Tyap language

Tyap
	Katab
Native to	Nigeria
Region	Kaduna State
Native speakers	(130,000 cited 1993)[1]; close to 500,000 with Jju
Language family	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Plateau Central ? Tyapic Tyap; ; ; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-3	kcg
Glottolog	tyap1238[2]

Tyap (or Katab) is a regionally important dialect cluster of Plateau languages in Nigeria's Middle Belt, named after its prestige dialect. It is also known as Sholyia̠ (also spelt, Sholio and Moro'a in Hausa). Other dialects are Fantswam (Kafanchan), Gworok (Kagoro), Takat (Attakar), Tyap proper, Tyia̠cha̠rak (Kachechere) and Tyuku. According to Blench (2008), Jju—with more speakers—appears to be a form of Tyap (although its speakers are ethnically distinct).

Distribution

Native Tyap speakers are primarily found in the local government areas of Jema'a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf, although pockets of speakers are also found in Kachia and Kauru in southern Kaduna.

Dialects

Tyap (also called Kataf by the Hausa people) has a number of dialects, including:

Dialect	Description
Fantswam	Also known as Kafanchan by the Hausa, it is spoken by inhabitants of the Fantswam chiefdom in Jema'a and is closely related to the Jju, Gworok and Tyap Proper dialects.
Gworok	Also known as Kagoro by the Hausa and Gwoot in Tyap Proper, it is spoken by inhabitants of the A̠gworok (often spelled Oegworok) chiefdom in Kaura and is a junction dialect between Jju and Takat. The dialect was influenced by neighbouring dialects of the nearest language cluster, most notably Ninkyob-Nindem.
Jju	Also known as Kaje by the Hausa and Jhyia̠ in Tyap Proper and often listed as a separate language (with the SIL code kaj, although its grammar, morphology and syntax are those of a Tyap dialect), it is spoken by inhabitants of the Ba̠jju chiefdom in Zangon Kataf and the Jema'a, Kachia and Kaura LGAs. Jju has the greatest number of speakers of any Tyap dialect, and was influenced by Izere and Rigwe (whose speakers, the Ba̠jju, lived near Chawai in the Kauru LGA before migrating to their present homeland several centuries ago). Jju was also influenced by the dialects of its present Hyam-speaking neighbours. These contacts seem to be the leading factor in its drift from Tyap in comparison to other dialects.
Sholyia̠	Also written Sholio and called Moro'a by the Hausa, it is spoken by inhabitants of the A̠sholyia̠ chiefdom in the Kaura LGA. The Sholyia̠ dialect was used in an early Tyap publication during the early 1990s. Tyap Proper and Sholyia̠ have separate language committees; the former completed its New Testament translation in 2015, and the latter translation is still in progress. Sholyia̠ is influenced by the Beromic dialect of Iten, Rigwe and Gworok; its speakers share common borders on the east and south, respectively.
Takat	Also known as Attakar by the Hausa, it is spoken by inhabitants of the A̠takat chiefdom in Kaura. Takat is closely related to the Gworok and Tyuku dialects. Although its speakers see themselves as brothers of the Ba̠jju (with whom the migrated from Chawai), Takat seems more related to the aforementioned dialects than to Jju.
Tyap Proper	The dialect is spoken by inhabitants of the A̠tyap chiefdom in Zangon Kataf and in Kaura, Jema'a and Kauru. Tyap Proper seems to be the mother dialect from which the other dialects evolved, and was influenced by contacts which caused it to drift from its parent, proto-Plateau language root. British colonial anthropologist, C. K. Meek classified most of the proto-Plateau ethnolinguistic groups as part of the "Kataf (A̠tyap) Culture Complex", speaking closely related dialects of a possible single language, during the 1920s.
Tyia̠cha̠rak	Also known as Kachechere by the Hausa (Tyia̠chaat in Tyap Proper), it is spoken by the A̠tyia̠cha̠rak (A̠tyia̠chaat in Tyap Proper) people in the A̠tyap, A̠sholyia̠ and A̠gworok chiefdoms in Zangon Kataf and Kaura LGAs and as far south as the Jema'a LGA.
Tyuku	The Tyuku (also written Tuku) dialect is spoken by the A̠tyuku people in Jema'a Local Government Area, who live a few kilometers from the A̠takat around the Ni̱mbyia̱ (also spelt Nimbio) forest reserve of southern Kaduna state. The dialect is most closely related to Takat and has the heaviest influence of Ninkyob-Nindem, the dominant non-Tyap dialect to the south.
Other dialects	Other dialects related to Tyap include Kulu (SIL code ikl, also an Adara dialect), Nghan (SIL code kcl, a Gyongic dialect) and Terri (SIL code cfd).

Phonology

The Tyap alphabet (Zhwunzhwuo A̠lyem A̠tyap ji) had 39 letters, as drafted by the Tyap Literacy Committee (TLC) during the early 1990s: a a̱ b ch chy d e f g gb gh ghw ghy h i i̱ j jhy k kh kp l m n ng ny o p r s sh shy t ts u v w y z.

However, a present development as at 2018, has the basic Tyap Basic Alphabetical Chart reduced to 24, as follows:

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p r s t u v w y z

The letter "ch" would henceforth be represented by the symbol "c", without the "h". All others remain the same.

Vowels

Tyap has seven vowels ((/i e ə a o ɨ u/, which may be short or long monophthongs) and five (or six) diphthongs: /ei(/əi) ea əu ai oi/.

Consonants

The language has over 80 digraphic labialized and palatalized consonant sounds, classified into fortis and lenis modifications. The following table contains the alphabet's 32 consonant sounds (of the old basic Alphabetical Chart):

	Labial	Labiodental	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Labio-velar	Glottal
Nasal	m	n	ŋ	ɲ
Plosive	p b		t d		k ɡ	k͡p ɡ͡b	t͡s d͡z
Affricates	t͡ʃ d͡ʒ		t͡ʃ͡j
Fricatives		f v	s		ʃ	ʃ͡j ʒ͡j		x ɣ	ɣ͡w	ɣ͡j	h
Lateral	l
Approximants
Semivowels	w	j
Rhotic		r

Pronunciation and Vocabulary

a |a| as in [aba̠n] (welcome; masculine)
a̠ |ə| as in [a̠gwam] (ruler, king, chief)
b |b| as in [bat] (wall)
c |t͡ʃ| as in [cat]; tsat in Sholyia̠, Tyuku (to want, or love)
cy |t͡ʃ͡j| as in [cyat] (cut grass)
d |d| as in [dam] (to worry)
e |e; ɛ| as in [bye] (to prepare)
f |f| as in [faat] (to cut)
g |g| as in [gaat] (visitors' room)
gb |g͡b| as in [gbang] (far)
gh |ɣ| as in [ghan] (hurry)
ghw |ɣ͡w| as in [ghwang] (drawing)
ghy |ɣ͡j| as in [a̠ghyang]; a̠yaan in Fantswam (another)
h |h| as in [hyet] (arrow)
i |i| as in [ii] (yes)
i̠ |ɪ| as in [ci̠p] (twisting)
j |d͡ʒ| as in [jem; zem in Sholyia̠] (hippopotamus)
jhy |ʒ͡j| as in [jhyi] (to repair)
k |k| as in [kan] (medicine)
kh |x| as in [khap] (to cultivate)
kp |k͡p| as in [kpa] (to pound)
l |l| as in [li]; ryyi in Jju (to see)
m |m| as in [mup] (to grab)
n |n| as in [nam] (meat)
ng |ŋ| as in [ngaan] (to be last)
ny |ɲ| as in [nyam] (animal)
o |ɔ; o| as in [long]; rong in Jju (fire)
p |p| as in [piit] (nothing/to lose/to score nought)
r |r| as in [ra̠ra̠k] (to enter with ease)
s |s| as in [san] (to receive)
sh |ʃ| as in [shan] (stick)
shy |ʃ͡j| as in [shyi] (to swear)
t |t| as in [ta] (to throw)
ts |t͡s| as in [tsang] (crocodile)
u |u| as in [lyuut]; lyuruk in Fantswam, Gworok; yyuruk in Jju (to write)
v |v| as in [vam]; lvwam in Fantswam; rwam in Jju (body)
w |w| as in [wan] (to cook)
y |j| as in [ya]; ye in Sholyia̠, Tyia̠cha̠rak; yi in Takat, Tyuku
z |d͡z| as in [za] (rain)

Sentences

Tyap	English (Shong)
A nyia̱ ni?	How are you?
N shyia̱ ka̱nka̱ra̱ng, n gwai.	I am fine, thank you.
A neet a̱ji ni/wa?	Where are you from?
N neet mali kya.	I am from home.
Á̱ ngyei ang a̱nyan a?	Who are you called? (What is your name?)
Á̱ ngyei nung Kambai A̱ka̱u.	I am called Kambai A̱ka̱u. (My name is Kambai A̱ka̱u.)
Bai a ya kyayak.	Come and eat.
N cat a̱lyem nung ka.	I love my language.
Á̱niet Á̱nienzi̱t ba neet di̱ fam Kwararafa hwa.	The Nienzit people are from Kwararafa.
A̱gwaza gu nang ang nda.	God bless you.

Dialect comparison

English (Shong)	Tyap Proper	Jju	Gworok	Sholyia̱	Fantswam	Takat
Come and eat.	Bai a ya kyayak.	Ba a ya kyin ya.	Bai a ya kyayak.	Bai a ye kyayak.	Bai a ya kyayak.	Bai a yi kyayak.
Let us rise with strength.	Yok zi̱ doot yong ma̱ng cet.	Ryok zu̱ drok ryong ba̱ng cet.	Yok zi̱ drok yong ba̱ng cet.	Yok ji̱ drok yong ma̱ng tset.	Yok ji̱ drok yong ba̱ng cet.	Yok zi̱ drok yong ba̱ng tset.
I am not going to the wedding.	N na nat la̱p nyeang hu bah.	N ni nat rop nyirang a bah.	N na nat la̱p nyrang ku dak.	N na nat la̱p nyrang hu bah.	N na nat la̱p nyrang ku dak.	N na nat la̱p nyrang ku dak.
The people are hungry.	Á̱niet ba fwuong zwong.	Ba̱niet ba pfwuong zwong.	Á̱niet ba tfwuong zwong.	Á̱niet be fwuong jwong.	Á̱niet ba tfwuong zwong.	Á̱niet bi tfwuong zwong.
The child was walking, and fell down.	Nggwon ka ncong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Ka̱won ka ncong, ka̱ si kpa ka̱bzyen.	Nggwon ka ncong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Nggwon ke ntsong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Nggwon ka ncong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Nggwon ki ncong, ki̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.
The pot is here.	A̱la̱n ka shyia̱ a̱ji.	Ka̱ra̱n ti shyi ki.	Ula̱n ka shyia̱ a̱ji.	A̱la̱n ke shyia̱ a̱zi.	Ka̱la̱n ti shyia̱ a̱ji.	Ula̱n ti shyia̱ a̱zi.
They are too mouthy. God will help them.	Ba̱ la̱u byia̱ a̱nu. A̱gwaza na beang ba.	Ba̱ ra̱u byi ka̱nu. Ka̱za ni bā brang.	Ba̱ la̱u byia̱ a̱nu. A̱gwaza na beang ba.	Ba̱ la̱u byia̱ a̱nu. A̱gwaze na beang be.	Ba̱ la̱u byia̱ ka̱nu. A̱gwaza na beang ba.	Ba̱ la̱u byia̱ ka̱nu. A̱gwazi na beang bi.
Kuyet went to the bush to get water.	Kuyet nnwuo a̱yit a̱ bwuo a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nnwua ka̱yit a̱ bvwua ba̱shekwot.	Kuyet nnwuo uyit u bvwuo a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nnwuo ka̱jit a̱ bwuo a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nnwua ka̱yit a̱ bwua a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nnwua uyit u bwuo a̱sa̱khwot.
Who is home?	A̱nyan wa shyia̱ mali ka?	A̱yyan a̱mi ān shyi ka̱ryyi ka?	A̱nyan a̱ shyia̱ buli ka?	A̱nyan a shyia̱ mali ke?	A̱nyan a shyia̱ kali ka?	A̱nyan a shyia̱ buli ki?

Numbers (Á̠na̠mba Tyap na)

0: gum/sa̠khat
1: a̠nyiung (also jhyiung)
2: a̠feang (also sweang)
3: a̠tat (also tsat)
4: a̠naai (also nyaai)
5: a̠fwuon (also tswuon)
6: a̠taa
7: a̠natat
8: a̠ni̠nnai (or a̠ri̠nnai)
9: a̠kubunyiung

10 to 100

The numbers 11 to 19 are created by adding 1–9 to 10 with the prefix m̠ang (often shortened in pronunciation to ma̠ and the next a̠, e.g. in a̱fwuon, being silent) to the adjoining number, but usually each word is written in full: e.g. swak ma̠ng a̠fwuon (15).

10: Swak
11: Swak ma̠ng a̠nyiung
12: Swak ma̠ng a̠feang
13: Swak ma̠ng a̠tat
14: Swak ma̠ng a̠naai
15: Swak ma̠ng a̠fwuon
16: Swak ma̠ng a̠taa
17: Swak ma̠ng a̠natat
18: Swak ma̠ng a̠ni̠nnai
19: Swak ma̠ng a̠kubunyiung

The numbers 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 are formed by replacing the prefix 2 to 5, affixed to the "swak" (ten) with n-, with the swak itself taking the prefix n- throughout:

20: Nswak nfeang
30: Nswak ntat
40: Nswak nnaai
50: Nswak nfwuon
60: Nswak a̠taa
70: Nswak a̠natat
80: Nswak a̠ni̠nnai (or nswak a̠ri̠nnai)
90: Nswak a̠kubunyiung

Other numbers are formed by adding 1–9, similar to the teens:

91: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠nyiung
92: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠feang
93: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠tat
94: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠naai
95: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠fwuon
96: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠taa
97: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̱natat
98: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠ni̠nnai
99: Nswak a̠kubunyiung ma̠ng a̠kubunyiung

Hundreds

Note that what could be termed as the "ancient" counting system used for 1-5 is usually used from 100 till infinity. 1 becomes jhyiung, and no more a̱nyiung. Same thing the 2,3,4 and 5 placed immediately after cyi, the word for hundred.

100: Cyi jhyiung
200: Cyi sweang
300: Cyi tsat
400: Cyi nyaai
500: Cyi tswuon
600: Cyi a̠taa
700: Cyi a̠natat
800: Cyi a̠ni̠nnai (or a̠ri̠nnai)
900: Cyi a̠kubunyiung
479: Cyi nyaai ma̠ng nswak a̠natat ma̠ng a̱kubunyiung

Thousands

Hayab (2016:66-67) in his research on Hyam, a related language to Tyap found out that the original word for number 10 is "kop"/kwop, and that the present word used for ten was the de facto word used for twelve or a dozen is "shwak" (in Hyam) or swak (in Tyap). Due to the growing Hausa influence between the mid 1920s till date, the counting system has taken the shape of the Hausa style and the word "kop/kwop" became almost extinct, while the "swak" took its place and misplaced its original meaning, which is twelve, to now mean ten. With this in mind, when one considers the number "1,000" or cyi kwop jhyiung, one can say that it literally means "one ten hundred" or "100 X 10".

Below are the modern Tyap Counting style in thousands:

1,000: Cyi kwop jhyiung
2,000: Cyi kwop sweang
3,000: Cyi kwop tsat
4,000: Cyi kwop nyaai
5,000: Cyi kwop tswuon
6,000: Cyi kwop a̠taa
7,000: Cyi kwop a̠natat
8,000: Cyi kwop a̠ni̠nnai
9,000: Cyi kwop a̠kubunyiung
2,018: Cyi kwop sweang ma̠ng nswak ma̠ng a̠ni̠nnai
10,000: Cyi kwop swak
100,000: Cyi kwop cyi jhyiung

Larger numbers

1,000,000: Milyon or cyi kwop cyi kwop jhyiung or simply Cyi kwop a̠ka̠feang jhyiung
1,000,000,000: Bilyon or Cyi kwop cyi kwop cyi kwop or simply Cyi kwop a̠ka̠tat jhyiung
1,000,000,000,000: Trilyon or cyi kwop cyi kwop cyi kwop cyi kwop or simply Cyi kwop a̠ka̠naai jhyiung.

References

↑ Tyap at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Tyap". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.