Ningye wordlist

Transcription

Ningye wordlist

The Ningye language
of
Central Nigeria and its affinities
[DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT -NOT FOR CITATION WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
THE AUTHOR
Roger Blench
Kay Williamson Educational Foundation
8, Guest Road
Cambridge CB1 2AL
United Kingdom
Voice/Ans 0044-(0)1223-560687
Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804
E-mail [email protected]
http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm
This printout: October 19, 2011
R.M. Blench Ningye Wordlist Circulated for comment
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................1
2. Location, history and sociolinguistic situation ...............................................................................................1
2.1 Nomenclature................................................................................................................................................1
2.2 Location and settlements ..............................................................................................................................1
2.3 Language status ............................................................................................................................................1
3. Phonology ..........................................................................................................................................................1
3.1 Vowels ..........................................................................................................................................................1
3.2 Consonants....................................................................................................................................................1
3.3 Tones.............................................................................................................................................................2
4. Morphology .......................................................................................................................................................2
4.1 Nouns............................................................................................................................................................2
4.1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................................2
4.2 Reduplication of the stem .............................................................................................................................2
4.3 Tone-raising ..................................................................................................................................................5
4.4 Prefix alternation ..........................................................................................................................................5
4.5 Addition of a pluraliser suffix.......................................................................................................................6
4.6 Consonant alternation ...................................................................................................................................6
5. Lexical comparison and the classification of Ningye .....................................................................................7
Edible and Useful Plants ....................................................................................................................................20
Musical Instruments ...........................................................................................................................................23
6. The classification of Ningye ...........................................................................................................................23
References............................................................................................................................................................23
TABLES
Table 1. Prefix alternation in Ningye......................................................................................................................5
Table 2. Prefix alternation with zero in Ningye......................................................................................................6
Table 3. Plural suffixes in Ningye ..........................................................................................................................6
Table 4. Consonant alternation in Ningye ..........................................................................................................7
i
1. Introduction
This is an annotated wordlist of the Ningye language, spoken in Ningeshen Kurmi village, Kaduna State,
Nigeria. The wordlist was collected by Roger Blench with the assistance of Selbut Longtau from the chief,
Abubakar Salihu Samu and Bulus Magaji and a group of villagers in Ningye on the 19th of December 1998.
The wordlist was collected as a ‘one-shot’ exercise and the transcription must therefore be regarded as very
preliminary. In general, tones are not marked, although the data was taped and they will be added when time
permits. This analysis was prepared by Roger Blench, who added the comparative observations. This
document is being circulated to scholars for comment.
2. Location, history and sociolinguistic situation
2.1 Nomenclature
The Ningye people do not seem to be recorded in any previous literature (Benue-Congo Comparative
Wordlist; Hansford et al. 1976; Crozier & Blench 1992). Ningye is the name of the language and the people.
2.2 Location and settlements
The main village of the Ningye is Ningeshen Kurmi, some 19 km. south of Fadan Karshi on the Akwanga
road. There are three other settlements, Akwankwan, Kobin and Ningeshen Dutse due north of Ningeshen
Kurmi but these are all small.
2.3 Language status
The Ningye language is spoken by perhaps 4-5000 speakers at a maximum. Nonetheless, the language does
not seem unduly threatened; during the language elicitation session it seemed that many of the children
present were able to produce the required lexical items simultaneously with the adults. The Ningye are
multilingual; Numana and Gwantu are the main languages they speak, but Hausa is widely known and some
younger people also speak English.
3. Phonology
The phonology of Ningye is based on rapid observations and should therefore be regarded as tentative at this
stage.
3.1 Vowels
Ningye probably has eight phonemic vowels;
Front
Close
Close-Mid
Open-Mid
Central
Back
i
u
e
ə
ɛ
o
ɔ
Open
a
Ningye permits sequences of Vy and Vw, where V1 is /a/. Examples;
ngaw-tir
ray
kay
path
length
breast
3.2 Consonants
Ningye consonants are as follows:
-1-
1
Plosive
Nasal
Trill
Fricative
Approximant
Lateral
Approximant
Bilabial Labiodental
p b
m
f
Alveolar
t d
v
Alveopalata
l
n
[r]
s z
ʃ
Palata
l
[ʧ] ʤ
Velar Labialvelar
kp gb
k g
ŋ
ʒ
Glottal
h
y
w
l
3.3 Tones
The tone system of Ningye is still to be analysed but there appear to be three level tones and a number of
glides, some of which may be phonemic.
4. Morphology
4.1 Nouns
4.1. Introduction
Noun pluralisation strategies are extremely various and since some occur only once in the data it is uncertain
whether they have been adequately captured. The most common underlying processes appear to be;
a) partial or complete reduplication of the stem
b) tone-raising
c) prefix alternation
In addition, less common strategies are;
a) addition of a pluraliser suffix
b) consonant alternation
c) stem vowel change
In some cases, both occur within the same pluralisation. It also seems clear that pluralisation strategies are
undergoing constant renewal. In many cases, clearly reduplicated stems now have new pluralisation prefixes,
or undergo tone-raising. Plurals of some relatively recent items of material culture such as tobacco allow a
tentative historical stratification of some of these strategies.
4.2 Stem reduplication
The most common pluralisation strategy is stem reduplication. This can be partial or complete. If the stem
vowel is –a-, the reduplicated vowel in the prefix must be either –u- or -ə-. If the preceding consonant is
labialised, the vowel will be –-u-, otherwise it is -ə-. Two exceptions are noted below the tables which
should be checked.
-2-
2
Table 1. Prefix reduplication with -a- stem vowel
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Stone
mpaŋ
mpəmpaŋ
Father
ba
bəba
Barren woman
pa
pəpa
Slave
gan
gəgan
Name
sa
səsa
Nail (Finger/toe)
mfap
mfəmfap
Knee
gbəru
gbəgbəru
Wing (of bird)
mbaŋ
mbəmbaŋ
Arrow
kap
ki-kap
Liver
pəmpani
pəmpəmpani
Hoe
kar
ke-kar
Table 2. Prefix reduplication with -a- stem vowel
and a labial consonant
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Moon/month
nkwa
kunkwa
Song
kwa
kukwa
Egg
kpaŋ
kpuŋkpaŋ
Yam-heap
bwar
bubwar
Vagina
mpya
mpumpya
Adze
gyar
gigyar
Cheek ŋaŋ ŋaŋŋaŋ
Branch
na
nina
Where the stem vowel is –u- and the root either ends or is prefixed by a nasal, the vowel in the reduplicated
prefix is always –u- (Table 3). The single example where the initial consonant of the root is palatalised
yields an –i- as a prefix vowel.
-3-
3
Table 3. Prefix reduplication with a -u- stem vowel
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Thorn
ntu
tu-ntu
Corpse
kum
kukum
Grave
gun
gugun
Tail
ndum
dundum
War
kum
kukum
Work
tum
tutum
Wind
mbu
mbumbu
Field
ʤu
ʤuʤu
King/chief/ruler
cum
cuncum
Head
tu
tutu
Canoe
gum
gumgum
Mouth
nyu
nyunyu
Vein
cyu
cucyu
Thief
gyu
gigyu
A mid front vowel in the stem always yields a high front vowel in the prefix (Table 4);
Table 4. Prefix reduplication with an -E- stem vowel
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Year
ʃe
ʃiʃe
Goitre
mwɛr
mwɛmwɛr
Fist
nkyeŋ
kikyeŋ
Pot (generic)
rɛn
rɛrɛn
Thing
kye
kekye
Head-pad
mbekar
mbembekar
Chin
dɛ
didɛ
Tongue
rirɛm
rirɛm
A high front vowel in the stem always yields a high front vowel in the prefix (Table 5);
Table 5. Prefix reduplication with an -i- stem vowel
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Road
tir
titir
Village/settlement
cip
cicip
Place
bim
bibim
Bundle
mpin
mpimpin
Eye
yi
yiyi
Stomach
ni
nini
Knife
nʤi
nʤinʤi
Tooth
ɲin
ɲiɲin
Hippopotamus
Cobra
ni
nyik
neni
ninyik
Where the stem vowel is mid back, the prefix vowel is –u- although there are a couple of exceptional cases
(Table 6);
-4-
4
Table 6. Prefix reduplication with an -O- stem vowel
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Smell
mbɔ
mbumbɔ
Lie
mwɔ
mumwɔ
Poison
tos
tutos
Compound
kɔp
kukɔp
Horn
nzom
zunzom
Ear
tɔŋ
titɔŋ
Back
gɔŋ
gu-gɔŋ
Stool
rɔn
ru-rɔn
Mountain
bo
bobo
4.3 Tone-raising
Gloss
sg.
pl.
4.4 Prefix alternation
Some Ningye nouns show clear alternations between singular and plural prefixes. These are shown in Table
7;
Table 7. Prefix alternation in Ningye
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Hunter
ni-tak
bi-tak
Doctor
nɛ-tɔ
bɛ-tɔ
Blacksmith
nɛ-rak
bɛ-rak
Disease( generic)
u-rɔ
ru-rɔ
Fist
n-kyeŋ
ki-kyeŋ
These do, however, represent a surprisingly small number of cases and are not likely to be the last relics of
the full system of affix alternation but some later accretions.
Prefixes paired with a zero prefix in the singular are regarded as suspect since they may arise through some
other morphological process. These are shown in Table 8;
-5-
5
Table 8. Prefix alternation with zero in Ningye
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Witch
cɛn
bi-cɛn
Woodworker
ʃɛp
bi-ʃɛp
Forest
cu
mu-ncu
Paddle
mpumpa
ne-mpumpa
Spear
taŋpan
ne-ŋtaŋpan
Branch
na
nina
Castrated goat
bwɔ
ni-bwɔ
Goat
gugu
ni-gugu
Ram
nturu
ni-nturu
Castrated sheep
ram
ni-ram
Wooden door
nu-tsɛr
ni-tsɛtsɛr
He-goat
yir
ni-yir
Ladder
kukɔŋ
nu-kukɔŋ
Sheep
wantam
nu-wantam
Shoulder
mbaŋ
tu-mbaŋ
Of these, the bi- prefixes are likely to be the same as the bV- prefixes in Table 7. Ningye has an nV- prefix
in both singular and plural, with an underspecified vowel. It is particularly common with animal names and
it may be a type of default plural when the correct plural cannot be remembered. There is a single example
each of the mu- and tu- prefixes, so their status must remain questionable.
These prefixes seem to be historically recent, as there is evidence for prior prefixation using reduplicative
strategies. For example, the word for ‘rope’ riri, has external cognates such as Tarok ìrˆk, i.e. nonreduplicated. In Ningye, it seems to have been reduplicated, the resulting form interpreted as a singular and
then re-prefixed. Other cases include the word for ‘paddle’ mpumpa pl. ne-mpumpa, and xx.
4.5 Addition of a pluraliser suffix
A small number of nouns in Ningye, especially those to do with persons have plural suffixes of various
forms (Table 9);
Table 9. Plural suffixes in Ningye
Gloss
sg.
pl.
Mother
iya
iya-mɔ
In-laws
yi
yi-mɔ
Ancestors
cimcim
cimcim-bɔr
Person/people
nder
nder-ʃir
Man
nurum
nurum-namwi
mɔ is a common plural marker in Plateau (Eggon, for example) and also occurs in Chadic (in Mwaghavul
and other related West chadic languages).
One word, ‘wall of room’ cin pl. kɔn-cin appears to have a prefixed morpheme marking plural which may
be an old compound.
4.6 Consonant alternation
Some words connected with persons appear to show consonant alternation (Table 10);
-6-
6
Table 10. Consonant
Ningye
Gloss
sg.
Child
ven
Young man
venʤe
Woman
uwa
Widow
waku
Mat (generic)
kikur
Female breast
kay
alternation
in
pl.
mumwen
mwenʤe
mba
mbaku
cicidukur
yay
The word for ‘breast’ also has a more conventional plural, kə-kay, as well as the (presumably older) form
recorded here.
5. Lexical comparison and the classification of Ningye
As a language so far unrecorded, no preliminary material for classifying Ningye exists, by definition. The
Ningye generally consider their language to be closest to the Numana-Nunku-Gwantu-Numbu cluster, which
would put it in the southwestern group of Western Plateau. This is a hard assertion to test directly, since
published data on the Numana cluster is exiguous in the extreme. The present exercise is intended to identify
as many external cognates as possible, both where these reflect wide Niger-Congo roots and more local
comparisons with Plateau languages. The noun morphology of Ningye is complex, but does show clear
external comparisons. Other types of comparison, such as phonology and syntax, must await more detailed
descriptions of neighbouring languages. However, it can be said that the phonology of Ningye is standard
for these languages – affix reduction has proceeded far enough to eliminate the complexities of languages
such as Tyap.
6. Ningye comparative wordlist
No. Gloss
1.
Tree (generic)
2.
3.
Leaf
Root
4.
5.
Branch
Bark (of tree)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Thorn
Grass (generic)
Mushroom
Water-lily
Algae
Seed/stone/pip
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Charcoal
Dust
Ashes
Rubbish-heap
Rubbish-pit
Mud
Clay
Singular
kuŋkuŋ
mbaŋ
ryiŋ
na
ku
ntu
gəga
ʤu
yataka
nanden
be
Plural
Commentary
cin-kuŋkuŋ cf. Tarokoid #-kon but this root is widespread in
Niger-Congo, often meaning firewood.
mbaŋ
ryiŋ cf. Fyem líŋ pl. ɓaliŋ, Tarok alìŋ, Pe liŋ pl. a-liŋ.
A PWS root
nina cf. Bu ɛna, Hasha i-nak,
cf. Ce kʊ-nkʊ, Toro ùkùkù, Nandu kukôn, Eloyi
ku-kù,
tu-ntu cf. Bu ncɔŋ, Alumu tòtò, Hasha i-tyok, Ce ìtɪtɔ,
—
cf. Ninzo agígá, Bu giga, Ce ku-gá,
cf. Bu ʤuʤu, Ninkyob ǹzyûŋ,
cf. Bu ibi, Toro biro, Alumu biro+, Shall biri, Ce
ìbɪ,
ndiri
ngur
ntoŋ
dudu
mbɔn dudu
rankyɛp
nkyɛm
cf. Ninzo ìhúr, Bu iwuru, Ce ìhut,
cf. Niger-Congo #ntoN
‘hole of rubbish’
cf. Ninkyob pwèp
cf. Bu ntɛmɛ, Ce ku-nté,
-7-
7
No. Gloss
19. Dew
Singular
mmeŋ
20.
Stone
mpaŋ
21.
22.
23.
24.
Sand
Smoke
Fire
Water
waŋɔm
ntɛŋ
wɔr
maʃir
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
Rain
Cloud
Rain-cloud
Lightning
Rainy Season
Harmattan
Year
wɔr-ʃu
pawur
wɔraʃi
nay
koos
mvur
ʃe
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
Today
Yesterday
Tomorrow
Morning
Evening
Dawn
Day
Night
rɛŋ(a)
ryɛɛŋ
mbwer
mbweʃir
ryɛgɔɔr
ki-mgwər
ri
cu
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
Moon/month
Sun
Star(s)
Wind
God
Sky
World
47.
Ground
nkwa
ri
ndis
mbu
ri
kpaʃukur
gɔm
mɛmmɛ
mɛmmɛ
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
Large River
Stream
Forest
Mountain
Hill
Bush
Farm
nɛk
wɔn
cu
bo
nkugbu
nkwaŋ
urum
55.
56.
Field
Market*
ʤu
kasuwa
Plural
Commentary
cf. Ninzo àmé, Bu mmɛ, Hasha eme, Rukul
mmaŋ, Tarok ìmìmyàŋ, Yaŋkam myaŋ but almost
certainly going back to a Niger-Congo root #mempəmpaŋ cf. Ake ripyɔ, Tarok ìpaŋ. Also Chadic:
Mwaghavul paŋ
cf. Bu ŋaŋumɔ,
cf. Bu ɛntɛ, Ce ɪncí, Ninkyop ǹsɛŋ
cf. Ninzo ùrú, Bu wuru, Ce uwù,
cf. Ninzo masiri, Bu mma, Cara mal, Horom
bamal, also Ura mò and Bokyi ɔ-mo. Also in
Chadic: Tala maal, Buli màl. Words for ‘water’
with ma- are Africa-wide and may derive from the
old ma- class-prefix for liquids.
cf. Ce àwʊ̀rʊ̀, Bu iwulu,
cf. Bu ʃɛwulu,
—
cf. Ce kɪ-kus,
cf. Bu ɛmru
ʃiʃe cf. Bu isɛ, Berom ʃēy pl. neʃey. Probably also
Hausa ʃekara
cf. Ninkyob reŋ
cf. Bu ɛr̃ i, Rukul irwɛ, Ninkyob rɛ̂ŋ
cf. Bu mbrɛ, Ce kambàlà,
‘today’ + ?
See
cf. Bu ecir, ? weakened from widespread #tukforms
ku-nkwa cf. Bu ɛhwa,
See 38.,
ndis
mbumbu
See 38.,
—
cf. Bu iʃu,
As ‘land’ (136.) cf. Bu mɛmɛ, Ninzo ímímí, Tarok
mbin,
cf. Bu nnɛ
cf. Ce u-wɔk+ ‘river’,
muncu cf. Ce kutúk,
bobo cf. Ninkyob gbyo
nkugbu cf. Bu ŋbulu, Ce ìgbul,
urum cf. Fyem rám, Tarok ìràm Yaŋkam, Sur, Pe ram
and other languages in this area. Ngas has màr
which looks like metathesis
ʤuʤu cf. Ce kɪ-nʤɪ́k,
as Hausa
-8-
8
No.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
Gloss
Compound
Interior courtyard
Room
Wall (of room)
Thatch roof
Granary
Well*
Road
Singular
kɔp
miŋ kɔp
miŋtar
cin
mbe-gəga
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
Path
Village/settlement
River-bank
Swamp/wetland
Place
ngaw-tir
cip
nyu
badi
bim
70.
71.
Person/people
Man
72.
Woman
uwa
73.
Child
ven
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
Husband
Widow
Wife
Young man
Young girl
Old person
Father
Mother
bakɔp
waku
uwa
venʤe
vua
tɛtɛr
ba
iya
82.
83.
84.
85.
pa
gaap
yi
cimcim
86.
87.
Barren woman
Relations
In-laws
Ancestors,
grandparents
Friend
King/chief/ruler
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
Hunter
Thief
Doctor
Witch
Corpse
ni-tak
gyu
nɛtɔ
cɛn
kum
93.
94.
Blacksmith
Woodworker
nɛrak
ʃɛp
95.
Slave
mbwe
tir
nder
nurum
tsɛn
cum
gan
Plural
Commentary
ku-kɔp cf. Ninzo, Bu ikɔ, Ce kɪkɔ̀, Shall ngup,
kitar cf. Bu i-təra
kɔn-cin
mbe-gəga ‘x of grass’
mbwe
titir cf. Ce kʊ-cɪ́lɪ́, Rukul i-təl, Kadara utera, Tarok
asə̀l, Eggon oʃen,
ngaw-titir
ci-cip cf. Ce kʊ-cɪ́p,
nyu cf. Bu inyinɛ,
—
bibim cf. Nupe ebà. A Niger-Congo root that
reconstructs to PMC. Westermann gives it as #biander-ʃir
nurum- cf. Fyem róm pl. ɓarom but this is a very
namwi widespread Benue-Congo root for ‘man/male’,
‘person’ (see discussion in BCCW, II)
mba As wife (76.). cf. Bu uwa pl. imba, Ce u-wa+ pl. ɪ́mba,
mumwen cf. Tarok ován ‘children’, Bu ivrɛ, Ce u-vɪn+ pl. ɪ́ŋmɪ́n,
bəbakɔp ‘father of the compound’
mbaku ‘woman of death’
mba As woman (72.)
mwenʤe ‘child’ + -ʤe
mwiɱɔ
this is probably an adjective to go with ‘person’
bəba
iya-mɔ cf. Bu iya, . Also widespread in Afroasiatic e.g.
Hausa iya
pəpa
—
yi-mɔ cf. Bu wayi,
cimcim-bɔr
tsɛntsɛn cf. Ce ʃìn, Bu tsərɛ ‘guest’, Izere atsɛn, Mbd *kèn
cuncum cf. Bu icu, Ninzo ùcù, Nupe etsu+, Ce u-tù, also
Tarok –cumcum ‘important’
bi-tak cf. Nandu nàtàki,
gigyu
bɛtɔ
bicɛn cf. Cara fɛm pl. inkɛm,
kukum cf. Ce kɪ-kúm, Izere kukɔ@m. Also in Chadic
Goemai ˚um, Ngas kuum. from widespread
‘death’ root (100.)
bɛrak cf. Ninzo nìlà, Bu ɛla
biʃɛp the –ʃɛp element is from a widespread verb root
meaning ‘to carve’.
gəgan cf. Hyam gan, Bu ɛgərã, Cara ki-gyɛn,
-9-
9
No.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
Gloss
Masquerade (gen)
Masquerade I
Masquerade II
Masquerade III
Death
Name
Singular
rim
mbwi
kariŋ
ʤaŋbɔŋ
ku
sa
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
Grave
Song
Riddle
Proverb
Story
Word
Lie
News
Hunger
gun
kwa
mpɛŋrɛŋ
bigyirɛŋ
mbe
mpaŋryɛŋ
mwɔ
banrɛŋ
ʤɔŋ
111.
112.
113.
114.
Famine
Egg
Horn
Tail
kwaʤɔŋ
kpaŋ
nzom
ndum
115. Wing (of bird)
116. Beak (of bird)
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
Nest (of bird)
Gum/glue
Ant-hill
Hole in ground
Smell
Poison
Bundle
Firewood
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
Stick
Yam-heap
War
Work
Divination (types)
Medicine (generic)
Money
Shadow
Thing
Strength
Length
Land/country
Sleep
mbaŋ
nyu nunur
nʤɛn
cəgã
todan
dudu
mbɔ
tos
mpin
kunkun biŋ
wur
bwar
kum
tum
tɔ
—
nkwɔr
ryim
kye
tsi
rai
mɛmmɛ
na
Plural
Commentary
cf. Ninkyob rim, Tarok ùrìm, Sur rum
cf. Nandu ámbwê,
A masquerade widespread in the Plateau area
səsa cf. Kuturmi utwa, Kenta tim, Fyem ɗi-sá. The
#sa- element is widespread in Plateau and Kainji,
#-tak in BCCW, II, 63. Perhaps also Chadic cf. DB and others súm
gugun
kukwa
mbe
mumwɔ
cf. Bu iyɔ,̃ Fyem yóŋ, Tarok ayáŋ, Sur yyɔŋ, Ce ìwyo, Ultimately Hausa yunwa.
kpuŋkpaŋ cf. Tari akebi, Kuturmi ikpa, Ninzo inkpe,
zunzom
dundum cf. Ce u-ndú, Fyem dum, Rukul itum, Nandu
ùntùm,
mbəmbaŋ cf. ‘shoulder’ (162.). cf. Bu ŋba, Ce ku-ŋgbà,
nyunyu ‘mouth of bird’
nunur
nʤɛn
todan cf. Ce kɪ-ndá,
dudu cf. Ninkyob du, Bu ʤyuʤyu, Ce ku-du,
mbumbɔ
tutos cf. Bu ntsɔ,̃ Rukul tus,
mpimpin
‘wood of fire’
bubwar
kukum cf. Nupe ekũ, Bu eku, Tarok ìkùm,
tutum #tom- is a Niger-Congo root.
kəka cf. Ce íkál, Hyam gwap,
cf. Bu ɛnkərɛ, Ce iŋkArAhɪ,
cf. Tarok urim ‘spirit’,
kekye cf. Ce ìkpì, Hyam gyə, Jili ágã ,
As ‘ground’ (47.)
na- element is common in East Benue-Congo, e.g.
Sur na, Wukari Jukun na, Yashi na, Lamnsɔ náárî
-10-
10
No.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
Gloss
Disease(generic)
Smallpox
Diarrhoea
Eczema
Goitre
Boil
Sore/wound
Leprosy I
Leprosy II
Head
148. Eye
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
Face
Skull
Cheek
Forehead
Nose
Ear
155. Mouth
Singular
urɔ
mbɛŋdu
turza
wuwo
mwɛr
pupwap
ʃiʃi
mpu
mawo
tu
yi
tuyi
kpuŋkpetu
ŋaŋ
tuyi
mver
tɔŋ
nyu
156. Tooth
157. Tongue
nyin
rirɛm
158. Throat
mwɛr
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173.
Neck
Jaw
Chin
Shoulder
Armpit
Fist
Arm
Hand
Leg
Foot
Thigh
Knee
Nail (Finger/toe)
Female breast
Stomach
174. Navel
tɔ
ciŋŋaŋ
dɛ
mbaŋ
duduŋ gbaŋ
nkyeŋ
mbaŋ
mbar-kɔk
za
mbar za
mbɛnza
gbəru
mfap
kai
ni
kum
Plural
Commentary
rurɔ cf. Bu lilɔ, Tarok arwa, Hyam rwoŋ,
mwɛmwɛr As ‘throat’ (158.)
the state when the fingers fall off
tutu cf. Bu itu with vowel raising from the more
common #ti- roots
yiyi cf. Horom yo pl. i-yo, Ayu i-ʤo, Fyer yuurù,
Nupe eye, common Jukun #-zo. Widespread
Chadic roots appear to be weakenings of initial
forms such as Hausa ‘ídòò.
tutuyi ‘head + eye’ cf. ‘forehead’ (152.)
‘x + head’
ŋaŋŋaŋ cf. Tarok n$ʤàŋ ‘cheek’,
tutuyi cf. ‘face’ (149.)
mvəmver cf. Bu emvri, Sur gəvərum
titɔŋ cf. Fyem hutóŋ, Mabo utó also throughout
Tarokoid, but a PVC root #tuN-. Also reflected in
Ron, cf. Sha 'a-tôn
nyunyu cf. Bu enyu, Fyem núŋ, but an old Niger-Congo
root
nyinyin cf. Tarok ìnyin. A PNC root
rirɛm cf. Mabo de-rem, Pe ti-lem, Yaŋkam rem cLela drémé, ultimately Atlantic-Congo #-lima
mwɛmwɛr As ‘goitre’ (142.). #mVr- is a widespread NigerCongo root.
tutɔ cf. Horom ɗì-sìtó, Eloyi kì-tó, Ninkyob tyɔ,̃
ciciŋŋaŋ
didɛ
tu-mbaŋ cf. ‘wing’ (115.)
duduŋ gbaŋ
kikyeŋ
mbəmbaŋ cf. ‘shoulder’, ‘wing’ (162., 115.)
mbar-yɔk
zeza cf. Ninkyob zá,
mbar zeza
mbɛŋzeza
gbəgbəru
mfəmfap cf. Tarok ìfìr,
yai Also pl. kəkai
nini cf. Ninzo ìnè, Hasha iɲi, Kamanton ɲii, Kenyi
ɲeŋ, and scattered forms in Plateau. Also in
Chadic: Sya ànyi
kum cf. Pe, Tarok ìgum, Yaŋkam kum, Nindem ìkom,
also PLC *-kóp, Nizaa kómni, Vute cómè. Also
Mambiloid (Cambap) kúmbu#n, PB #kóbù Also in
Chadic: Mwaghavul kúm, Tangale kúmbi
-11-
11
No.
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
Gloss
Back
Buttocks
Penis
Vagina
Skin
Bone
181.
182.
183.
184.
Rib
Vein
Blood
Breath
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
Tear
Sweat
Urine
Faeces
Hair
Beard
Brain
Liver
Heart
Intestines
Body
Meat
197. Animal (Bush)
198. Cow
199. Bull
200.
201.
202.
203.
Calf
Goat
He-goat
Castrated goat
204. Sheep
205.
206.
207.
208.
Ram
Castrated sheep
Dog
*Cat
209.
210.
211.
212.
*Pig
*Horse
*Donkey
Elephant
213. Hippopotamus
Singular
gɔŋ
ndaŋciŋ
ʤiʤi
mpya
kpa
kuku
saŋ
cyu
gyi
vɛr
Plural
Commentary
gu-gɔŋ cf. Bu ɛgɔ,̃ Ninzo úgo,
ndaŋciŋ
ʤiʤi
mpumpya
kpəkpa Niger-Congo root #kpakuku cf. Ninzo ukfúkfú, Fyem huhúp pl. ahúp,
weakened from the more widespread #kup. Cf. Bo
ukúp, Pe ukup, Tarok akúp and Yaŋkam kup and
PB #-kubi
sesaŋ cf. Ninkyob ǹsâr, Rukul a-kyen, ? Tarok n$zàkÆ@n,
cucyu
cf. Ninzo àyìyì, Bu eyi, PLC *í-yíp
cf. Ninkyob vyèr, Bu evri, Sur vəri, Pe mve. cf.
Vute fìí, Somyev fièlá
məmayi cf. Alumu miyá, Toro amya, Bu masi,
mayi
cir
manyin
cf. Ninkyob nyǐr,
gye
cf. Ninzo àŋyé, Bu inyɛ
mfu
cf. Bu nfu,
nten
cf. Bu ntɛbɛ,
kpuŋkpetu
‘? + head’
pəmpani pəmpəmpani
sunsun
cf. Toro sunɔ ‘heart’, Bu isurɔ,̃ Tarok ìtun,
—
rire cf. Bu ɛr̃ ɛ,̃ Rukul ilel, Tarok alèr,
pa
cf. Ninzo ukpá, Bu ekpa,
nam
an ancient Niger-Congo root, widespread in
Plateau
namgu
‘meat’ + ‘bush’
randoŋ
randoŋ this root is widespread in both Plateau and adjacent
Chadic languages
nurum
nurum ‘male cow’
randoŋ
randoŋ
mwə randoŋ
‘child cow’
gugu
ni-gugu
yir
ni-yir cf. Bu ɛri,
bwɔ
ni-bwɔ cf. Horom ɓòl, Fyem bwol, Tarok ìɓˆl, Pe iɓwel
but an old Niger-Congo root
wantam nu-wantam cf. Tarok itam, Pe itamu, Yaŋkam tam but also
widespread in West Africa
nturu
ni-nturu
ram
ni-ram cf. Bu ɛra,
ŋguŋgu
ni-ŋguŋgu
musa
ne-musa cf. Ngas mus. A common term in this region
originally derived from Hausa
as H.
nyam
ni-nyam cf. Bu ŋgəma,
as H.
nyi
ninyi cf. Ninzo iŋyí, Toro nyi, Bu ninyi, but a ProtoAtlantic-Congo root #nyini
neni cf. Horom nírí
-12-
12
No. Gloss
214. Buffalo
Singular
gyar
215. Lion
216. Leopard
darmok
tse
217. Monkey (generic)
kar
218.
219.
220.
221.
Baboon
Patas monkey1
Squirrels (generic)
Rat (generic)
nkagbo
tsem
sersan
ci
222.
223.
224.
225.
226.
227.
228.
Other bush-rats I
Other bush-rats II
Other bush-rats III
Other bush-rats IV
Other bush-rats V
Grasscutter2
Hare3
zek
ntai
cɔn
tankan
cinzip
gyo
gyɔm
229. House-bat
230. Fruit-bat
231. Nile crocodile
232.
233.
234.
235.
236.
237.
238.
239.
240.
241.
242.
243.
244.
Chameleon
Agama lizard
Skink
Gecko
Monitor
lizard
(damo)
Monitor lizard (xx)
Toad
River frog
Land tortoise
Snake (Generic)
Spitting cobra
Cobra
Puff adder
245.
246.
247.
248.
River turtle
River crab
River molluscs
Fish (generic)
mpud
gəgap
kur
nte
bɔ
cimbwɔr
tarpas
bawul
bam
kpurkpa
i-wya
?
nyik
kuruŋkɔŋ
kpurkpa
kaw
ŋpar
mbe
Plural
Commentary
negyar cf. Horom yat, Cara ì-yàt pl. yat, Yaŋkam yyet,
PB #-ɲáti reflecting a more widespread root #-yati
in East Benue-Congo. Also in WBC e.g. Nupe eya.
See also Daffo yàt
ne-darmok
ne-tse cf. Bu ɛcɛ, Horom kyè, Fyem kwe, Hasha ehwe,
Jari ì-kwì, Tesu kwi related to old Niger-Congo
root #-gbe, -kpe
ne-kar cf. Horom cáráŋ, but probably also more
widespread #kana roots. Also in Chadic:
Mwaghavul kaar,
ne-nkagbo The #-gbo element appears to be widespread
ne-tsem cf. Tarok ìsÆ@m,
ne-sersan
ne-ci cf. Horom kí, Fyem kwi, Alumu ì-kwì, Bu ɛci, Pe
ikuu, Tarok ìpi
ne-zek
ne-ntai
ne-cɔn
ne-tankan
ne-cinzip
ne-gyo cf. Izere àgòr,
ne-gyɔm cf. Ningye ɣwyɔm, but almost certainly cognate
with widespread #-zom roots
ne-mpud
ne-gəgap
ne-kur cf. Toro kuru, Bu ŋkuru, Ninzo àkur, Che ikut,
Also in Chadic: Goemai ˚ut, Ngas kut.
ne-nte cf. Alumu atɛnde+
ne-bɔ cf. Tarok ìɓòlí,
ne-cimbwɔr cf. Ayu íntámbêr,
ne-tarpas
ne-bawul cf. Bu bawulu,
ne-bam
ne-kpurkpa cf. Rukul akpa,
ni-wya A Niger-Congo root for ‘snake’
?
ninyik
nekuruŋkɔŋ
ne-kpurkpa
cf. Ninkyob ǹkyankwãw,
ne-ŋpar
ne-mbe cf. Bu lambɛ,
(Erythrocebus patas)
(Thryonomys Swinderianus)
3
(Lepus Crawshayi)
1
2
-13-
13
No.
249.
250.
251.
252.
253.
254.
255.
256.
257.
258.
259.
260.
261.
262.
263.
264.
Gloss
Fish sp. I
Fish sp. II
Fish sp. III
Fish sp. IV
Fish sp. V
Fish sp. VI
Fish sp. VII
Fish sp. VIII
Fish sp. IX
Fish sp. X
Fish sp. XI
Fish sp. XII
Fish sp. XIII
Fish sp. XIV
Electric fish4
Bird (generic)
265. Chicken (General
term)
266.
267.
268.
269.
270.
271.
Cock
*Duck (Domestic)
Guinea-fowl
Hooded Vulture5
Village Weaver6
Cattle-egret7
272. Black kite8
273. Standard-wing
Night-jar
274. Owl (various spp.)
275. Bushfowl/partridge
276. *Pied crow9
277. Woodpecker
278. Bird sp.
279. Insect (Generic)
280. Scorpion
281. Butterfly
282. Mosquito
283. Spider
284. Mason wasp10
Singular
Plural
Commentary
bibir
ne-bibir
kɔr
ne-kɔr
pataŋke
ne-pataŋke
nanza
ne-nanza
wanyin
ne-wanyin
kpiŋkpir ne-kpiŋkpir
bua
ne-bua
kpuŋkpoto
nepak
ne-pak
mbekəkar
nekənkam
nentuŋ
neben
ne-ben
nendorop ne-nendorop
manzariya
ne- < Hausa
nunɔr
ne-nunɔr cf. Horom nɔ̀n, Tarok inyil, Pe i-nol, Yaŋkam noi
A common Benue-Congo root also found in Bantu.
kukɔ
nu-kukɔ cf. Rukul kwɔr, Mada kɔ̀kɔ̀, Kahugu akoro and is
probably a shortening of the t-k-r roots found in
this group and outside BC. See BCCW, 43
gbak
ne-gbak cf. Bu bakɔ,
gwagwa
ne-gwagwa < Hausa
tsiŋgbe
ne-tsiŋgbe
uŋgura
nuŋgura < Hausa ?
ʃɛr
ni-ʃɛr
ʤabanerandoŋ
mpaŋ
neŋpaŋ
wambɛn
neʤum
manturvay
banaʤu
kpukpɔk
cɔs
daŋbar
paŋ
pambarim
wɔ
garantan
ncena
ne-ʤum cf. Bu eʤu,
nenenene-cɔs has crest, digs holes
nu-wɔ cf. Ninkyob yò,
ne- cf. Ninkyob ràntàrɲ,
ncena
(Malapterurus electricus)
(Neophron monachus)
6
(Ploceus cucullatus)
7
(Ardeola ibis)
8
(Milvus migrans)
9
(Corvus albus)
10
(Belenogaster spp.)
4
5
-14-
14
No. Gloss
285. Bee
286. Sweat-fly
287. Housefly
288.
289.
290.
291.
292.
Ant (Generic)
Louse (Human)
Millipede
Cockroach
Termite
293.
294.
295.
296.
297.
298.
299.
300.
301.
Flying-ant
Praying mantis
Firefly
Giant Cricket
Earthworm
Giant Snail
Dragon-fly
Soap (Traditional)
Oil
302. Fat/grease
303. Salt
Singular
sɔ
ŋku
ciŋciŋ
kənkai
as H.
cicəmanpan
periŋkpa
dan
gyo
kuruŋban
karanyau
ntes
nʤan
mpar
mantaraŋ
tɔk
nyi
Plural
Commentary
ni-sɔ cf. Berom ʃòk pl. ʃok, Cara ʃò pl. ʃo, Bu ʃò, Izere
iʃɔʃ pl. iʃɔ@ʃ,
ni-ŋku
ni-ciŋciŋ cf. Tarok ìcìŋcìŋ,
Berom cíŋ, Horom cìŋ.
Reconstructed as #-ciN to Proto-Benue-Congo in
Blench (ms.). Also Chadic: Ngas nʃi, Mwaghavul
ndìʃìì, Tangale tíìn
ninicf. Horom ɗì-tàn, Pe i-kataan, Tarok ìnàntàn, and
see below
ne-gyo
ni-ntes
ni-nʤan cf. Tarok aʤánʤán,
cf. Bu iɲe, Hasha ane, Tesu amɛnɛ, Berom nɔ́i,
Aten noi, Gure mani, Tarok m$mì, Central
Kambari mànì’i0^ and ultimately Hausa mai.
iyo
maŋ
304.
305.
306.
307.
308.
309.
310.
311.
312.
313.
314.
315.
316.
317.
318.
319.
320.
321.
322.
Soup/stew
Porridge
Sorghum-beer
Palm-wine
Peelings
Funnel
Filter
Rag
Floor-beater
Handle (of tool)
Sickle
Cutlass
Iron
Axe
Axe II
Adze
Hoe
Hammer
Knife
nyiŋ
sɔ
iyé
ncen
nku
as H
sisaŋ
kpɔntur
naŋkpa
wyanʤi
lawʤi
da
puŋkɔr
ŋgai
ber
gyar
kar
as H.
nʤi
323.
324.
325.
326.
Comb
Broom
Sack
Fireplace
as E.
tsintsak
puru
tsɛtsɛr
cf. Cara imbasi, Rukul mmɔk, Fyem, Horom ma,
Tarok m̀ màn, but also Fulfulde manda
cf. Tarok ǹcè,
na-nku cf. Tarok akukuk,
ni- cf. Hasha zəzeŋ, Rukul a-sən,
kpɔptuntur
wyanʤinʤi
< Hausa
deda < Hausa
nu-ŋgai cf. Hasha ikai, Tarok ìkù, Bu iŋge, Rukul gaya,
buŋber
gigyar cf. Tarok ìkə@r,
ke-kar
nʤinʤi cf. Ninzo anʤi, Bu inʒi, Che kuʤik, Also in
Chadic: Goemai ʃik,
tsintsák cf. Fyem wis, Horom uwes, Bu sisa,
ne-pupuru
cf. Tarok acír,
-15-
15
No.
327.
328.
329.
330.
331.
332.
333.
334.
335.
336.
337.
338.
339.
340.
341.
342.
343.
344.
345.
346.
347.
348.
349.
350.
351.
352.
353.
354.
Gloss
Mortar (wood)
Pestle
Pot
(clay)
(generic)
Pots I
Pots II
Pots III
Head-pad
Basket (generic)
Large basket
Sieve
Winnowing tray
Mat (generic)
Spear
Bow
Arrow
Quiver
Chain
Rope
Stool
Wooden door
Fence
Ladder
Canoe
Paddle
Bee-hive
Fish-trap
One
Two
355. Three
Singular
ʤiŋ
kunkun
rɛn
kɔr
mɛmɛ
gam
mbekar
sisaŋ
soŋkpo
ʃeŋye
mbumbum
kikur
taŋpan
teta
kap
banduŋ
tsetseŋ
riri
rɔn
nu-tsɛr
mfor
kukɔŋ
gum
mpumpa
kampu
kɔr
gyin
war
tar
356. Four
naas
357. Five
tuuŋ
358.
359.
360.
361.
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
362. Ten
363. Eleven
364. Twelve
Plural
Commentary
ʤiŋʤiŋ cf. Bu ɛʤi,
—
rɛrɛn cf. Rukul a-risen, Bu ɛri,
gəngam ‘very large’
mbembekar ka- element is a widespread Volta-Congo root
ni-sisaŋ cf. Ninzo í-sísà,
—
mbumbûm
cicidukur
neŋtaŋpan
ne-teta
ki-kap
bándùŋ
ne-tsetseŋ
ne-riri
ru-rɔn
ni-tsɛtsɛr
cf. Ayu imûm,
cf. Ningye tampəran,
#-ta is a Niger-Congo root
cf. Tarok ìbòntílí,
cf. Tarok ìrˆk,
nu-kukɔŋ cf. Rukul kwɔŋ,
gumgum
ne-mpumpa
kámpú
ku-kɔr
? cf. Tarok uzˆŋ, Yangkam ɲinuŋ
cf. Mbɔŋnɔ hwaan, Somyev haan, Tiv -hár’,
Kajju -hwa, Mada há, Rindre a-ha, These may all
be independent weakenings of the more
widespread #-fa root.
A Proto-Niger-Congo root also found in other
African language phyla
#naas can be reconstructed for East Benue-Congo
but also occurs in Gur
A Niger-Congo root found in this form in Plateau
languages of the region. (BCCW 107)
kaane
taŋba
taŋdan
tɛrɛs
cf. Bu taŋba, Ninkyob tààŋgba
cf. Ninzo táŋdàr, Bu tandəra,
cf. Fyem téres, but also Che ataras, Doka o-tara
and found in compounds in other numbers (see
Rukul ‘seven’) and presumably all interconnected
with Hausa tárà. BCCW (111) supposes these are
simply borrowed from Hausa, but it seems possible
they were borrowed by Hausa from Plateau.
cf. Bu wuru,
wur
nɛgyin
wur nu war
-16-
16
No. Gloss
365. Twenty
366.
367.
368.
369.
370.
371.
372.
373.
374.
375.
376.
377.
378.
379.
380.
381.
382.
383.
384.
385.
Singular
sowar
Forty
Sixty
Eighty
Hundred
Black
White
Red
Sweet
Bitter
Half
Hot
Cold
Old
New
Wet
Dry
Smooth
Add to
Answer (question)
Ask a question
so naas
sotani
sotaŋdan
boŋgin
ʃiʃir
kikar
ʃiʃen
re
rigbaŋ
mbir
bɛmɔ
mvur
titsɛr
uwas
ndiŋdiŋ
kukur
kɔŋ
ʃura
kanyima
ryip
386. Ask/beg
for
something
387. Awaken
(someone)
388. Bark (dog)
389. Be bent
390. Be heavy
391. Be on (s.t.)
392. Be rotten
393. Be short
394. Become dry
395. Begin
396. Bite
397. Blow (flute etc.)
398. Build (house etc.)
399. Burn (fire burns)
400. Buy
bɛn
401. Call (to someone)
402. Carve (wood etc.)
403.
404.
405.
406.
Catch
Chew
Choose
Climb
Plural
Commentary
? x 2. The so- element is the old form for ‘twelve’,
cognate with Bu sɛ- which appears in a similar
formation
4 x 10 with the now fossil so element
cf. Bu ʃinʒe,
cf. Bu kinkəla,
cf. Bu nyimɛ
? cf. Surubu rivi, Nindem irib, Doka lirbi, Hyam
libi, Hasha rifi, Rukul rip,
? widespread bip roots?
gur
bus
dan
ri
etu
bwɔ
pes
kur
wu
nyum
fu
me
mɔk
rɛp
cf. Izere gbúsùm, Ayu gbush, Bu bɔ̃
cf. Toro riʃi,
cf. Ayu kpésh,
cf. Bu kulu
cf. Toro woro,
cf. Toro nyuŋwa,
cf. Rukul fufwɔ, Ninzo fú ‘blow fire’,
cf. Ninzo mé, Bu mɛ, Traok mé,
cf. Fyem rép, Cara rɛp but widespread in BC and
reconstructed as #-rɛ@p- in Blench (ms.). Discussed
in Gerhardt (1983) and also found in some
neighbouring Chadic languages.
cf. Ninzo yó, Bu yɔ,
Widespread in Plateau, e.g. Kulu, Nindem,
Kwanka sep and Jju ʃab, Cara ʃipal, Bu ʃɛ, Pe ʃap
cf. Bu, Ninzo vú
see under ‘eat’ (421.)
cf. Bu cu
ʤɔ
ʃɛp
vuŋ
re
cun
wuŋ
-17-
17
No. Gloss
Singular
407. Come
ŋak
408. Come out (of
ru
room)
409. Continue (to do
rici
s.t.)
410. Cough
sum kpupɔr
411. Count
ban
412. Cut down (tree)
wan
413. Cut in two
ʃɛr
414. Cut off (head etc.)
cun
415. Dance
zor
416. Die
tu
417. Dig (earth etc.)
kau
418. Do/make
nan
419. Drag
bɔr
420. Drink
sɔ
421. Eat
422.
423.
424.
425.
426.
427.
428.
429.
430.
431.
432.
433.
434.
Enter
Fall (rain)
Fall over
Feel (cold etc.)
Fight (in war)
Finish (a task)
Flog
Flow (water etc.)
Fly (birds)
Fold (cloth etc.)
Follow
Forget
Fry (in oil)
435. Gather/collect
436. Give
Plural
cf. Bu kpu kpulɔ
cf. Toro bere, Ninzo bré, Bu bəla,
cf. Bu tsɛ ‘cut down’,
cf. Tarok nìm,
cf. Ninzo sò, Horom sɔ, Fyer ʃo. A common root
shared by both Chadic and Plateau, probably
originally Chadic (cf. Gerhardt 1983)
cf. Fyem dé, Mabo ré, linked to the widespread –
ri, -di roots found in Niger-Congo
cf. Fyem, Cara del, Rukul ryel, Tarok tár,
re
rer
wur rɔku
ʃɛr
wɔ
vɛm
cɛr
tsɛk
tsur
dwak
ɲin
zup
murʃima
kar
cf. Nupe wo,
cf. Ninzo klé, Bu nakəre,
cf. Rukul wɛcɛk,
cf. Bu ɲau
Gerhardt reconstructs *kar as PP4 but Blench
(ms.) reconstructs PBC as #kaNa reflecting a
common Niger-Congo root #ka(la). #ka- is also
found in the (Chadic) North Bauchi languages
vu
nɛk
437. Give birth
438. Go
nyɛr
tsɛn
439. Go out/exit
turu
440. Grind
kɔk
441. Grow (plants)
fur
Commentary
cf. Fyem ní. #na is widespread throughout Plateau,
but see also Tangale oni.
cf. Fyem soo, Nindem sen, Doka seŋ, Gyong ze,
Izere tsɛ$ŋ, All these are perhaps connected with
more widespread roots ‘to run’ reconstructed for
Proto-Benue-Congo as #ʃir-.
cf. Fyem ɗú, Yaŋkam turuk, Tarok tur ‘remove’
and Ekoid M dúù but also Chadic: Bokkos ɗu,
Fyer ɗoo
cf. Bu kɔ, Rukul kwɔ, Cara kɔŋ, Pe kòk, PLC
*kɔ@k, Sur gwak, Yaŋkam gba, Tarok kpà. Also in
Chadic: Ngas gwak
-18-
18
No. Gloss
442. Hatch (egg)
443. Hear
444. Hit/strike
etc.)
445. Hunt
446. Jump
447. Kill
Singular
wun
wɔ
(drum
Plural
cf. Nupe, Ọkọ, Horom wó, although these are
weakenings of a widespread Benue-Congo root
common in Plateau both as #wo and #pok, but
both are to be reconstructed back to PBC #gbo
(Blench (ms.)
cf. Bu te,
tsɛk
rap
tɔk
wun
448.
449.
450.
451.
452.
453.
454.
455.
456.
457.
458.
459.
460.
461.
462.
463.
464.
465.
466.
467.
468.
469.
470.
471.
Know
Laugh
Lick
Lie down
Listen
Marry
Mix
Mould (pot)
Open
Plant (crop etc.)
Play
Pound (in mortar)
Pour (liquid)
Pull
Receive
Refuse
Remember
Return
Ride (horse etc.)
Roast on coals
Run
Say/speak
See
Sell
gyi
mwar
rai
ʤukur
wo
kawa
saŋ
mɛ
bu
cip
rɔr
cu
ʃur
bur
ka
kak
ʃum
ŋgak
wuŋ
mɔk
tsur
ban
ye
rɛp
472.
473.
474.
475.
476.
477.
478.
479.
480.
481.
482.
Send
Shake
Sharpen
Shoot (arrow, gun)
Sing
Slaughter (animal)
Sleep
Smash
Snap in two
Spit
Stand
tum
vam
yɔ
tak
kwa
wak
kurna
tsɛŋa
mun
ta ʃɛr
cɛr
Commentary
A Niger-Saharan root discussed in Blench (in
press), e.g. Koman wu, Nubian wur as well as
throughout Niger-Congo.
see ‘hear’ ()
cf. Ayu shɛn,
cf. Bu mɛ,
cf. Bu bu, Tarok bol,
cf. Bu rɔ,
cf. Tarok kə@m,
cf. Tarok tsÆ@r,
cf. Tarok yá,
cf. Fyem rép, Bu rɛ, Cara rɛp, but widespread in
BC and reconstructed as #-rɛ@p- in Blench (ms.).
Discussed in Gerhardt (1983) and also found in
some neighbouring Chadic languages.
cf. Tarok tat,
cf. Tarok tat nshi,
? Cf. Tarok cer ‘place’
-19-
19
No.
483.
484.
485.
486.
487.
488.
Gloss
Steal
Stir (soup)
Suck (breast etc.)
Suck (orange etc.)
Surpass
Swallow
489.
490.
491.
492.
493.
494.
495.
496.
497.
498.
499.
500.
501.
502.
503.
504.
505.
506.
507.
508.
509.
510.
Take
Tear (cloth etc.)
Throw
Touch
Twist (rope etc.)
Uproot (tuber)
Walk
Want/need
Wash
Wear
Weep
Work
I
You
He/she/it
we
you pl.
They
Who?
Which?
What?
Where?
Singular
gyi
gu
sɔ
maŋ
tse
mwɛr
Plural
Commentary
cf. Tarok yi,
see ‘drink’
cf. Tarok má,
? cf. Tarok zhi,
cf. Yaŋkam mər, Sur mərək, Tarok məkən+,
Ekoid mèl, Mambila mènà. Connected with a
widespread root for ‘throat’ reconstructed for PBC
as #-mɛrɛn in Blench (ms.)
ka
buŋan
tak
zɔk
kaa
cun
tsɛn
so
nar
soŋ
gyin
tum
ŋgwa
wa
wuwo
koro
ŋgyina
bubɔ
ŋŋa
ŋyike
ŋyike
batama
cf. Tarok kwar,
cf. Ayu cúnúk,
cf. Tarok cèn,
cf. Bu su, Mada sɔ. Also in Chadic: Hausa soo.
cf. Tarok nàl,
cf. Bu su,
cf. Tarok yÆ@ŋ,
cf. Ayu tùm, Niger-Congo root #-tum-
cf. Tarok nna ke,
Edible and Useful Plants
No.
511.
512.
513.
514.
515.
516.
517.
Gloss
Guinea-yam11
Aerial yam12
Red yam13
Water-yam14
Taro (Old cocoyam)15
New cocoyam16*
Cassava*17
Singular
Plural
Commentary
du
dudu
mbon mbunmbon
du-riʃen
nta
ntenta
gba
gbugba
gba nasara
et sim.
lawur
lelawur < Hausa for ‘sweet potato’
(Dioscorea guineensis)
(Dioscorea bulbifera)
13
(Dioscorea cayenensis)
14
(Dioscorea alata)
15
(Colocasia esculenta)
16
(Xanthosoma mafaffa) (H. wali)
17
(Manihot esculenta)
11
12
-20-
20
No.
518.
519.
520.
521.
522.
523.
524.
525.
526.
527.
528.
529.
530.
531.
532.
533.
534.
535.
536.
537.
538.
539.
540.
541.
542.
543.
544.
545.
546.
Gloss
Sweet potato*18
Wild yam
Tumuku19
Rizga20
Sorghum21
3-month Sorghum
Bulrush millet22 maiwa
Bulrush millet (dauro)
Fonio (H. acca)23
Iburu (H. iburu)24
Maize* (Zea mays)
Rice*25
Cowpea26
Spiral cowpea
Lima bean27*
Other beans I
Bambara groundnut28
Groundnut (Peanut)29
Tiger-nut30
Garden egg31
Okra32
Rainy season okra
Dry season okra
Chili pepper* (large)33
Birdseye chili*34
Onion (Allium cepa)
Garlic35
Tomato36
Egusi melon37
Singular
Plural
Commentary
ryiŋ kum ryiŋ kukum
tuntom
tuntôm
nku
kunku
as H.
kpo
kpukpo
kpokoos
amwe
mwan
kyi
kyinkyi
cim
cimcim
kpawur kpukpawur
cɛrcɛŋ
cɛrcɛŋ
ʃɛn
ʃiʃɛn cf. Tarok asò,
ʃɛm mɛmmɛ
ʃɛn patak
ʃɛŋ zaku
mfi nyiŋwe
mfi
mfimfi cf. Tarok afì,
mbaŋruru
ndaŋ
ndendaŋ
ndan
ndendan cf. Bu ndra,
ndan kus
ndan ndi
ʃo tsitsap
libasa libasa amwe < Hausa
libasa kibiya
doŋkuniʃen
‘red thing for making soup’
cɛs kpuMkper
18
(Ipomoea batatas)
(Plectranthus esculentus)
20
(Solenostemon rotundifolius)
21
(Sorghum bicolor)
22
(Pennisetum spp.)
23
(Digitaria exilis)
24
(Digitaria iburua)
25
(Oryza sativa/ glaberrima)
26
(Vigna unguiculata)
27
(Phaseolus lunatus)
28
(Vigna subterranea)
29
(Arachis hypogaea)
30
(Cyperus esculentus)
31
(Solanum melongena)
32
(Abelmoschus esculentus)
33
(Capsicum frutescens)
34
(Capsicum annuum)
35
(Allium sativum)
36
(Lycopersicon esculentum)
37
(Citrullus lanatus)
19
-21-
21
No. Gloss
547. Melon (other) 38 H.
guna
548. Edible squash39
549. Sorrel/roselle40
550. Jews' mallow41
551. Kenaf42
552. Sesame seeds43
553. Sesame leaves44
554. Bitterleaf45
555. Waterleaf*46
556. Plantain (Musa AAB)
557. Banana (Musa AAA)
558. Orange*47
559. Cow-itch48
560. Pawpaw*49
561. Gourd (Generic)
562.
563.
564.
565.
566.
567.
568.
569.
570.
571.
572.
573.
574.
575.
Gourd-bottle50
Other gourds
Tobacco*
Sugar-cane*
Loofah51
Cola
Oil-palm52
Palm-fruit
Palm-oil
Fan-palm53
Fan-palm fruit
Monkey-guava54
Canarium tree55
Custard apple56
Singular
cɛs tsitsap
Plural
Commentary
gberiyi gbɛŋgberiyi cf. Tarok ìɓìk,
ʃe
ʃiʃe
yɔr
yu-yɔr
nkun
kunkun
kukun
kukún
muŋ nyin
ntun
tuntun
war yɔr
bumgbam
bumgbam
as H.
kɔ
kukɔ
kabus
kakabus <Kanuri
gbugba
gbugbá cf. Ce ɪ$-gba, Ninzo agbugba
kəkan
kəkán cf. Ce kɪ-kàn,
n-tse
tse-ntse cf. Ce ka-cɛ@ pl. ɪ$n-cɛ@,
tamba
tintamba < Hausa
zinzan
kiŋ wɔkpa
‘thing to wash with’
dɔwu
didɔwu
rik
cinrik cf. Bu eri,
mbeŋ-rik
didar
?
ʃinʃen
ʃinʃiʃin
tsir
tsitsir
war
wuwar
mbur
mbumbur cf. Tarok aɓ®@ŋ,
(Cucumis spp)
(Cucurbita pepo)
40
(H. yakuwa) (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
41
(H. lalo)(Corchorus olitorius)
42
(H. rama) (Hibiscus cannabinus)
43
(H. Riɗii) (Sesamum indicum)
44
(H. karkashi)
45
Vernonia amygdalina
46 (Amaranthus spp)
47 (Citrus sinensis)
48
(Mucuna pruriens)
49
(Carica papaya)
50
(Lagenaria siceraria)
51
(H. soso) (Luffa cylindrica)
52
(Elaeis guineensis)
53
(Borassus aethiopum)
54
(Diospyros mespiliformis)
55
(Canarium schweinfurthii)
38
39
-22-
22
No.
576.
577.
578.
579.
580.
581.
582.
583.
584.
585.
586.
Gloss
Wild date-palm57
Baobab58
Silk-cotton Tree59
Shea tree60
Locust tree61
Locust fruit
Locust-bean cakes
Tamarind62
Sodom apple63
Terminalia sp.64
Black plum65
Singular
ninek
as H.
kum
zizap
urò
nyin
ru
mumwaŋ
badum
nkwɔk
ncu
Plural
uró
nyinyin
ruru
—
—
ku-nkwɔk
cuncu
Commentary
cf. Bu nɛnɛ,
cf. Bu ɛr̃ ɔ,̃ Tarok ilúr,
cf. Hyam nyiin,
cf. Cara wam,
cf. Tarok ìcù, Bu ncu
Musical Instruments
No. Gloss
587. Drum I
588.
589.
590.
591.
592.
593.
594.
595.
596.
597.
Singular
gəngaŋ
Plural
—
Commentary
cf. Tarok igàŋgáŋ, but also Hausa
gangaa.
Drum II
gəngaŋ tsap
—
Drum III
gəngaŋ pɛk
—
Flute
mpururu
Zither
ntyam
tentyam
< H.
Lute
garaya
Xylophone
nzom randoŋ zunzom randoŋ ‘zither of cow’
Horn
yiyeŋ
Iron gong
wuya
ha-wuya
Gourd-rattle
ʃɛk
ʃi-ʃɛk
Ankle rattles
ncak
cancak
6. The classification of Ningye
On the basis of speakers’ assertions, the closest relatives of Ningye are the Numana-Nunku-Gwantu-Numbu
languages. The data indicates much in common with Bu, Ninzo and presumably other related languages such
as Ce and Mada. Further clarification will only come with richer data on the Numana cluster. Although there
are quite a number of good Tarok cognates, this is probably an artefact of a having the list reviewed by a
knowledgeable speaker rather than an indication of particular closeness.
References
Abraham, R.C. 1962. Dictionary of the Hausa language. London: University of London Press.
Bendor-Samuel, J. ed. 1989. The Niger-Congo languages. Lanham: University Press of America.
(Annona senegalensis)
(Phoenix reclinata)
58
(Adansonia digitata)
59
(Ceiba pentandra)
60
(Vitellaria paradoxa)
61
(Parkia biglobosa)
62
(Tamarindus indica)
63
(Calotropis procera H. tumfafiya)
56
57
64
(H. baushe)
65
(Vitex doniana)
-23-
23
CAPRO ined. An ethnic survey of Plateau State. Jos: CAPRO Research Office.
Crozier, D. and Blench, R.M. 1992. Index of Nigerian Languages (edition 2). SIL, Dallas.
De Wolf, P. 1971. The noun class system of Proto-Benue-Congo. The Hague: Mouton.
Gerhardt, L. 1983a. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen des Nigerianischen Plateaus. Glückstadt: Verlag
J.J. Augustin.
Gerhardt, Ludwig 1983b. Lexical interferences in the Chadic/Benue-Congo Border-Area. In Wolff, E. &
Meyer-Bahlburg, H. (eds.) Studies in Chadic and Afroasiatic Linguistics. 301-310. Hamburg: Helmut
Buske.
Guthrie, M. 1967-73. Comparative Bantu. 4 vols. Gregg International Publishers.
Hansford, K. Bendor-Samuel, J. & Stanford, R. 1976. An Index of Nigerian Languages. Ghana: Summer
Institute of Linguistics.
Mukarovsky, H. 1976-1977. A study of Western Nigritic. 2 vols. Wien: Institut für Ägyptologie und
Afrikanistik, Universität Wien.
Newman, R.M. 1997. An English-Hausa dictionary. Lagos: Longman.
Shimizu, K. 1975. A lexicostatistical study of Plateau languages and Jukun. Anthropological Linguistics,
17:413-418.
Temple, Olive 1922. Notes on the Tribes, Provinces, Emirates and States of the Northern Provinces of
Nigeria. Argus Printing and Publishing Co. Capetown.
Westermann, D. 1927. Die Westlichen Sudansprachen und ihre Beziehungen zum Bantu. Berlin: de Gruyter.
Williamson, Kay 1971. The Benue-Congo languages & Ịjọ. In Current trends in Linguistics 7 (ed.) T.
Sebeok 245-306. The Hague: Mouton.
Williamson, Kay 1973. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist: Vol.2. Ibadan: West African Linguistic Society.
Williamson, K., and K. Shimizu. 1968. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist, Vol. 1. Ibadan: West African
Linguistic Society.
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24

Ningye wordlist

Transcription

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