the numana language of central nigeria and its …...the numana language of central nigeria and its...

The Numana language

of

Central Nigeria and its affinities

Roger Blench Kay Williamson Educational Foundation 8, Guest Road Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/Ans 0044-(0)1223-560687 Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804 E-mail [email protected] http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm

This printout: October 19, 2011

R.M. Blench Numana Wordlist Circulated for comment

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Location, history and sociolinguistic situation ......................................................................................... 1

2.1 Nomenclature .......................................................................................................................................... 1 2.2 Location and settlements......................................................................................................................... 1 2.3 Language status....................................................................................................................................... 2 2.4 Numana culture and history .................................................................................................................... 2

3. Phonology..................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Vowels..................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Consonants .............................................................................................................................................. 2 3.3 Tones ....................................................................................................................................................... 2

4. Morphology.................................................................................................................................................. 3 4.1 Nouns ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

Gloss ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 5. Lexical comparison and the classification of Numana............................................................................. 3 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 20

TABLES Error! No table of figures entries found.


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1. Introduction

This is an annotated wordlist of the Numana language, spoken in some nine villages in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The wordlist was collected by Barau Kato from a group of villagers in Aza on the 1st of March 2003. Our thanks to Tanko K. Makama, Yahaya Usman, Mukaila, Abdu, Isa Usman, Danjuma Shagaya and Bala Garba. The wordlist was collected as a ‘one-shot’ exercise and the transcription must therefore be regarded as preliminary. This analysis was prepared by Roger Blench, who added the comparative observations. This document is being circulated to scholars for comment. Some sociolinguistic information has been drawn from a Numana survey report (Rueck et al. 2008).

2. Location, history and sociolinguistic situation

2.1 Nomenclature

The Numana reported that they call themselves Anɨnwen and their language Inmwen or taba Anumw´n, but used the term Numana for both themselves and their language in Hausa. It is also common to refer to a people and their language by the name of the town where they live; for example, residents of Arak, the Numana village we visited, referred to their language as Arak.

2.2 Location and settlements

The Numana live mainly on in settlements south and east of Gwantu, which is ca. 30 km. south of Fadan Karshe on the Akwanga road in Kaduna State in Central Nigeria. The main settlements of the Numana are Àzà Wúùn, Ambɛ̀ntɔ̀k, Anepwa, Akoshey, Amkpong, Gbancûn, Amfɔɔr and Adaŋgaŋ. Some of the Numana settlements are shown in Figure 1;

Figure 1. Map of primary Numana settlements

GWANTU

Adanggan

Numana settlement

Settlement of other ethnic groups

Adanggan

Ningeshe

Numbu

NumbuAza

Wuun

Nandu

N


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2.3 Language status

The Numana reported their own local population as 20,000, with an additional 3,000 living outside the area.

2.4 Numana culture and history

3. Phonology

The phonology of Numana is based on rapid observations and should therefore be regarded as tentative at this stage.

3.1 Vowels

Numana probably has seven phonemic vowels;

Front Central Back

Close i u

Close-Mid e (´) o

Open-Mid E ɔ

Open a

The status of the /´/ is highly uncertain, and it is probably a centralised allophone of /i/. For the present it is transcribed as heard.

3.2 Consonants

Numana consonants are as follows: Bilabial Labio-

dental Alve- olar

Alveopalatal

Palatal Velar Labial-velar

Glottal

Plosive p b t d [c] j k g (kp) Nasal m n ŋ Trill [r] Fricative f v s z ʃ ʒ ɣ h Approximant y w

Lateral Approximant l Implosive ∫ Î

3.3 Tones


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4. Morphology

4.1 Nouns

Gloss sg. pl.

5. Lexical comparison and the classification of Numana

No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 1. Tree (generic) cingyə́n kúkwə́n cf. Tarokoid #-kon but this root is

widespread in Niger-Congo, often meaning firewood.

2. Leaf mgbamvumvu ámgbamvumvu cf. Ningye mbaŋ, 3. Root rìryɛn̂ iríryɛn̂ cf. Ningye ryiŋ, Fyem líŋ, Tarok alÆ$ŋ, Pe

liŋ pl. a-liŋ. A PVC root given by Westermann and reconstructible to Proto-Volta-Congo

4. Branch ŋgà áŋgà cf. Bu ɛna, Hasha i-nak, 5. Bark (of tree) phù áphù 6. Thorn tùntɔ& ǹtùntɔ& cf. Bu ncɔŋ, Alumu tòtò, Hasha i-tyok, Ce

ìtɪtɔ, 7. Grass (generic) gə́gá agə́gá cf. Ninzo agígá, Bu giga, Ce ku-gá, 8. Vine (generic) vunvən ávúnvə́n 9. Mushroom jǔ jú cf. Bu juju 10. Water-lily 11. Algae ryuk 12. Seed/stone/pip mgbyǎn mgbyán 13. Charcoal mvri — cf. Ningye ndiri, 14. Dust mgbomgbo 15. Ashes ntɔn cf. Niger-Congo #ntoN, 16. Rubbish-heap tuwa 17. Mud ryɛ 18. Clay təntam 19. Dew àməŋ cf. Ninzo àmé, Bu mmɛ, Hasha eme,

Rukul mmaŋ, Tarok ìmìmyàŋ, Yaŋkam myaŋ but almost certainly going back to a Niger-Congo root #me-

20. Stone mkpàŋ mkpáŋ cf. Ake ripyɔ, Tarok ìpaŋ. Also Chadic: Mwaghavul paŋ

21. Sand ablúblù 22. Smoke ntsiŋ cf. Bu ɛntɛ, Ce incí, 23. Fire lú cf. Ninzo ùrú, Bu wuru, Ce uwù, 24. Water àmàʃir cf. Ninzo masiri, Bu mma, Cara mal,

Horom bamal, also Ura mò and Bokyi ɔ-mo. Also in Chadic: Tala maal, Buli màl.


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary Words for ‘water’ with ma- are Africa-wide and may derive from the old ma- class-prefix for liquids.

25. Rain àlu cf. Ce àwU$rU$, Bu iwulu, 26. Cloud akpá cf. Ningye pawur, 27. Lightning nas cf. Ningye nay, 28. Rainy Season nekús cf. Ce kɪ-kus, Ningye koos, 29. Dry season nega 30. Harmattan mvló cf. Bu ɛmru, Ningye mvur, 31. Year sɛ́ asɛ́ cf. Bu isɛ, Berom ʃēy pl. neʃey. Probably

also Hausa ʃekara 32. Today àleŋɛn 33. Yesterday álèŋ cf. Ningye ryɛɛŋ, Bu ɛr̃i, Rukul irwɛ, 34. Tomorrow amblɛ́ cf. Bu mbrɛ, Ce kambàlà, Ningye mbwer, 35. Morning nèmblɛ̀ 36. Evening mgbálò 37. Dawn ámblɛ nə́ŋə̂n 38. Day neryìk 39. Night bu bú 40. Moon/month nkwǎ nkwá cf. Bu ɛhwa, Ningye n-kwa, 41. Sun àryɛ̀k 42. Star(s) àndes andês cf. Ningye ndis, 43. Wind mgbùmgbǔ cf. Ningye mbu, 44. God àryɛ̀k 45. Sky gbárʃu cf. Bu iʃu, 46. World gɔŋmìmi cf. Ningye gɔm mɛmmɛ, 47. Ground mìmǐ cf. Bu mɛmɛ, Ninzo ímímí, Tarok mbin, 48. Large River cuŋgɔn 49. Stream ŋgàcu áŋgàcu 50. Lake, pond nkàm ankam 51. Forest cuk àcuk cf. Ningye cu, Ce kutúk, 52. Mountain gbò gbo cf. Ningye bo, 53. Hill və́rgbò munugbó 54. Bush ànkwǎn — cf. Ningye nkwaŋ, 55. Farm aryím rìryǐm cf. Fyem rám, Tarok ìràm Yaŋkam, Sur, Pe

ram and other languages in this area. Ngas has màr which looks like metathesis

56. Field ànkwǎn kukwǎn 57. Market də́p dədə́p 58. Compound kàp ákàp cf. Ninzo, Bu ikɔ, Ce kɪkɔ$, Shall ngup, 59. Room atsák tsətsák 60. Wall (of room) ncir cf. Ningye cin, 61. Thatch roof nyíntsák 62. Well 63. Granary kpò àkpò 64. Road ikle kə̀klě cf. Ce kU-cɪ́lɪ́, Rukul i-t´l, Kadara utera,

Tarok as´$l, Eggon oʃen, 65. Path yəniklìk yəniklik 66. Village/settlement ntùn tuntún 67. River-bank tɔncuk 68. Swamp/wetland àbím nìshìk 69. Place àbə̌m bəbə̌m cf. Nupe ebà. Niger-Congo root that


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary reconstructs to PMC #bia-

70. Person/people nìʃìr aniʃir 71. Man nilə́n anilə́n cf. Fyem róm pl. ∫arom but this is a

widespread Benue-Congo root for ‘man/male’, ‘person’ (BCCW, II)

72. Woman wa amba cf. Ningye, Bu uwa pl. imba, Ce u-wa+ pl. ɪ́-mba,

73. Child vəvən ámúnún cf. Tarok ován ‘children’, Bu ivrɛ, Ce u-vɪn+ pl. ɪ́-ŋmɪ́n,

74. Husband cíníkàp ániʃír búkàp 75. Wife wániŋǎ ámbábuŋǎ 76. Widow 77. Young man vənənzà ánzà 78. Young girl vənuwa ámúnymba cf. Ningye vua pl. mwiMɔ, 79. Old person tsítsɛ̀ atsítsɛ̀ 80. Father cɛ́ɛ̀mù 81. Mother yamù ? ‘our mother’. cf. Bu iya, . Also

widespread in Afroasiatic e.g. Hausa iya 82. Barren woman wanuklú ambabuklú 83. Relations amlá amlámù 84. Ancestors cincím cf. Ningye cimcim, 85. Grandparents cincím 86. Grandchild yámu 87. Brother zúmbɔ̂r amúzumbɔ̀r 88. Sister vámbɔ̀r amúnuvámbɔ̀r 89. Friend kpa ákpa 90. Guest/stranger icən acən cf. Ce ʃìn, Bu ts´rɛ ‘guest’, Izere atsɛn,

Mbd *kèn 91. King/chief/ruler ícə̀m ácə̀m cf. Bu icu, Ninzo ùcù, Nupe etsu+, Ce u-tù,

also Tarok –cumcum ‘important’ 92. Hunter nitak abuták cf. Ningye ni-tak, 93. Thief nígyə̀p ábugyə̀p 94. Doctor ninákəka ábunákəka 95. Witch nitən abatən cf. Ningye cɛn, 96. Corpse kúm ǎkúm cf. Ce kɪ-kúm, Izere kukɔ@m. Also in Chadic

Goemai ˚um, Ngas kuum. from widespread ‘death’ root (Error! Reference source not found.)

97. Blacksmith nila ábinla cf. Ninzo nìlà, Bu ɛla 98. Woodworker nisəp ábusəp the –ʃɛp element is from a widespread verb

root meaning ‘to carve’. 99. Slave gə́n agə́n cf. Hyam gan, Bu ɛg´rã, Cara ki-gyɛn, 100. Masquerade I àmbwɛ̌ ambwɛ ̂ cf. Nandu ámbwê, 101. Masquerade II ryím aneryím women are not permitted to see it. cf. Tarok

ùrìm, Sur rum 102. Masquerade III tsantsak chases people 103. Masquerade IV akuburí dances with women 104. Masquerade V ànjǎncè watches over women to stop them spoiling

or wasting water 105. Prophesy nətɔ̀ ábutɔ̀ 106. Shame səsa —


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 107. Fear/fright ʃìʃìk 108. Bravery/courage susun 109. Laughter mlǎ 110. Wisdom 111. Guilt ágikyùnu 112. Anger mfu 113. Race/running klú 114. Suffering jɛ 115. Death əphu 116. Name sak asak cf. Kuturmi utwa, Kenta tim, Fyem Îi-sá.

The #sa- element is widespread in Plateau and Kainji given as #-tak in BCCW, II, 63. Perhaps also Chadic cf. D-B and others súm

117. Grave bɛ́ abɛ́ 118. Song sám asám 119. Proverb àtúrwanìta 120. Story dúk gyàm 121. Word bantâr bantara 122. Lie mò cf. Ningye mwɔ, 123. News 124. Hunger gyɔ̀n cf. Bu iyɔ,̃ Fyem yóŋ, Tarok ayáŋ, Sur

yyɔŋ, Ce ì-wyo, Ultimately Hausa yunwa. 125. Horn nzù nzùnzù cf. Ningye nzom, 126. Tail njə́m njinjə́m cf. Ce u-ndú, Fyem dum, Rukul itum,

Nandu ùntùm, 127. Egg mkpàŋ mkpáŋ cf. Ningye kpaŋ, Tari akebi, Kuturmi ikpa,

Ninzo inkpe, 128. Wing mgba ámgba cf. Bu ŋba, Ce ku-ŋgbà, 129. Beak anu 130. Nest nzàr ánzàr 131. Feather mvù amvù 132. Gum/glue kyɛ̀las 133. Ant-hill túdàr atúdár cf. Ningye todan, Ce kɪ-ndá, 134. Hole in ground juju ajuju cf. Bu jyujyu, Ce ku-du, 135. Hole in tree wɔ̀ áwɔ̀ 136. Smell mgbɔ̀ cf. Ningye mbɔ, 137. Poison kəka 138. Load ámbakìlǒ 139. Bundle kpá 140. Firewood kukwɔ́n 141. Stick kukwɔ́n 142. Yam-heap bɛ́ntìm 143. War kum cf. Nupe ekũ, Bu eku, Tarok ìkùm, 144. Work ndə́m #tom- is a Niger-Congo root. 145. Divination (types) nətɔ̀ cf. Ningye tɔ, 146. Medicine (generic) kəka cf. Ce íkál, Hyam gwap, 147. Money àzàb 148. Shadow àgyǐndin 149. Thing kì kikì cf. Ningye kye, Ce ìkpì, Hyam gy´, Jili ágã́

, 150. Strength tǐs


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 151. Length tàm 152. Land/country 153. Sleep nna The na- element is extremely common in

East Benue-Congo, e.g. Sur na, Wukari Jukun na, Yashi na, Lamnsɔ náá-rî

154. Disease(generic) lɔ lulɔ cf. Bu lilɔ, Tarok arwa, Hyam rwoŋ, 155. Smallpox lɔmíniŋ 156. Diarrhoea klɔza 157. Eczema rɔ̀ 158. Goitre àgblɔ̀k mìŋ 159. Boil sìsì cf. Ningye ʃiʃi ‘sore’, 160. Sore/wound mkpǎ 161. Leprosy lɔmkpɔ̀k 162. Head tu atú cf. Ningye tu, Bu itu with vowel raising

from the more common #ti- roots 163. Eye ʃíʃi aʃíji 164. Face cí ací 165. Cheek ŋà áŋà 166. Forehead nucí anucǐ 167. Nose mvlè vəmvlé cf. Bu emvri, Sur g´v´rum 168. Ear tɔn cf. Fyem hutóŋ, Mabo utó also throughout

Tarokoid, but a PVC root #tuN-. Also reflected in Ron, cf. Sha 'a-tôn

169. Mouth anu nunu cf. Bu enyu, Fyem núŋ, Niger-Congo #-nu 170. Tooth nyə̀n anyə́n cf. Tarok ìnyin. A PNC root 171. Tongue lə́lám alə́lám cf. Mabo de-rem, Pe ti-lem, Yaŋkam rem

cLela d-rémé, ultimately Atlantic-Congo #-lima

172. Throat 173. Neck 174. Jaw 175. Chin 176. Shoulder 177. Armpit 178. Fist 179. Arm 180. Hand 181. Leg 182. Foot 183. Thigh 184. Knee 185. Nail (Finger/toe) 186. Female breast 187. Stomach 188. Chest 189. Navel 190. Back 191. Buttocks 192. Penis 193. Vagina 194. Skin 195. Bone


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 196. Rib 197. Vein 198. Blood 199. Breath 200. Tear 201. Saliva 202. Sweat 203. Urine 204. Faeces 205. Hair 206. Beard 207. Liver 208. Heart 209. Intestines 210. Body 211. Meat 212. Animal (Bush) 213. *Camel 214. Cow 215. Bull 216. Calf 217. Goat 218. He-goat 219. Castrated goat 220. Sheep 221. Ram 222. Castrated sheep 223. Dog 224. *Cat 225. *Pig 226. *Horse 227. *Donkey 228. Elephant 229. Hippo 230. Buffalo 231. Lion 232. Leopard 233. Hyena1 234. Civet cat2 235. Genet cat3 236. Jackal4 237. Wart-hog5 238. Bush-pig6 239. Duiker antelope7

1 (Crocuta crocuta) 2 (Viverra civetta) 3 (Genetta genetta) 4 (Canis aureus) 5 (Phacochoerus aethiopus) 6 (Potamochoerus Porcus) 7 (Cephalophus spp.)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 240. Kob antelope8 241. Roan antelope9 242. Porcupine10 243. Tree pangolin11 244. Baboon 245. Patas monkey12 246. Vervet monkey13 247. Colobus monkey14 248. Squirrel (ground) 249. Squirrel (tree) 250. Rat (generic) 251. Bush-rat I 252. Bush-rat II 253. Bush-rat III 254. Bush-rat IV 255. Giant rat15 256. Fat mouse 257. Pygmy mouse 258. Grasscutter16 259. Hedgehog17 260. Hare18 261. House-bat 262. Fruit-bat 263. Nile crocodile 264. Chameleon 265. Agama lizard 266. Skink 267. Gecko 268. Monitor lizard

(damo)

269. Monitor lizard (xx) 270. Toad 271. Frog 272. Tortoise 273. Snake (Generic) 274. Spitting cobra 275. Python 276. Turtle 277. Crab 278. River molluscs

8 (Kobus kob) 9 (Hippotragus equinus) 10 (Hystrix cristata) 11 (Manis tricuspis) 12 (Erythrocebus patas) 13 (Cercopithecus aethiops) 14 (Colobus polykomos) 15 (Cretomyces sp.) 16 (Thryonomys Swinderianus) 17 (Atelerix albiventris) 18 (Lepus Crawshayi)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 279. Fish (generic) 280. Tilapia (spp.) 281. Puffer fish19 282. Catfish (spp.)20 283. Nile Perch21 284. Electric fish22 285. Bird (generic) 286. Chicken 287. Cock 288. *Duck (Domestic) 289. Pigeon (Domestic) 290. Guinea-fowl 291. Hooded Vulture23 292. Village Weaver24 293. Cattle-egret25 294. Black kite26 295. Standard-wing

Night-jar

296. Owl (various spp.) 297. Grey Parrot27 298. Senegal Coucal28 299. Bush-

fowl/partridge

300. Swallow 301. *Pied crow29 302. Woodpecker 303. Insect (Generic) 304. Scorpion 305. Butterfly 306. Dragon-fly 307. Mosquito 308. Spider30 309. Mason wasp31 310. Bee 311. Sweat-fly 312. Sandfly 313. Housefly 314. Ant (Generic)

19 (Tetraodon fahaka) 20 (Synodontis spp.) 21 (Lates niloticus) 22 (Malapterurus electricus) 23 (Neophron monachus) 24 (Ploceus cucullatus) 25 (Ardeola ibis) 26 (Milvus migrans) 27 (Poicephalus senegalus) 28 (Centropus spp.) 29 (Corvus albus) 30 (Acarina spp.) 31 (Belenogaster spp.)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 315. Louse (Human) 316. Millipede 317. Cockroach 318. Termite 319. Flying-ant 320. Grasshopper 321. Praying mantis 322. Firefly 323. Giant Cricket 324. Earthworm 325. Giant Snail 326. Soap (Traditional) 327. Oil 328. Fat/grease 329. Salt 330. Soup/stew 331. Porridge 332. Sorghum-beer 333. Palm-wine 334. Peelings 335. Filter 336. Rag 337. Floor-beater 338. Handle (of tool) 339. Sickle 340. Cutlass 341. Iron 342. Axe 343. Adze 344. Hoe I 345. Hoe II 346. Hoe III 347. Hammer 348. Knife 349. Comb 350. Broom 351. Bag 352. Sack 353. Fireplace 354. Shoe 355. Cloth 356. Grindstone (top) 357. Grindstone (lower) 358. Mortar (wood) 359. Pestle 360. Pot (generic) 361. Pot I 362. Pot II 363. Pot III 364. Pot IV 365. Head-pad 366. Basket (generic)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 367. Basket I 368. Basket II 369. Winnowing tray 370. Mat (generic) 371. Mat I 372. Needle 373. Spear 374. Bow 375. Arrow 376. Quiver 377. Chain 378. Rope 379. Stool 380. Wooden door 381. Fence 382. Bridge 383. Ladder 384. Canoe 385. Paddle 386. Bee-hive 387. Fish-Net 388. Fish-trap I 389. Fish-trap II 390. Fish-trap III 391. Snare 392. One 393. Two 394. Three 395. Four 396. Five 397. Six 398. Seven 399. Eight 400. Nine 401. Ten 402. Eleven 403. Twelve 404. Twenty 405. Twenty-four 406. Forty 407. Sixty 408. Eighty 409. Hundred 410. Black 411. White 412. Red 413. Sweet 414. Bitter 415. Half 416. Hot 417. Cold 418. Old


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 419. New 420. Wet 421. Dry 422. Smooth 423. Add to 424. Answer (question) 425. Arrive 426. Ask a question 427. Ask/beg for

something

428. Awaken (s.o.) 429. Bark (dog) 430. Be bent 431. Be heavy 432. Be on (s.t.) 433. Be rotten 434. Be short 435. Beat (drum) 436. Beat (s.o.) 437. Become dry 438. Begin 439. Bite 440. Blow (flute etc.) 441. Boil 442. Build (house etc.) 443. Burn (fire burns) 444. Bury 445. Buy 446. Call (to someone) 447. Carry 448. Carve (wood etc.) 449. Catch 450. Chew 451. Choose 452. Climb 453. Close 454. Come 455. Come out (of

room)

456. Continue (to do s.t.)

457. Cook 458. Cough 459. Count 460. Cover 461. Cut down (tree) 462. Cut in two 463. Cut off (head etc.) 464. Dance 465. Die 466. Dig (earth etc.) 467. Divide/share


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 468. Do/make 469. Drag 470. Draw water 471. Dream 472. Drink 473. Drop 474. Dry in sun 475. Eat 476. Enter 477. Extinguish 478. Fall (rain) 479. Fall over 480. Fear 481. Feel (cold etc.) 482. Fight (in war) 483. Fill 484. Finish (a task) 485. Float 486. Flog 487. Flow (water etc.) 488. Fly (birds) 489. Fold (cloth etc.) 490. Follow 491. Forget 492. Fry (in oil) 493. Gather/collect 494. Get 495. Give 496. Give birth 497. Go 498. Go out/exit 499. Grind 500. Grow (plants) 501. Hatch (egg) 502. Have 503. Hear 504. Hit/strike (drum) 505. Hoe 506. Hunt 507. Jump 508. Kill 509. Kneel 510. Know 511. Laugh 512. Learn 513. Lick 514. Lie down 515. Listen 516. Lose s.t. 517. Marry 518. Mix 519. Mould (pot)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 520. Mount 521. Open 522. Pierce/stab 523. Plait (hair) 524. Plant (crop etc.) 525. Play 526. Pound (in mortar) 527. Pour (liquid) 528. Pull 529. Push 530. Put on (clothes) 531. Receive 532. Refuse 533. ‘Remain’ 534. Remember 535. Resemble 536. Return 537. Ride (horse etc.) 538. Roast on coals 539. Rub 540. Run 541. Say/speak 542. Scatter 543. See 544. Seek 545. Sell 546. Send 547. Set trap 548. Sew 549. Shake 550. Sharpen 551. Shoot (arrow, gun) 552. Sing 553. Sit down 554. Slaughter (animal) 555. Sleep 556. Smash 557. Smell 558. Snap in two 559. Sow seeds 560. Spit 561. Split 562. Stand 563. Steal 564. Stir (soup) 565. Suck (breast etc.) 566. Surpass 567. Swallow 568. Sweep 569. Swell 570. Swim 571. Take


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 572. Tear (cloth etc.) 573. Tell 574. Throw 575. Tie 576. Touch 577. Twist (rope etc.) 578. Untie 579. Uproot (tuber) 580. Vomit 581. Walk 582. Want/need 583. Wash 584. Wear 585. Weave 586. Weed 587. Weep 588. Wipe 589. Work 590. Yawn 591. I 592. You 593. He/she/it 594. we 595. you pl. 596. They 597. Who? 598. Which? 599. What? 600. When? 601. Where? Exclamations 602. Adverbs 603. Particles etc. 604.

Edible and Useful Plants No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 605. Guinea-yam32 606. Aerial yam33 607. Red yam34 608. Water-yam35 glɔ 609. Taro (Old cocoyam)36 àgbànì fàktɔ

32 (Dioscorea guineensis) 33 (Dioscorea bulbifera) 34 (Dioscorea cayenensis) 35 (Dioscorea alata)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 610. New cocoyam37* 611. Cassava*38 612. Sweet potato*39 lawur 613. Wild yam I ntsàk very bitter, must be boiled for two

days 614. Wild yam II àmgbò 615. Tumuku40 amfu 616. Rizga41 617. Sorghum42 kpó 618. Bulrush millet43 (gero) 619. Bulrush millet

(maiwa)

620. Eleusine*44 621. Fonio (H. acca)45 ikyés 622. Iburu (H. iburu)46 ncím 623. Maize*47 kpǎwur 624. Rice*48 625. Cowpea49 sə̌n 626. Spiral cowpea 627. Lima bean50* 628. Other beans I sə̌n pápàkaták 629. Other beans II sə̌n mìmǐ 630. Other beans III sə̌n ázakpú 631. Bambara groundnut51 mvi mkpámkpár amvi mkpámkpár 632. Kersting's ground-

nut52

633. Groundnut (Peanut)53 mvi amvi 634. Tiger-nut54 635. Garden egg55 ndǎŋ 636. Okra56 ndàr ándàr

36 (Colocasia esculenta) 37 (Xanthosoma mafaffa) (H. wali) 38 (Manihot esculenta) 39 (Ipomoea batatas) 40 (Plectranthus esculentus) 41 (Solenostemon rotundifolius) 42 (Sorghum bicolor) 43 (Pennisetum spp.) 44 (H. tamba) (Eleusine coracana) 45 (Digitaria exilis) 46 (Digitaria iburua) 47 (Zea mays) 48 (Oryza sativa/ glaberrima) 49 (Vigna unguiculata) 50 (Phaseolus lunatus) 51 (Vigna subterranea) 52 (Macrotyloma geocarpa) 53 (Arachis hypogaea) 54 (Cyperus esculentus) 55 (Solanum melongena)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 637. Chili pepper* (large)57 àlǎmpa 638. Birdseye chili*58 639. Onion (Allium cepa) 640. Garlic59 641. Tomato60 642. Egusi melon61 643. Melon (other)62 644. Edible squash63 645. Sorrel/roselle64 ʃɛ́ 646. Jews' mallow65 647. Kenaf66 nkuu 648. Sesame seeds67 aʃíʃî 649. White sesame ànzə̀nzà 650. Black sesame68 ankɔn 651. Sesame leaves69 mbúmbúr nyən 652. Bitterleaf70 mgbantún 653. Waterleaf*71 654. Plantain (Musa AAB) 655. Banana (Musa AAA) 656. Orange*72 657. Bamboo àpə̀m apə̀m 658. Pineapple*73 659. Coconut*74 660. Pawpaw*75 kàbə̀s 661. Gourd (Generic) gbà gba 662. Gourd-bottle76 663. Gourd (spherical)77 664. Other gourds

56 (Abelmoschus esculentus) 57 (Capsicum frutescens) 58 (Capsicum annuum) 59 (Allium sativum) 60 (Lycopersicon esculentum) 61 (Citrullus lanatus) 62 (Cucumis spp) 63 (Cucurbita pepo) 64 (H. yakuwa) (Hibiscus sabdariffa) 65 (H. lalo)(Corchorus olitorius) 66 (H. rama) (Hibiscus cannabinus) 67 (H. RiÎii) (Sesamum indicum) 68 (Sesamum radiatum) 69 (H. karkashi) 70 Vernonia amygdalina 71 (Amaranthus spp) 72 (Citrus sinensis) 73 (Ananas comosus) 74 (Cocos nucifera) 75 (Carica papaya) 76 (Lagenaria siceraria) 77 (Cucurbita maxima)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 665. Cotton àruru 666. Tobacco* 667. Sugar-cane* 668. Loofah78 (H. soso) 669. Cola dɔ̀gɔn 670. Oil-palm79 lə̌k ilə́k 671. Palm-fruit mgbyan lə́k 672. Palm-oil àyɛnsə̌n àmàdàbwà lə́k waste water after

palm oil has been filtered 673. Palm kernel fúfú lə́k 674. Raphia/ bamboo

palm80

675. Fan-palm81 ʃin aciʃin 676. Monkey-guava82 677. Canarium tree83 678. Custard apple84 mblǔn mblún 679. Wild date-palm85 680. Baobab86 681. Silk-cotton tree87 mfugbó 682. Shea tree88 zəzap izəzap 683. Shea-fruit kpumkpɔ 684. Locust tree89 lɔ̀ 685. Locust fruit nyə́n 686. Locust-bean cakes ɽuɽu 687. Tamarind90 688. Sodom apple91 689. Terminalia sp.92 nkɔ&k nkɔ́k

690. Black plum93 Musical Instruments No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary

78 (Luffa cylindrica) 79 (Elaeis guineensis) 80 (Raphia spp.) 81 (Borassus aethiopum) 82 (Diospyros mespiliformis) 83 (Canarium schweinfurthii) 84 (Annona senegalensis) 85 (Phoenix reclinata) 86 (Adansonia digitata) 87 (Ceiba pentandra) 88 (Vitellaria paradoxa) 89 (Parkia biglobosa) 90 (Tamarindus indica) 91 (Calotropis procera H. tumfafiya) 92 (H. baushe) 93 (Vitex doniana)


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691. Drum I ŋgə̀ŋgàn ŋgəŋgàn 692. Drum II 693. Drum III 694. Flute àpə̀m apə̀m 695. Zither tə̀ntɛ̌ ntə̀ntɛ̌ 696. Lute 697. Xylophone 698. Harp 699. Transverse horn 700. Clarinet 701. Iron gong aʃǎ 702. Gourd-rattle àkàràŋgɔk 703. Ankle rattles I àcàk 704. Ankle rattles II ìʃak used by masquerade

References

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Saharan Linguistics Colloquium, Nice, 1992. ed. R. Nicolai and F. Rottland. 68-118. Köln: Rudiger Köppe.

CAPRO ined. An ethnic survey of Plateau State. Jos: CAPRO Research Office. Crozier, D. and Blench, R.M. 1992. Index of Nigerian Languages (edition 2). SIL, Dallas. De Wolf, P. 1971. The noun class system of Proto-Benue-Congo. The Hague: Mouton. Gerhardt, L. 1983a. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen des Nigerianischen Plateaus. Glückstadt: Verlag

J.J. Augustin. Gerhardt, Ludwig 1983b. Lexical interferences in the Chadic/Benue-Congo Border-Area. In Wolff, E. &

Meyer-Bahlburg, H. (eds.) Studies in Chadic and Afroasiatic Linguistics. 301-310. Hamburg: Helmut Buske.

Guthrie, M. 1967-73. Comparative Bantu. 4 vols. Gregg International Publishers. Hansford, K. Bendor-Samuel, J. & Stanford, R. 1976. An Index of Nigerian Languages. Ghana: Summer

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Nigeria. Argus Printing and Publishing Co. Capetown. Westermann, D. 1927. Die Westlichen Sudansprachen und ihre Beziehungen zum Bantu. Berlin: de Gruyter. Williamson, K., and K. Shimizu. 1968. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist, Vol. 1. Ibadan: West African

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