Southern Bantoid languages


Southern Bantoid is a branch of the Bantoid language family of the Benue-Congo language family. It consists of the Bantu languages along with several small branches and isolates of eastern Nigeria and west-central Cameroon. Since the Bantu languages are spoken across most of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Bantoid comprises 643 languages as counted by Ethnologue, though many of these are mutually intelligible.

History

Southern Bantoid was first introduced by Williamson in a proposal that divided Bantoid into North and South branches.
The unity of the North Bantoid group was subsequently called into question, and Bantoid itself may be polyphyletic, but the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit, something that has not happened for Bantu itself.

Internal classification

According to Williamson and Blench, Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages, Jarawan, Tivoid, Beboid, Mamfe, Grassfields and Ekoid families. The Bendi languages are of uncertain classification; they have traditionally been classified with Cross River, but they may actually be Southern Bantoid. Blench suggests that Tivoid, Momo and East Beboid may form a group, perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru:
Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund :

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
ClassificationLanguage12345678910
Ndemlimɔ̀hɔ́ífɛ́ítááítʃìjèítâŋtóhósàᵐbáfɔ̀ːmɔ́bùʔɛ̀dʒòm
Tikarmbɔʔɓîlêɲîʃæ̃̂ɸyuluʃâmɓìnìnìtæ̂nìwûm
Tivoid kēnə̄mə̄rākpə̄mākə̄lə̄mōɲīmātə̄nə̀mālālə̄mātə̄nə̀ mə̄rākpə̄ mōɲìōɲī mātə̄nə̀ mōɲī būɣù
Tivoid ɔ-nərâkpəá-kələoɲía-tənəa-lələà-tən râkpə ò-ɲi o-ɲí à-tən o-ɲí bùɣù
Tivoidémɔ̀víàlvétàtvéɲìvétànvéɾátúmvéɾátúm nɔ̀mɔ̀ víɲèɲívíɲèɲí nɔ̀mɔ̀ épɔ́ːt
Tivoidmɔ̌mhjâltàtɲîntáŋə̀nkə̀lə̀kə̀tàtkə̀lə̀kə̀tàt kàt mɔ̀mú kíníkìnìtáŋìɲìn pùɛ̀
Tivoidmɔ̀ḿ / mɔ́múhárútáŕúnjì:útã́ːátérátáŕútã́ː kàː úhár ániènìútã́ː kàː únjì: púè / púwè
Grassfields, Menchummóʔ fetáíɪ̀kᶣà ɪ̀tʲə̂nⁿdʊ̀fúèkᶣànátáí i.e. éfómóétʲə̂nékᶣà éɣúm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke ʃʉʔpʉ́ɒ́tāākwɒ̀tíìntɔ́hɔ́sə̀mbʉ́ɒ́hə̌vʉ̀ʔʉ̄ɣǎm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke ŋʃʉʔpʉ́ətáákwàtiìntóɣósə̀mbʉ́ə́hə́ə́vʉ́ʔʉ́ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamilekeyə́mūʔyə́pwə́yə́táyápfʉə̀yə́tɔ̂ntɔ̀kə́sɔmbwə́əhɔ̌mvʉ̀ʔʉ́ɣǎm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamilekeyimɔʔɔ / mɔʔyipá /payitét / tétnəkʷɔ̀yitɛntɔ̌sambánəhǎnəvøʔnəɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamilekeŋtʃɔ̀ʔpə́ɣə́tékwòtɔ̀tósòmbə̀ɣə̀χópvɨ̀ʔɣáp
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamilekemmɔ́ʼɔ́ mbʉ́a ntá lekùa ntʉ̂a ntɔɡɔ́ sɔɔn mbʉ́a lefɔ̌ɔn lepfwɔʼɔ́ leɡém
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamilekeyemoʔyépáyétátyénékwayetayenentúkusambáyénéfomyenepfúʔúneɡʉ́m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileketápwótárəkwotaatoɣəsaabwóləfaaləpfuʔúləɡham
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamilekemɔʔfi-biə-tatlɛkwə-tɛ-ntulisaambiəlɛfɔlɛʙə̌ʔálɛ̄ɣɛ̀m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamilekewɔ́ mɔʔɔ́mé piámé tétlekwametāntukɔ́ésabiālefálevuʔɔ́leɣɛ̄m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔ̌pɛ́térə́nə̀kwàténə̀tóɣə́sàmbɛ́nə̀fémə́nə̀púʔə́nə̀ɣə́mə́
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔhpəːəteːrekwataantuɡusaːmbenɨfeːmenɨpuehnɨɡeːme
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔ́ʔɔ̂báàtárə̀kwààntáàntóʔòsàmbàfwámə́kwálìʔí / nɨ̀bùʔûtàwûm / nɨ̀wûm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔʔɔ̂baatarəkwàǹtaàntoʔosàmbàfwaməkwalɛ̀ʔɛtàɡhûm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔ̀ʔɔ̀bə̀ɡə̀tyèkyàtɔ̀ɔ̀ntúúʃàmbànɨ̀fɔ̀ɔ̀nɨ̀bɛ̀ʔɛ̀nɨ̀ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔʔɔbɨɡətyékɥatɔːn-túːʃambánɨ-fɔːnɨ-bɛʔɛnɨ-ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngembam²mɔʔɔ⁷⁷ or tɑʔbɛ, bɨbɛ, mɨmbɛtɑrɨ, bɨ²tɑː⁷⁵ɾə², mɨntɑrɨnɨkwɑ, bɨnɨkwɑ, mɨnkwɑjitɑ̃, bɨtɑ̃, mɨntɑ̃jintoʔ, bɨntoʔ, mɨntoʔʃɑmbɛ, bɨʃɑmbɛ, mɨʃɑmbɛnɨfɔ̃, bɨnɨfɔ̃, mɨnɨfɔ̃nɨ²buʔ²¹, bɨnɨbuʔ, mɨnɨbuʔnɨwũ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngembamɔ̄hbəɡətarɔkuatanntɔ̄sāmbānəfahnəbuɔ̄hnəɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔ́ʔɔ̂bâtárə̂kwàtánə̀ntúɣúsàmbànɨ̀fámə́nɨ̀bùʔûnɨ̀ɣɨ̂m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba mɔ́ʔɔ́bǎtárékwàtâŋntúɡhə̂sámbǎnɨ̀fə̂ŋnɨ̀bvùʔə́nɨ̀wúmə̀
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngembamɔ́ʔɔ̀páátáɾə̀kwàtânə̀ǹtôsàmbânə̀fámə̂nə̀pùʔə̂nə̀wúmə̀
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambemũũ ˧˩baa ˦˧ta ˦kɥ ˧˩tɔ̃ ˦˧tɔ̃ ˨ fũ ˧sə ˨ mba ˧˨wɔ ˦ ŋkxɨt ˦bə ˦ ʁət ˨wəm˦
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe mɔ̀ʔsíɾbáːtáːɾkjèːtântūːnfúsàːmbâwāːmíbɨ̀ʔɨ̂ / bɨ̀ɾɨ̂ɾɨ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe mòʔsírbáātáarkyèetântūunfúsàambâwāamébʉ̀ʔʉ̂rʉ̂ʉ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambemìʔincíbʉ́àtókweétóŋntunfúusɔ̀mbaawáamíbúumhúʔum
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambemòʔfísbátɛʔkwètàŋntuuŋfúsàmbâfwamɛʔvə̀kɛʔhúm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun mɔ̀ʔmbántíkúátèntíóʔókpataɾfómə́ʃìpókòɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun jimàa / jímɔ̀jípàa / ji mbáji tára / ji ntíiji kwà / kpaji tèntúwó / tuʔokwàtar / kpataɾfómətʃìpóo / ʃipɔkòɣəm / ɣəm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nunjimuʔu / muʔu³⁵ / tiʔæ⁵³jipɑɑ / piæ³⁵jitii / tii³⁵jikwə / kwə³jintɑ̃ĩ⁵³ / tɑ̃ĩ⁵³jintou / ntou⁵jikwætæ / kwætæ³⁵jifũɔ̃ / fũɔ̃⁵jipuʔu / puʔu³⁵jiɣwũ / ɣwũ⁵³
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nunmʷəʔəpɛttɛtkʷatantɔkʷatʃønəfɔːnəpuʔunəɣu
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nuntɛʔipaatɾekʰwɛtiɛ̃ntiɡawkwatʃəɨfuõndipoʔuwuŋ
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun mòʔmbàátɛ́tpkàtɛ̀nntúsàmbàfámə́kóvýʔɣə́m
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun ímoʔípáaítɛtípkwàítɛ̀nítúuísambaífáməívʉ̀ʔʉ́ɣóm
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nunmɔ̀mbǎtétkpàtíjēǹtúhùkpáte̙tfótʃɛ̀ŋɔ́ʔɔ̀vwó
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nunntʃɯ̀ʔbɔ̂t̪átkwàt̪ânndɔ́ɣə́sàmbɔ̂fúmə́bwə̀ʔə́ɣám
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nunɲíníbáāitɛ́tikwàitànintwúʔkwàtátifúmsʉibɔ́mɣóm / wɔm
Grassfields, Momoímɔ̄ʔíbēítádíkwēítãtìfóɣə́sàmbéfàmíàbōɡìɣùm
Grassfields, Momoyea-mɔʔbebebetatbekpìbetã̀ã̂bentùabesã̀ã̀mbebefã̀ãbebə̀ʔaèɣɛm
Grassfields, Momo -mɔ̀ʔbetádkwètânrɨ̀fúɣɔ́ / rʌ̀fúɣɔ́sàmbefàambɔ̀ɔkɣum
Grassfields, Momo -mɔ̀ʔbétɑ́tkwètɑ̂nrɨ̀fúɣə́sɑ̀mbéfɑ̌mə̀bɔ̌kwúm
Grassfields, Momo ìfìŋìbǐɡəìtáìkjùɡəìtɨŋìfəwìsàmbìɡəìfɨŋìàbəwìwùm
Grassfields, Momo ìfìŋìbǐɡìtáìkɥǐɡìtʉ̄ŋìfœ́ìsàmbǐɡìfɔ̌ŋàbœ̀ìwùm
Grassfields, Momoŋwāʔfjēːtɛ́dkwɛ̀tânm̀fósàːmbjɛ̄fwɔ̌ːkɔ̄ːwūm
Grassfields, Ring mɔ̌ʔbuǔtiâkʷìtaântɨ̌ʔtə́kʷiǐtiâ ?fɔ̌ŋbɔ̀mɔ̂ʔ ?wûŋ
Grassfields, Ring mɔʔ Lbuː RFtià Fkʷi Lta Fntʉ̀ʔ Ftəkʷitia HHF ?fɔ̃ Rbɔmɔʔ R ?wũ L
Grassfields, Ringmùɔ́ʔbātɨ́ə̀ʔtsə̀tɛ́ɛ̀ǹtùɔ́ʔtsə̀tɨ́ə̀ʔ fə́mə́bùfə̀mùɔ́ʔ ?vóó
Grassfields, Ring, Centermùʔbòtáʔkàʔtànǹtʉ̀fə́sòmbôfwòmə́àbʉ̀múʔ wúm
Grassfields, Ring, Centermɔ̀kbàtâtkìktântúfásàmbâfâmábúlá mɔ̀k ìwûm
Grassfields, Ring, Centernòʔbòtalkàe / kæ̀tâynntufansòmbo / nsombônfamabulamòʔivɨm
Grassfields, Ring, Centermɔ̀ʔbòːtóːkɪ̀ːkòtâːtóːfə́sōːmboːfāːmə́buː́mɔ̀ʔ ?íɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, Centermɔ̀ʔbə̀ːtə́ːkʲə̀kə̀tàʲtūːfə́sɛ̀ːⁿbɛːfɛ̀ːmə́bólímɔ̀ʔ ?ìɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, Centermɔ̀ʔpɛ᷆tákjātâɲtūfɜ́sɛ̄mbɛ᷇fāmmɜ́pʊ̄lɜ̄mɔ̀ʔ ēɣə̆̀m
Grassfields, Ring, Centermɔɔbaataakwɪʲtanntuufəsaambaɛfaaməbuuməkɛvəm
Grassfields, Ring, Eastmɔ̀ʔɔ́nbààtáárkwɛ̀ɛ̀tànntùùfúsààmbàwāāmɛ́bvə̀ʔə̀ɣwə̀m
Grassfields, Ring, West mɔ̀ʔbə̀ˠàtə́ˠátʃʲàkòtɛ̀ʲtǔ̞ːsə̀ˠàⁿbə̄ˠāɪ́fǎːtɛ̄ⁿdzū̞ˠū̞ɪ́ɣə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, West mɒ̀ʔbɨ̀ɣàtɨ́ɣácìakɔ̀tɛ̀tǒosɨ̀ɣàmbɨ̀ɣàɛ́ʔfáatèndzùɣòé-ʔɣɨ́m
Grassfields, Ring, Westmɔ̀ʔbèːtsíːtʃàʔìtàːntsìfɔ́ŋsèmbèfáːmə́bùkə́ívə̄m
Grassfields, Ring, Westmòʔbòtókjə̀ʔtáìtɔ̀ɔ́sùmbôìfámábə́lə́mɔ̀ʔɨɣɨ́m
Grassfields, Ring, Westmóbə̀ɣə́tə̀ɣə́kaikə́tátùbə́səɣ-mbə̀ɣifámtàndzúiɣə́m
Yemne-Kimbimʷə̀fʲə̂ŋtòɲìkpɛ̂kʲàtònàtònànàkpɛ̂ɲìkòɲ
Yemne-Kimbim¹.mö³²m¹.fɪe³²n¹.tɔ³²n¹.de²kpɔn²tʃi²ta²nɔ¹³tɔ²ne¹ne¹kpa²ne¹dzo²fɯ²
Yemne-Kimbi -m̩̀ / -mù-fìn /-fá-tì / -tēè-ɲ̩̀ / -nìkpáān / kpōalētɛ̀ / -lētè-ɲ̩̀tɛ̄ / -ɲītɛ-nə̀nè / -nə̄nèkpánə̀ɲ̩̀ / kpānāɲìdʒūhɛ́ / dʒóhó
Yemne-Kimbi -mwə́nə̀ / -mù / - mù-fè /-fō / -fé-tɛ̄ / -tēa / -tè-ɲə̄nə́ / -ɲì / -ɲìkpòōnə́ / kpɛ̄n / kpààɲì-lētɛ̀ / -létēa / -lētɛ̀-ɲītɛ̀ / -ɲītə̀ / -ɲītɛ̀-ɲīɲì ~ -ɲìɲì / --ɲìɲì / -ɲìɲìkpɔ̄ndʒùɲì / -ɲìnkpɛ̄nkwîn / kwîn / kwɔ̂n