Firan (also Fəràn or Fɨran; also Ibaas) is a Plateau language closely related to Izere. Most Firan speakers are multilingual in Firan, Hausa, English, Iten, and sometimes Berom.
Villages Fɨran is spoken exclusively in 15 villages of Ganawuri District, Riyom LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria. Kwakwi and Ntosso are the main villages.Blench, Roger. 2024. Introduction to a preliminary dictionary of the Fɨran language of Central Nigeria. Cambridge: Kay William Educational Foundation (KWEF).
Phonology Consonants + Consonants of Firan [SIL] Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Postalveolar Palatal Velar Labialvelar Glottal Plosive b p d t ɡ k ɡ͡b k͡p Nasal m n ɲ ŋ Sibilant affricate dz ts d̠ʒ t̠ʃ Sibilant fricative z s ʃ Non-sibilant fricative ɸ v f ç ɣ h Approximant j w Tap/flap ɾ Trill r Lateral approximant l
+ Consonants of Firan [Blench]Roger Blench, 2024, Introduction to a preliminary dictionary of the Fɨran language of Central Nigeria Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Postalveolar Palatal Velar Labialvelar Glottal Plosive b p d t ɡ k ɡ͡b k͡p Nasal m n ɲ ŋ Sibilant affricate ts d̠ʒ t̠ʃ Sibilant fricative z~dz s ʃ Non-sibilant fricative f h Approximant j ɥ w Tap/flap ɾ Lateral approximant l
/Cj/ and /Cw/ sequences are permitted but are uncommon
Vowels + Vowels of Firan [SIL] Front Near-front Central Near-back Back Close i ɨ u Near-close ɪ ʊ Close-mid e o Mid ə Open-mid ɛ ɜ/ə ɔ Open a/ɑ
+ Vowels of Firan [Blench] Front Near-front Central Near-back Back Close i ɨ u Close-mid e o Open-mid ɛ ɔ Open a
Tones There are 5 tones -- high, mid, low, rising and falling. The rising and falling tones are described as 'aris[ing] from sequences of level tones', but it is not clear what is meant by that, as there are no long vowels in the language.
References
Further reading A Sociolinguistic Profile of the Firan (fir) Language of Plateau State, Nigeria