The Nupoid languages are a branch of Volta–Niger spoken in west-central Nigeria, particularly in southeastern Niger State and northern Kogi State. They include the Nupe, and Ebira languages, each with about 4 million speakers. Most Nupoid languages have 3 level tones.Blench, Roger. 2013. The Nupoid languages of west-central Nigeria: overview and comparative word list.
Languages Roger Blench (2013: 4) classifies the Nupoid languages as follows.
Nupoid Ebira–Gade Ebira Gade Nupe–Gbagyi Gwari (Gbagyi, Gbari) Nupe Asu Core Nupe Nupe cluster Nupe (Nupe–Nupe-Tako) Dibo Gupa cluster Gupa-Abawa Kakanda Kami Kupa
In addition, Koro Zuba is close to Dibo.
Names and locations Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
Language Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Dibo Dibo Dibo Shitako, Zitako, Zhitako Ganagawa, Ganagana 4 18,200 (1931 DF); estimate more than 100,000 (1990) – an unknown number of Dibo living among the Gbari no longer speak their own language. Niger State, Lapai LGA; Federal Capital Territory; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA Nupe–Nupe Tako cluster Nupe–Nupe Tako Central Nupe has become the accepted literary form. BassaNge 360,000 (1952); 1,000,000 (1987 UBS) may include closely related languages Niger State, Lavun, Mariga, Gbako, Agaie, and Lapai LGAs; Kwara State, Edu and Kogi LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kogi State, Bassa LGA. Lokoja Nupe (Central) Nupe–Nupe Tako Nife, Nyffe, Anupe Nupe Nupe Nupe Central Ampeyi, Anupecwayi, Anuperi, Tappah, Takpa, Tapa, Nupenci, Nupencizi Anufawa, Nyffe 283,000 (1931 DF); estimated 1,000,000 (2000) Nupe Tako Nupe–Nupe Tako Ibara Basa Nge 19,100 (1931 DF) Kogi State, Bassa LGA, Kwara State Gade Gede Gade Gade 60,000 (Sterk 1977) Federal Capital Territory; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA Ebira cluster Ebira Igbirra, Igbira, Egbira, Egbura 154,500 (1952 P.Bruns), 500,000 (1980 UBS); about 1M (1989 Adive)Adive, John R. 1989. The verbal piece in Ebira. Arlington: Summer Institute of Linguistics and University of Texas, Arlington. Kwara State, Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA; Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA Okene Ebira Kwara State, Okene, Okehi, and Kogi LGAs Etuno Ebira tụnọ Igara Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA, Igara town Koto Ebira Igu (Egu, Ika, Bira, Birĩ, Panda FCT Abuja, Abaji AAC,Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA, Toto LGA and Umasha/Opanda towns, Kogi State, Koton Karfe LGA Gbagyi A spread of lects not clearly defined but the variation represented here by town names: Vwezhi, Ngenge (Genge, Gyange), or Tawari, Kuta, Diko, Karu, Louome, Kaduna Ibagyi, Gbagye East Gwari, Gwari Matai Gwari 200,000 (1952 G&C) including Gbari; 250,000 (1985 UBS) Niger State, Rafi, Chanchaga, Shiroro and Suleija LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kaduna State, Kachia LGA; Nasarawa State, Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs Gbagyi Nkwa Gbagyi Gbagyi more than 50,000 (1989 est.) Niger State, Rafi LGA Gbari A spread of lects are named according to town names: Botai, Jezhu, Konge, Kwange (Agbawi, Wake, Wĩ Wahe, or Kwali, Paiko, Izom, Gayegi, Yamma (Gwari Gamma); other lects are also based on river locations: Shigokpna, Zubakpna, Abokpna, Sumwakpna Gwari Yamma, West Gwari 200,000 (1952 G&C) including Gbagyi Niger State, Chanchaga, Suleija, Agaie and Lapai LGAs; Federal Capital Territory; Kaduna State, Kachia LGA; Nasarawa State, Nasarawa LGA Gupa–Abawa Gupa, Abawa estimated more than 10,000 Gupa and 5,000 Abawa (1989) Niger State, Lapai LGA around Gupa and Edzu villages Kami more than 5000 (Blench 1989 est.) Niger State, Lapai LGA, Ebo town & 11 villages Asu Asu Asu Abewa Ebe 5000 (Blench 1987) Niger State: Mariga LGA: several villages south of Kontagora on the Mokwa road Kakanda Kakanda Kakanda–Budon, Kakanda–Gbanmi/Sokun Akanda Hyabe, Adyaktye 4,500 (1931); 20,000 (1989 Blench) Kwara State, Kogi LGA; Niger State, Agaie and Lapai LGAs; communities along the Niger centered on Bida) Kupa Kwara State, Kogi LGA, around Abugi (52 villages)
Reconstructions The following Proto-Nupoid reconstructions are from Blench (2013). Gloss Proto-Nupoid tree *ɔ́ʧĩ́ leaf #avini charcoal *ekana sand *mu-ʒin smoke *àmʷú fire *n-ra wind *efè rain *ègbã to sharpen *rɛ́ elephant *-dogba buffalo *ɛ̀ya; *ʊ̀-fá (?) Dioscorea guineensis *iti Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam) *-koko Sorghum bicolor (guinea corn, sorghum) *àkwʊ́ one *ɔ̀ɲɪ three *ɛ̀tá four *ɛ̀ɲi five *ɛ̀tsun six *twaɲi seven *ǹtwaba ten *ɛ̀bwʊ́n
Some Proto-Nupe-Gbari crop name reconstructions are (Blench 2013): Gloss Proto-Nupe-Gbari Pennisetum americanum (long-season millet) *màkwú Pennisetum americanum (short-season millet) *sàkwú; *kpàyì Digitaria exilis *-furu
References
External links Nupoid materials (Roger Blench)