Bendi
Geographic
distribution		Cross River State in southeastern Nigeria, and southwestern Cameroon
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Glottologbend1256
The Bendi languages shown within Nigeria and Cameroon:
  Bekwarra
  Putukwam
  Alege
  Ukpe-Bayobiri
  Ubang
  Bete-Bendi
  Obanliku
  Bumaji
  Bokyi

The Bendi languages are a small group of languages spoken in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. Bokyi is one of the Bendi languages having some speakers in Cameroon. Once counted among the Cross River languages, they may be a branch of Southern Bantoid, with observed similarities especially with the Ekoid languages.[1]

Very little research has been conducted on the Bendi languages, and the modern work that does exist often remains either unpublished or inaccessible.[2] The group is notable for having one language (Ubang) that has male and female forms.[2]

Languages

The Obudu-Obanlikwu-Eastern Boki languages are:

Alege, Obanliku, Bekwarra, Bete-Bendi, Bokyi, Bumaji, Utugwang, Ubang, Ukpe-Bayobiri.

The data is too poorly covered to allow for detailed internal classification of these languages.

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]

Language Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s)
Bekwarra Bekwara, Bekworra Yakoro 27,500 (1953), 34,000 (1963), 60,000 (1985 SIL) Cross River State, Ogoja LGA
Obanliku Basang (Bàsáu), Bebi, Bishiri, Bisu (Gayi), Busi Abanliku 19,800 (1963); estimated 65,000 (Faraclas 1989) Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Obe cluster Obe Mbube Eastern (a geographical name); Ogberia Mbe Afal (by the Mbe) 16,341 (1963) Cross River State, Obudu LGA. 6 villages: Nkim, Ogboria Ogang, Ogboria Uchuruo, Ojerim (Ojirim), Árágbán, and Òbósó.
Mgbenege Obe Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Utugwang Obe Otugwang Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Okwọrọgung Obe Okorogung Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Ukwortung Obe Okorotung, Okwọrọtung Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Ubang Ùbâŋ Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Ukpe–Bayobiri cluster Ukpe–Bayobiri 12,000 (1973 SIL) Cross River State, Obudu and Ikom LGAs
Ukpe Ukpe–Bayobiri
Bayobiri Ukpe–Bayobiri
Alege Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Bete–Bendi Bete, Bendi Bette–Bendi Dama 17,250 (1952), 36,800 (1963) Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Bumaji Bumaji umuji Bumaji Cross River State, Obudu LGA
Afrike-Irungene cluster Afrike-Irungene Cross River State, Ogoja LGA
Afrike Afrike-Irungene Aferikpe 3,500 (1953) Cross River State, Ogoja LGA
Irungene Afrike-Irungene Cross River State, Ogoja LGA
Bokyi By clans: Abo, Bashua, Boje, East Boki, Irruan, Osokum, Basua/Ɓashua, Wula: Báswó, Okúndi, Kecwan Boki Nki, Okii, Uki Nfua 43,000 (1963); 50,000 in Nigeria (1987 UBS), 3,700 in Cameroon (SIL) Cross River State, Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu LGAs; and in Cameroon

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:[4]

Language 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Bekwarra kìn -hà -cià -nè -dyaŋ -dyaàkìn (5 + 1) -dièhà (5 + 2) -diècià (5 + 3) -diènè (5 + 4) irifo
Bete-Bendi (Bə̀ttə́) (1) ìkèn ìfè ìkíé ìnè ìdíɔ́ŋ ìdíɔ́ŋ ìkèn (5 + 1) ìdíɔ́ŋ ìfè (5 + 2) ìdíɔ́ŋ ìkíé (5 + 3) ìdíɔ́ŋ ìnè (5 + 4) lèhʷó
Bete-Bendi (Bette) (2) iken ifee ikʲe inde idʲoŋ idʲoŋ-iken (5 + 1) idʲoŋ-ifee (5 + 2) idʲoŋ-ikʲe (5 + 3) idʲoŋ-inde (5 + 4) lihʷo
Bokyi kìbɒ́ŋɛ̀ bìfɛ̀ː bìt͡ʃât bìɲìː bìtáŋɛ̀ ɲât͡ʃât (lit: "add three") kát͡ʃákáɲì (lit: 3 plus 4) ɲíríɲì (lit: 4 plus 4) kátáŋɛ̀káɲì (lit: 5 plus 4) děːk͡púː

See also

References

  1. ^ Blench, Roger (2011). "'The membership and internal structure of Bantoid and the border with Bantu" (PDF). Berlin: Humboldt University. p. 17.
  2. ^ a b "Bendi languages". www.rogerblench.info. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  3. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  4. ^ Chan, Eugene (2019). "The Niger-Congo Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.

 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.

External links

Bendi languages
Niger-Congo branches
Category