Upper Cross River languages


The Upper Cross River languages form a branch of the Cross River languages of Cross River State, Nigeria. The most populous languages are Lokö and Mbembe, with 100,000 speakers.

Languages

The internal structure per Cornell, reproduced in Williamson and Blench, is as follows:

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench.
LanguageBranchClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonymOther names Other names for languageExonymSpeakersLocation
AgọiAgoiWaGọiIbamiRo BambamiWa Bambami3,650 ; estimated 12,000 Cross River State, Obubra LGA, Agoi–Ekpo, Ekom–Agoi, Agoi–Ibami and Itu–Agoi towns-
KiọngAkoiyang, Äkäyöñ, Okoyong, OkonyongSpoken only by old people, younger generation speak EfikCross River State, Odukpani and Akamkpa LGAs-
KọrọpDurop, KuropKòṛ óp̣Ododop12,500 total Cross River State, Odukpani and Akamkpa LGAs; and in Cameroon-
LegboEast–WestGboLegboAgboItigidiIgbo Imaban18,500 ; 30,000 Cross River State, Obubra LGA; Abia State, Afikpo LGA-
LenyimaEast–WestAnyimaInyimaCross River State, Obubra LGA-
LeyighaEast–WestAyiga, YighaAsiga3,150 Cross River State, Obubra LGA-
LokәәEast–WestUgep, NkpamLokә, LoköYakạ, Yakә, Yakurr, YaköUgep38,200 ; 100,000 Cross River State, Obubra LGA-
LubilaEast–WestKabilaOjor, Kabila, Kaibre, KabireCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, at Ojo Nkomba, and Ojo Akangba-
MbembeEast–WestAdun, Okom , Osopong, Ofombonga, Ofonokpan, Okorogbana, Ekama in Ikom LGA, Oferikpe in Abakaliki LGAOkam, Oderiga, Wakande, Ifunubwa, Ekokoma, Ofunobwan 35,600 ; 100,000 Cross River State, Obubra and Ikom LGAs; Anambra State, Abakaliki LGA-
NkukoliEast–WestNkokolleLokukoliEkuri17,831 ; 10,000 Cross River State, Ikom, Obubra and Akamkpa LGAs, Iko Ekperem Development Area-
Olulumọ–Ikọm clusterEast–WestOlulumọ–IkọmÒkúní9,250 Cross River State, Ikom LGA-
OlulumọEast–WestOlulumọ–IkọmÒlúlùmọ1,730 ; 5,000 -
IkọmEast–WestOlulumọ–Ikọm7,520 ; 25,000 -
BakpinkaEast–WestIyongiyong, IyoniyongUwetBegbungbaCross River State, Akamkpa LGA-
Doko–UyangaEast–WestDọsangaBasangaIkoSeveral townsCross River State, Akamkpa LGA-
Ukpet–Ehom clusterEast–WestUkpet–EhomAkpet–EhomCross River State, Akamkpa LGA-
UkpetEast–WestUkpet–EhomAkpet-
EhomEast–WestUkpet–EhomUbetengEbeteng-
KukeleNorth–South4 dialects in north, 3 in south, Ugbala, Mtezi and Mtezi–Iteeji in Anambra State, Abakaliki LGAUkele, UkelleKukeleBakele31,700 ; 40,000 Cross River State, Ogoja LGA; Anambra State, Abakaliki LGA; Benue State, Okpokwu and Oju LGAs; and in Cameroon-
Ubaghara clusterNorth–SouthUbaghara30,000 Cross River State, Akamkpa LGA-
BiakpanNorth–SouthUbagharaUbaghara Development Area-
IkunNorth–SouthUbagharaUbaghara Development Area-
EtonoNorth–SouthUbagharaUbaghara Development Area-
UgbemNorth–SouthUbagharaEgup–Ita Development Area-
UtumaNorth–SouthUbagharaUmon Development Area-
KohumonoNorth–SouthKohumonoKoHumonoBaHumono, sg. ÒhúmónòEdiba Ekumuru, Ìkúmúrú, Ìkúmóró ; Àtàm 11,870 Cross River State, Abi and Obubra LGA-
KOIN North–SouthKohumonoKalaḅarị, Kịrịkẹ, Ịḅanị dialects and the isolated lect Nkọrọ Kokura, belonging to the Tera clusterRivers State, Asari–Toru, Degema, Bonny, Okrika, and Port Harcourt LGAs-
Oring clusterNorth–SouthOringOrriKoringat least 25,000 ; 75,000 Benue State, Okpokwu LGA; Anambra State, Ishielu LGA-
UfiaNorth–SouthOringUtonkon12,300 Benue State, Okpokwu LGA-
UfiomNorth–SouthOringEffium3,000 Benue State, Okpokwu LGA; Anambra State, Ishielu LGA-
OkpotoNorth–SouthOring6,350 Anambra State, Ishielu LGA-
UmonNorth–SouthAmon25 villagesCross River State, Akamkpa LGA-
UzekweNorth–SouthEzekwe5,000 Cross River State, Ogoja LGA-
Agwagwune clusterNorth–SouthAgwagwuneAgwa–Gwunɛ20,000 Cross River State, Akamkpa LGA-
AgwagwuneNorth–SouthAgwagwuneGwuneAgwagwuneAkunakuna, Akurakura Cross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area-
EreiNorth–SouthAgwagwuneEzeiEnnaCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Erei Development Area-
AbiniNorth–SouthAgwagwuneBini, AbiriObiniCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area-
AdimNorth–SouthAgwagwuneArәm, DimOdimOrumCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area-
AbayongoNorth–SouthAgwagwuneBayono, BayinoCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area-
Etono IINorth–SouthAgwagwuneEtunoCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Ubaghara Development Area-

Reconstruction

A reconstruction of Proto-Upper Cross River has been proposed by Gerrit Dimmendaal.