Ninzic languages


The dozen or so Ninzic languages are a branch of the Plateau family spoken in central Nigeria.

Classification

There is little data on the Ninzic languages, and it is not clear that all of the following languages are related. Blench lists the following languages, twice as many as Greenberg 1963. They are not subclassified apart from a few obvious dialect clusters.
and perhaps Ayu.

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench.
LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonymOther names Other names for languageExonymSpeakersLocation
AnibKanufiAnibAninibKarshi2000 Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA. Anib is spoken in two villages about 5 km. west of Gimi, the junction on the Akwanga road which leads towards Kafanchan. Kanufi I is locally called Ákpúrkpòd, and Kanufi II called Ákob.
Bu-Ningkada clusterBu-NingkadaJida, Abu, Raga Jidda, IbutNakareNasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
BuBu-Ningkada
NingkadaBu-Ningkada
CheCeKucheBacheRukubaSale, Inchazi15,600 ; 50,000.MәdaYidda25,628 ; 15,145 ; 30,000 Nasarawa State, Akwanga, Kokona and Keffi LGAs; Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
Ninkyop–Nindem clusterNinkyop–NindemKaduna State, Jema’a LGA
NinkyopNinkyop–NindemKaningkwom, KaninkonNinkyop, Ninkyob2,291
NindemNinkyop–NindemInidem, Nindam, Nidem
NingyeNingesheNingyeNingye<5000 Kaduna State. 5 villages along the Fadan Karshe-Akwanga road, directly north of Gwantu. Villages are: Kobin, Akwankwan, Wambe, Ningeshen Kurmi, Ningeshen Sarki.
NinkaSanga<5000Kaduna State, Sanga LGA
NinzoÁmàr Ràndá, Ámàr Tìtá, Ancha, Kwásù, Sàmbè, Fadan Wate Ninzam, NinzomGbhu6,999 ; 35,000 50,000 Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA; Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
Numbu–Gbantu-Nunku–Numana clusterNumbu–Gbantu-Nunku–Numana clusterSanga 11,000 ; 3,818 ; 15,000 Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA; Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
NumbuNumbu–Gbantu-Nunku––clusterThe main settlements of the Numbu are àzà Wúùn, Ambεntɔ̀k, Anepwa, Akoshey, Amkpong, Gbancûn, Amfɔɔr and Adaŋgaŋ. There are likely several thousand speakers.Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA; Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
GbantuNumbu–Gbantu-Nunku––clusterGwantoKaduna State, Jema’a LGA; Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
NunkuNumbu–Gbantu-Nunku––clusterNunku has three sub-dialects, Nunku , Nunkucu and a sub-dialect spoken in Nicok and Ungwan Makama villages.Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA; Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
NumanaNumbu–Gbantu-Nunku––clusterNimanaKaduna State, Jema’a LGA; Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
RindreRindre, GudiRendre, Rindiri, LindiriWamba, Nungu10,000 ; 25,000 Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
AyuAya2,642 Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA
GbǝtsuMadaKatanza5000 Kaduna State, Jema’a LGA. About six villages east of the road north of Akwanga
NkoMadaAgyaga1000 Nasarawa State, Akwanga West LGA. Single village about 15 km southwest of Nunku, which is 20 km north of Akwanga

Footnotes