Mambiloid
Geographic
distribution
Nigeria and Cameroon
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Subdivisions
  • Ndoola (Ndoro)
  • Mambiloid proper
Glottologmamb1309
The Mambiloid languages shown within Nigeria and Cameroon

The twelve Mambiloid languages are languages spoken by the Mambila and related peoples mostly in eastern Nigeria and in Cameroon. In Nigeria the largest group is Mambila (there is also a small Mambila population in Cameroon). In Cameroon the largest group is Vute.

Languages

The following classification follows Blench (2011). Languages with (?) are not listed in that source, but close to other languages according to Ethnologue. Ndoro–Fam may be a separate branch of Benue–Congo.

Ethnologue also lists Njerep, which most likely lies somewhere in the Mambila–Kamkam branch. The extinct Yeni, Luo and Kasabe languages were apparently Mambiloid, the first two close to Njerep.

Fam is sometimes classified with Ndoro, but appears to be more divergent.

The unclassified language Bung shows its strongest resemblance to be with the Ndung dialect of Kwanja. It also has words in common with other Mambiloid languages such as Tep, Somyev and Vute, while a number of words' origins remain unclear (possibly Adamawan).[1]

Names and locations (Nigeria)

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations (in Nigeria only) from Blench (2019).[2]

LanguageDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)
MbɔŋnɔBungnuMbọngnọMbọngnọKamkamKakaba, Bunu800 (1952 W&B); 3000 est. Blench and Connell (1999)Taraba State, Sardauna LGA, Kakara town
NdoolaAt least 2 dialectsNdoroNdoolaNdoolaNjoyamɛ (in Cameroon)1169 (1952 W&B); 10,000 total, 1,300 in Cameroon (1982 SIL); estimated more than 15,000 (1999)Taraba State, Sardauna and Gashaka LGAs; and in Cameroon (1 village only)
VuteAt least 6 dialectsBute, Mbute, Wute, VouteMbutere1,000 or less in Nigeria; 30,000 in Cameroon (1985 EELC)Taraba State, Sardauna LGA; northeast Mambila Plateau, but mainly in Cameroon
TepA single village and associated hamlets. <4000Taraba State. Mambila Plateau
MambilaAlmost every village has a separate dialect forming a dialect chain. Dialect centres are: Bang, Dorofi, Gembu, Hainari, Kabri, Mayo Ndaga, Mbamnga, Tamien, Warwar. At least 4 dialects in Cameroon.Ju NɔriNɔrMambila, Mambilla, Mambere18,000 (1952); 60,000 (1973 SIL); 10,000 in CameroonTaraba State, Sardauna LGA. Mambila Plateau. Cameroon.
MvanɨpMvanɔMagu100 (Blench 1999)Taraba State, Sardauna LGA. A single quarter of Zongo Ajiya town in the northwest of the Mambila Plateau.
Ndunda400 (Blench 1999)Taraba State, Sardauna LGA. In northwest Mambila Plateau.
SomyɛvKila, Zuzun4 speakers (2006)Taraba State, Sardauna LGA, (Blacksmiths’ dialect). Kila Yang village, 10 km. west of Mayo Ndaga. Also formerly spoken in Cameroon
FamFamFamKɔŋa, KongaFewer than 1,000 (1984); <500 (2016)Taraba State, Bali LGA, 17km east of Kungana

References

  1. Bruce Connell, 1997: Moribund Languages of the Nigeria-Cameroon Borderland Archived 2004-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

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