Tyap language

Tyap, Tyab[3]
Person	A̠tyotyap, A̠tyotyab
People	A̠tyap, A̠tyab
Language	Tyap, Tyab

Tyap
	Katab
	Tyap, Tyab
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 is a regionally important dialect cluster of Plateau languages in Nigeria's Middle Belt, named after its prestige dialect. It is also known as Katab or Kataf (by the Hausa). It is also known by the names of its dialectical varieties including Sholyia̠ (also spelt, Sholyio or Sholio and Moro'a in Hausa). Other dialects are Fantswam (Kafanchan), Gworok (Kagoro), Takad (Attakar), Tyap proper, Tyecha̠rak (Kachechere) and Tyuku. According to Blench (2008), Jju—with more speakers—appears to be a form of Tyap (although its speakers are ethnically distinct).[4]

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 state of Nigeria. There are also large speaking communities in Kaduna South and Chikun Local Government Areas of the state.

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 Nikyob-Nindem and others.
Jju	Also known as Kaje by the Hausa and Jhyia̠ (or Jhyo) 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 and former neighbours, especially Izere. 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. In an early Tyap publication during the early 1990s, a Tyap Proper dialect related to Sholyia̠, the A̠shong A̠shwui sub-dialect was used. 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 (also spelt 'Attaka' by early British anthropologists) is spoken by inhabitants of the A̠takat (Takad) chiefdom in Kaura LGA of Kaduna state and Riyom LGA of Plateau state. Takat is closely related to the Gworok, Tyuku and Jju 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 ethno-linguistic groups as part of the "Kataf (A̠tyap) Culture Complex", speaking closely related dialects of a possible single language, during the 1920s.
Tyecha̠rak	Also known as Kachechere by the Hausa (Tyechaat in Tyap Proper), it is spoken by the A̠tyecha̠rak (A̠tyechaat in Tyap Proper) people in the A̠tyap, A̠sholyia̠ (Moro'a) and A̠gworok (Kagoro) 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 (Takad) around the Ni̱mbyia̱ (also spelt Nimbio) forest reserve of southern Kaduna state. The dialect is most closely related to Takat and has the most language drift of any Tyap dialect, second to Jju.
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 (Zwunzwuo A̠lyem A̠tyap ji) had 39 letters, as drafted by the Tyap Literacy Committee (TLC) during the early 1990s:

Former Basic Tyap Alphabet
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 ɪ 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, Takat, 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; fa̠rak in Fantswam, Takat] (to cut)
g |g| as in [gaat; ga̠rak in Fantswam ] (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, Jju; a̠zang in Tyuku] (another)
h |h| as in [hyet; hywet in Jju ] (arrow)
i |i| as in [ii] (yes)
i̠ |ɪ| as in [ci̠p] (twisting)
j |d͡ʒ| as in [jem; zem in Sholyia̠, Tyeca̠rak] (hippopotamus)
jhy |ʒ͡j| as in [jhyi] (to repair)
k |k| as in [kan] (medicine)
kh |x| as in [khap; kap in Jju ] (to cultivate)
kp |k͡p| as in [kpa; kpe in Sholyia̠; kpi in Takat, Tyuku] (to pound)
l |l| as in [li]; ryi in Jju ] (to see)
m |m| as in [mup] (to grab)
n |n| as in [nam; dinam in Jju ] (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; yuruk in Fantswam, Gworok; jem in Jju ] (to write)
v |v| as in [vam; lvam in Fantswam; rwam in Jju ] (body)
w |w| as in [wan] (to cook)
y |j| as in [ya; [g]ye in Sholyia̠, Tyeca̠rak; [g]yi in Takat, Tyuku] (to eat)
z |d͡z| as in [za; ze in Sholyia̠, Tyeca̠rak; zi in Takat, Tyuku] (rain)

Sentences

Tyap	English (Shong)
A nyia̱ ni?	How are you?
N shyia̱ ka̱nɡka̱ra̱ng, n gwai.	I am fine, thank you.
A neet a̱ji ni/wa?	Where are you from?
N neet a̠mali 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 A̠nienzi̱t 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 (Sholyio, Sholio)	Tyeca̠rak	Fantswam	Takat	Tyuku
1	Come and eat.	Bai a ya kyayak.	Ba a ya kyangya.	Bai a ya kyayak.	Bai a gye kyayak	Bai a gye kyayak.	Bai a ya kyangya.	Bai a gyi kyangyi.	Bai a gyi kyangyi.
2	Let us rise with strength.	Yok zi̱ doot yong ma̱ng cet.	Ryok zi drok ryong ba̱ cet.	Yok zi̱ durok yong ba̱ng cet.	Yok zi̱ durok yong ma̱ng tset.	Yok zi̠ durok yong ma̠ng cet.	Yok zi̱ durok yong ba̱ cet.	Yok zi̱ durok yong ba̱ tset.	Yok zi̠ durok yong ba̠ tset.
3	I am not going to the wedding.	N na nat la̱p nyeang (nyi̠yang) hu bah.	N ni nat rop nyreng a ba.	N na nat la̱p nyi̠rang ku dak.	N na nat la̱p nyi̠rang hu bah.	N na nat la̠p nyi̠rang hu bah.	N na nat la̱p nyi̠rang ku dak.	N li nat la̱p nyi̠rang hu dak.	N li nat la̠p nyi̠rang hu dak.
4	The people are hungry.	Á̱niet ba fwuong zong.	Ba̱nyet ba pfong zong.	Á̱niet ba tfwuong zong.	Á̱niet be fwuong jong.	Á̠niet be fwuong zong.	Á̱niet ba tfwuong zong.	Á̱niet bi fwuong zong.	Á̠niet bi fwuong zong.
5	The child was walking, and fell down.	Nggwon ka ncong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Ka̱won ka ncong, ka̱ yin kpa ka̱byen.	Nggwon ka ncong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Nggwon ke ncong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Nggwon ke ncong, ka̠ si̠ kwa a̠byin.	Nggwon ka ncong, ka̱ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Nggwon ki ncong, ka̠ si̱ kwa a̱byin.	Nggwon ki ncong, ka̠ si̠ kwa a̠byin.
6	The pot is here.	A̱la̱n ka shyia̱ a̱ji.	Ka̱ra̱n ti shyi aki.	Ula̱n ka shyia̱ a̱ji.	A̱la̱n ke shyia̱ a̱zi.	A̠la̠n ke shyia̠ a̠ji.	Ka̱la̱n ti shyia a̱ji.	Ula̱n ki syia̱ a̱zi.	Ula̠n ki syia̠ a̠zi.
7	They are too mouthy. God will help them.	Ba̱ la̱u byia̱ a̱nu. A̱gwaza na beang mba.	Ba̱ ra̱u byi ka̱nu. Ka̱za ni mba brang.	Ba̱ la̱u byia̱ a̱nu. A̱gwaza na beang mba.	Ba̠ la̱u byia̱ a̱nu. A̱gwaze na beang mbe.	Ba̠ la̠u byia̠ a̠nu. A̠gwaze na beang mbe.	Ba̱ la̱u byia ka̱nu. A̱gwaza na beang mba.	Ba̠ la̱u byia̱ a̱nu. A̱gwazi li beang mbi.	Ba̠ la̠u byia̠ a̠nu. A̠gwazi li beang mbi
8	Kuyet went to the bush with me to get water.	Kuyet nwuo a̱yit ka ma̠ng a̠nung a̱ bwuo a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nwa ka̱yit ka ba̠ nzuk a̱ bvwa ba̱shekwot.	Kuyet nwuo uyit ka ba̠ng a̠nung a̠ bvwuo a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nwuo ka̱yit ke ma̠ng a̠nung a̱ bwuo a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nwuo a̠yit ke ma̠ng a̠nung a̠ bwuo a̠sa̠khwot.	Kuyet nwua ka̱yit ka ba̠ng a̠nung a̱ bwua a̠sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nwuo uyit ki ba̠ng a̠nung a̠ bvwuo a̱sa̱khwot.	Kuyet nwua uyit ki ba̠ng a̠nung a̠ bvwua a̠sa̠khwot.
9	Who is home?	A̱nyan wa a̠ nshyia̱ mali ka?	A̠nyan a̱mi a̠ nshyi ka̱ryi ka?	A̱nyan a̠ a̠ nshyia̱ buli ka?	A̱nyan a a̠ nshyia̱ mali ke?	A̠nyan a a̠ nshyia̠ mali ke?	A̱nyan a a̠ nshyia ka̠li ka?	A̱nyan a a̠ nsyia̱ buli ki?	A̠nyan a a̠ nsyia̠ buli ki?
10	It is above.	A̠ shyia̠ tazwa ka.	A̠ shyi tazwa ka.	A̠ shyia̠ tuza ka.	A̠ shyia̠ tanzwe ke.	A̠ shyia̠ tanzwe ke.	A̠ shyia tazwa ka.	A̠ syia̠ tuzi ki.	A̠ syia̠ tuzi ki.
11	Will you drink?	A na swuo a?	A ni fwa a?	A na swuo a?	A na swuo a?	A na swuo a?	A na fwua a?	U li swuo a?	U li swuo a?
12	They said some children came here today.	Ba̠ nyia̠ mman á̠ghyang bai a̠ji a̠fwun ka.	Ba̠ yya na̠won ka̠yaan ba aki ka̠pfwun ka.	Ba̠ nyia̠ nuwan á̠ghyang bai a̠ji utswun ka.	Ba̠ nyia̠ mman á̠ghyang bai a̠zi a̠fwun ke.	Ba̠ nyia̠ mman á̠ghyang bai a̠ji a̠fwun ke.	Ba̠ nyia mnuwan á̠yaan bai a̠ji ka̠tfwun ka.	Ba̠ hyia̠ mman á̠ghyang bai a̠zi ufwun ki.	Ba̠ shyia̠ mman á̠zang bai a̠zi utswun ki.
13	Let us unite.	Zi̠ tung ndung.	Zi tung ndung.	Zi̠t tung ndung.	Zi̠ tung ndung.	Zi̠ tung ndung.	Zi̠ tung ndung.	Zi̠ tung ndung.	Zi̠ tung ndung.

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: a̠ni̠nai (or a̠ri̠nai)
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 a̠ni̠nai
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 a̠ni̠nai (or nswak a̠ri̠nai)
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 a̠ni̠nai
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 a̠ni̠nai (or a̠ri̠nai)
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 "1 X 10 X 100".

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 a̠ni̠nai
9,000: Cyi kwop a̠kubunyiung
2,018: Cyi kwop sweang ma̠ng nswak ma̠ng a̠ni̠nai
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.

Tyap Names for other languages

Some Tyap names for neighbouring and other languaɡes are as follows:

Language	Classification	Tyap name
English	West, Germanic, Indo-European	Shong
Fulfulde	Central, Eastern Fula, Fulani-Wolof, Sene-Gambian, Northern, West Atlantic	Fa̠taa
Hausa	A.1, A, West Chadic	Kpat
Hyam	Hyamic, Northwestern, Western Plateau, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Da
Igbo	Igbo, Igboid, West Benue-Conɡo	Kuma̠cyi
Iten	Beromic Plateau, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Tyen
Kulu	Northern Plateau, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Sunkurum
Nɡhan	Ninzic Plateau, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Byoot; Byurok
Nikyob	A, Southwestern, Western Plateau, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Ku
Riɡwe	Southcentral, Central Plateau, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Kuut; Kuruk
Tiv	Tivoid, Southern Bantoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Zi̠ya; Zi̠tya
T'kurmi	Kauru, Northern Jos, Eastern Kainji, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Wai
Tsam	Piti-Atsam, Eastern Kainji, Platoid, East Benue-Conɡo	Tsamyio (/Tsamyia̠)
Yoruba	Yoruboid, Defoid, West Benue-Conɡo	Ghwangkpang

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.
Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
"Central Plateau languages". Retrieved 11 July 2019.