The West Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken principally in Niger and Nigeria. They include Hausa, the most populous Chadic language and a major language of West Africa.

Languages

The branches of West Chadic go either by names or by letters and numbers in an outline format.

West Chadic

• Hausa–Gwandara (A.1): Hausa, Gwandara

Bole–Angas (?)

Bole–Tangale (A.2)

• North (Bole proper): Bure, Karekare, Bole, Gera, Geruma, Deno, Galambu, Giiwo, Kubi, Ngamo, Maaka (Maagha), Ɓeele, Daza (Dazawa), ?Pali

• South (Tangale): Kwaami, Pero, Piya-Kwonci, Kholok, Nyam, Kushi (Goji), Kutto (Kupto), Tangale, Dera (Kanakuru)

Angas (Central West Chadic) (A.3)

• Ngasic: Ngas (Angas), Belnəng

• Mwaghavulic: Mwaghavul, Mupun (Mapun), Takas (Toos); Cakfem-Mushere

• Miship (Chip)

Pan cluster

• Chakato/Jorto

• Jipal, Mernyang (Mirriam), Kwagallak, Kofyar (Doemak), Bwol, Goram, Jibyal

• Nteng

• Tel (Tɛɛl, Montol)

• Talic: Tal, Pyapun, Koenoem

• Goemaic: Goemai

• Yiwom (Ywom, Gerka)

• Ron (A.4): Fyer, Tambas, Ron (Bokkos, Daffo-Butura, Mangar, Monguna), Shagawu, Duhwa (Karfa), Kulere (Tof, Richa, Kamwai-Marhai), Mundat, Sha

Bade–Warji (?)

• Bade (B.1): Duwai; Bade, Shira (†), Ngizim, Teshenawa (†), Auyokawa (†)

• Warji (North Bauchi) (B.2): Pa'a; Warji, Diri, Ciwogai, Kariya (Vinahə), Mburku, Miya, Siri, Zumbun (Jimbin), Ajawa (†)

Barawa (South Bauchi) (B.3)

• Zaar: Dass; Geji, Polci (Polchi), Saya, Zari, Zeem

• Guruntum: Guruntum-Mbaaru, Ju, Tala, Zangwal

• Boghom: Jimi, Jum; Boghom, Kir-Balar, Mangas

In addition, Poki is purportedly West Chadic, but no data is available.

Internal structure

George Starostin's (2010) internal classification of West Chadic as presented in Blažek (2010):

West Chadic

West Chadic A

• Hausa–Gwandara

  Ron

Bole-Angas

• Bole–Tangale

• Angas–Sura

West Chadic B

• Bade–Ngizim

Bauchi

• North Bauchi

• South Bauchi

Roger Blench's (2021) internal classification of West Chadic:

West Chadic

• Hausa–Gwandara

Core West Chadic

• Ron

• Bole–Tangale

• Bade–Ngizim

• North Bauchi

• South Bauchi, A3 (Central-West)

Distribution

Distributions of West Chadic branches:

History of dispersal

Roger Blench (2022) suggests that West Chadic languages may have spread via a gradual agricultural dispersal in Central Nigeria, starting from 3,000–4,000 years ago. Blench notes that West Chadic morphology has been heavily influenced by Plateau languages, likely as a result of long-term intermarriage that occurred as West Chadic incomers took local wives who spoke Plateau languages.

Reconstruction

Although no full reconstruction of West Chadic has been published, reconstructions of numerals for West Chadic and its subgroups have been proposed by Václav Blažek (2018).

Phonology

The labial–velar consonants /kp/ and /gb/, widespread in Plateau and other Niger-Congo languages but uncommon in Chadic languages, can be found in Ron languages and in certain West Chadic A3 and Bole-Tangale languages. These consonants were borrowed from Plateau languages due to intensive long-term contact. However, other phonological features typical of Plateau and Niger-Congo languages such as ATR and vowel harmony are not found in West Chadic languages.

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:

References

External links

• The Yobe Languages Research Project by the late Russell G. Schuh of UCLA

• West Chadic resources at africanlanguages.org