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.