ̄zīzītīmbīmàmàzīgbābīə́ngúyɔ̄yɔ̄zɨ ~ ziʔēlē
ZandeZandebā̹ngìrī/kpā̹kpūtū̹ōrīndēmīrāngbākūrēmēmēī̹mè/díngūàrirī̹mā ~ rū̹mā
ZandeNzakarabāngìlītūʔʊ̰̄līndīmīnlāngbākʊ̄lɛ̄mɛ̄mɛ̄ndīgìngʊ̄nlàlɪnlūmā
ZandeGemeíndīrī/kpūkpūtūhɔ̄līndīmāl.ngbāngbākūlēmɛ̄mɛ̄díīwīlìlilūmā

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
ClassificationLanguage12345678910
BandaMbanza baleɓìsivɔtɑvɑnɑminduɡɑzɑlɑɡɑzɑlɑ mɑnɑ bɑle nɡebeɗeɗenɡebeɗeɗe mɑnɑ bɑle ɓufu
Banda, Central Core, Banda-BambariBanda-Linda balebiʃivɘtavanamīndūmīndū ama nɘ bale ̄mīndū ama nɘ bīʃi mīndū ama nɘ vɘta mīndū ama nɘ vana moɾofo
Banda, Central Core, Banda-BambariBanda-Linda bɑ̀lēbīʃìvə̀tɑ̀və̀nɑ̄mīndûmīndû ɑ̀ bɑ̀le ̄mīndû ɑ̀ bīʃì mīndû ɑ̀ və̀tɑ̀ mīndû ɑ̀ və̀nɑ̄ mórófō
Banda, South CentralNgbugu bàlēbīʃùwú ~ bīʃǔvɔ̄tǎvɔànə̄mīndúwù ~ mīndûmīndû ma.̀nə̄ bàlē ~ mīndû kàlá bàlēmīndû ma.̀nə̄ bīʃǔ ~ mīndû kàlá bīʃǔmīndû ma.̀nə̄ vɔ̄tǎ ~ mīndû kàlá vɔ̄tǎmīndû ma.̀nə̄ vɔànə̄ ~mīndû kàlá vɔànə̄lə́.kɔ̄nɔ́.ɡbá
Banda, South CentralNgbugu bàlèbìʃùúvòtàávwànɔ̄mìndúùmìndúù mànɜ̄ bàlè ̄mìndúù mànɜ̄ bìʃùú mìndúù mànɜ̄ vòtàá mìndúù mànɜ̄ vwànɔ̄ lɜ̀konòɡ͡bè
Banda, South CentralLangbasi bɑ̀lēbīʃìvòtɑ̀vɔ̀ɑ̀nōmīndûmīndû mɑ̀nə̄ bɑ̀le ̄mīndû mɑ̀nə̄ bīʃì mīndû mɑ̀nə̄ vòtɑ̀ mīndû mɑ̀nə̄ vɔ̀ɑ̀nō kpɔ́lɔ́ kɔ̄nɔ́
Banda, West CentralBanda-Tangbagobɑ̀ɭēbīʃìvōtɑ̀vɑ̀nɑ̄mīndûmīndû ɑ̀mɑ̀ nə̀ bɑ̀ɭē mīndû ɑ̀mɑ̀ nə̀ bīʃì mīndû ɑ̀mɑ̀ nə̀ vōtɑ̀ mīndû ɑ̀mɑ̀ nə̀ vɑ̀nɑ̄ móɾófò
Gbaya-Manza-Ngbaka, CentralBokoton͡dáŋbùwátàɾnã́ɾmȭɾkȭmȭɾkȭ zã́ŋã́ n͡dáŋ mȭɾkȭ zã́ŋã́ bùwá mȭɾkȭ zã́ŋã́ tàɾ mȭɾkȭ zã́ŋã́ nã́ɾ ɓùkɔ̀
Gbaya-Manza-Ngbaka, CentralBossangoa Gbayak͡pémɾíːtòtàːnàːmɔ̃̀ːɾɔ̃̀ɗòŋ k͡pém ɗòŋ ɾíːtò nũ̀nã́ː ?kùsìɓú
Gbaya-Manza-Ngbaka, EastNgabakakpóbɔ̀àtàlɛ̀nālɛ̄mɔ̀lɔ̄ɡàzɛ̀lɛ̀ɡàzɛ̀lɛ̀-nɡɔ́-nɛ-kpó, sambo *nɡbɛ̀ɗɛ̀ɗɛ̀kùsìɓū
Gbaya-Manza-Ngbaka, NorthwestNorthwest Gbayakpɔ́kyíítòótààrnáármɔ̀ɔ̀rɔ́mɔ̀ɔ̀rɔ́-ɗòŋ-kpɔ́k mɔ̀ɔ̀rɔ́-ɗòŋ-yíítòó mɔ̀ɔ̀rɔ́-ɗòŋ-tààr mɔ̀ɔ̀rɔ́-ɗòŋ-náár ɓú
NgbandiNorthern Ngbandikɔisɛtasiɔkɔ̃manambara mbaramiambeɡumbayasui kɔi
NgbandiYakomaòkɔ̀, ̀kɔ̀ǒsɛ̀, ̌sɛ̀òtá, ̀táòsyɔ̄, ̀syɔ̄òkṵ̄, ̀kṵ̄òmɛ̀rɛ̄, ̀mɛ̀rɛ̄mbárámbárámyɔ̀mbèɡūmbáyābàlé.kɔ̀
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, MbaDongoɓawɨɡ͡bwɔ̀àràanàvʉwɛ̀kázyázyálánɡya-iɲo-ɡ͡bwɔ̀ ?nɡya-iɲyo-ɓayi ?ànɡ͡bà
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, MbaMbaúmaɓinébyalaaⁿɡ͡boteɓúmaɓúma tele ɓúma te sené ɓúma te ɓyala ɓúma te aⁿɡ͡bote abusa
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Eastern, Mayogo-BangbaMayogoɓīnìɓīsīɓātāɓāɗābúlúvūèmāɗíàmānāníkàmādʒɛ́nàōdúkpábīnì ??ndʒɛ̄kpà
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Eastern, MunduMündübìrì, bìrìnɡ͡bɵɓəsùbatabalaɓúruvemàɗìyàlɵ̀rɵziɡ͡badzenamenewánzòkpa
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Western, Baka-GundiBakakpódebídebatàbànaθuwèθuwè tɛ kpóde θuwè tɛ bíde θuwè tɛ batà θuwè tɛ bàna kamo / θuwè tɛ θuwè
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Western, Baka-GundiLimassakpódebídebáídebànavuesítatámbalisénavue lɛ bàna kpa bo pɛ
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Western, BwakaNgabaka Ma'bok͡páàá ~ k͡páàkɔ́ɓīsìɓātàɡ͡bīānāʔèvè ~ vèsítà ~ sítāsílànāsɛ́nāvìíìnā nzò k͡pā̰
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Western, GbanziliGbanzilik͡pókàɓīsìɓɔ̄tà ~ ɓōātàɓùānā ~ ɓɔ̄nāvūèsítàsélènā ~ sáɓásánāvūè-nà-ɓùānā / liɓòà *nzò k͡pā ~ ɡ͡bà
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka-Mba, Ngbaka, Western, MonzomboMonzombok͡póìbīʃìbālàbàānāvūèʃítàʃíēnāsɛ́nāʔi̋vúēnānʒò k͡pā̰
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Sere, Sere-Bviri, Bai-ViriBelanda Virinjẽesoótaúnãuvöö́vöö́-njoí-njẽe vöö́-njoí-soó vöö́-njoí-taú vöö́-njoí-nãu ɓï̃kürü
Sere-Ngbaka-Mba, Sere, Sere-Bviri, Ndogo-SereNdogoɡbaànjésó, sósò táʔònàʔòvóvó-njeé-ɡbaànjévó-njeé-só vó-njeé-táʔò vó-njeé-nàʔò muʔɓì
Zande, Zande-NzakaraNzakara kílīīyōātāālùìsìbēìsìbē-ālí-kílī ìsìbē-ālí-īyō ìsìbē-ālí-ātā ìsìbē-ālí-ālù ŋɡ͡bō
Zande, Zande-NzakaraNzakara kílīījōātāālùìsìbēìsìbē-ālí-kílī ìsìbē-ālí-ījō ìsìbē-ālí-ātā ìsìbē-ālí-ālù ŋɡ͡bɔ̃̄
Zande, Zande-NzakaraZandesáúébíátábīànɡì ~ bīàmà bīsùèbīsùè bàtì̧ sá bīsùè bàtì̧ úé bīsùè bàtì̧ bíátá bīsùè bàtì̧ bīànɡì bàwē