Warji languages

The Warji languages (also called the B.2 West Chadic or North Bauchi languages) are a branch of West Chadic languages that are spoken in Bauchi State, northern Nigeria.

Warji
North Bauchi; B.2 West Chadic
Geographic
distribution
Darazo and Ningi LGAs, Bauchi State, Nigeria
Linguistic classificationAfro-Asiatic
Glottologwest2712[1]
West Chadic per Newman (1977)
Main Chadic-speaking peoples in Nigeria

An extensive survey of the Warji (North Bauchi) languages had been done by Skinner (1977).[2]

Culturally, North Bauchi language speakers are unique for their chestharp, a fusion of the arched harp with the chest bow.[3]

Languages

The Warji languages are:[4]

Names and locations

Below is a comprehensive list of Warji language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[5]

LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (based on location)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)
CiwogaiTsaguSago, Tsaganci3,000 (1977 Skinner)Bauchi State, Ningi and Darazo LGAs
DiriDiriya, DiryaSago, TsaguDiryanciBuwane, Diryawa3,750 (LA 1971)Bauchi State, Ningi and Darazo LGAs
KariyaTwo dialectsKauyawa, KeriyaVinahәWihәLipkawa (see also Mburku)2,200 (LA 1971); 3,000 (1977 Skinner)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA. At Kariya Wuro, 30 S.E. of Ningi.
PaʼaPaha, AfaFuCakasg. FuCiki, pl. FoniPaʼanciFaʼawa, Afawa8,500 (LA 1971); 20,000 (Skinner, 1977)Bauchi State, Ningi and Darazo LGAs
SiriSiriSiryanci2,000 (LA 1971); 3,000 (1977 Skinner)Bauchi State, Darazo and Ningi LGAs
WarjiGala (?)Sәrzakwai, SirzakwaiSarSarawa28,000 (LA 1971); 50,000 (Skinner, 1977)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, Ganjuwa district, and Ningi LGA, Warji district; Jigawa State, Birnin Kudu LGA
MburkuBarko, BarkeVә MvәranMburkanciBurkunawa, Lipkawa (see also Kariya)210 (1949–50); 4,000 (1977 Skinner)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA
MiyaMuyaVәne MiMiyawa5,200 (LA 1971)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, Ganjuwa district. Miya town and associated hamlets
ZumbunWudufu (possible dialect)JimbinVina Zumbun1,500 (LA 1971)Bauchi State, Darazo LGA

Reconstruction

Proto-North Bauchi
Proto-Warji
Reconstruction ofWarji languages

Proto-North Bauchi (Proto-Warji) quasi-reconstructions by Roger Blench (2012):[3]

Trees
Scientific nameEnglish nameProto-North Bauchi
Faidherbia albidawhitethorn#atasay
Acacia sieberianapaperbark acacia#malaliya
Khaya senegalensisAfrican mahogany#kwamay
Zizyphus sp.jujube#akwaya
Ficus sp.fig#tirini
Bombax buonopozensesilk cotton#zəŋgwa
Antelopes
Scientific nameEnglish nameProto-North Bauchi
Tragelaphus scriptusbushbuck#badakəla
Gazella rufifronsred-fronted gazelle#tambəra
Alcelaphus buselaphushartebeest#zəmakwara
Ourebia ourebioribi#ndagway
Redunca reduncareedbuck#gəlafi
Crops
Scientific nameEnglish nameProto-North Bauchi
Vigna subterraneaBambara groundnut#azuwey
Sorghum bicolorguinea corn#ʒuna
Pennisetum typhoideummillet (gero)#gyəla
Pennisetum typhoideummillet (maiwa)#marday
Abelmoschus esculentusokra#tagway
Solanum spp.garden egg#akintə
Livestock
English nameProto-North Bauchi
chicken#ɬərkəyi
cow#yəruwa
he-goat#aʧikyə
sheep#tumakway
Liquids
English nameProto-North Bauchi
beer#təɬana
honey#suƙwana
oil#ʃivəna

References

  1. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "West Chadic B.2". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  2. Skinner, Neil A. 1977. North Bauchi Chadic languages. Afroasiatic Linguistics, 4/1:1-49.
  3. Blench, Roger. 2012. Linguistic and cultural background to the North Bauchi region and the Wiihə people.
  4. Blench, Roger. 2006. The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List (ms)
  5. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
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