of central nigeria and its affinities - rogerblench.info · central nigeria and its affinities...

The Fəran language

of

Central Nigeria and its affinities

[DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT -NOT FOR CITATION WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR

Roger Blench Kay Williamson Educational Foundation 8, Guest Road Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/ Fax. 0044-(0)1223-560687 Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804 E-mail [email protected] http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm

This printout: April 25, 2008

R.M. Blench Fəran Wordlist Circulated for comment

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 1 2. LOCATION, HISTORY AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC SITUATION ...................................................... 1

2.1 Nomenclature......................................................................................................................................... 1 2.2 Location and settlements ...................................................................................................................... 1 2.3 Language status ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2.4 Fəran culture and history ..................................................................................................................... 1

3. PHONOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 2 3.1 Vowels..................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Consonants............................................................................................................................................. 2 3.3 Tones....................................................................................................................................................... 2

4. MORPHOLOGY......................................................................................................................................... 2 4.1 Nouns...................................................................................................................................................... 2

GLOSS ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 5. FƏRAN WORDLIST.................................................................................................................................. 3 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................................. 21

TABLES Table 1. Principal sources of data for lexical comparison Error! Bookmark not defined.

Roger Blench: Fəran Wordlist

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1. Introduction This is an annotated wordlist of the Fəran language, spoken in Kwakwi village in Plateau State, Nigeria. The wordlist was collected by Barau Kato and Roger Blench with the assistance of Deme Dung and Gede Giyan in Kwakwi on the 16th and 17th of January 2003. We would also like to thank Dr. Joshua Giyan for discussions on the history of the Fəran people. The wordlist was collected as a ‘one-shot’ exercise and the transcription must therefore be regarded as preliminary. This analysis was prepared by Roger Blench, who added the comparative observations. This document is being circulated to scholars for comment. 2. Location, history and sociolinguistic situation 2.1 Nomenclature The Fəran language has been previously referred to as Kwakwi after their principal settlement and as Firan by Shimizu (n.d.) apparently the first author to record the existence of this language and to identify its affinities to Izere. 2.2 Location and settlements Kwakwi is situated west of the main road from Jos to Akwanga, directly after Tahoss on the road leading to Ganawuri. The Fəran divide their settlement into eight distinct wards, but in reality the compounds are extremely scattered and this is a social and political distinction rather than a reflection of nucleated settlements. The eight wards are Ntçsç (where the overall chief is located), Mbɔ̀p, Mpçŋɔ́t, Shù, Tsárá, Táshà, Rànchɔ̀l and Nkywinan. 2.3 Language status There are probably about three thousand speakers of Fəran, although the scattered nature of their compounds makes this difficult to estimate. Immediate observation suggests that most children grow up speaking the language and that it is surviving under pressure from its larger neighbours, Berom and Iten, as well as the vehicular language, Hausa. 2.4 Fəran culture and history The kinship of Fəran with the Izere language spoken north of Jos is evident and the immediate question is why this group is so remote from the main body of speakers. The Fəran are unknown to the Izere in Jos, but the Fəran claim they are the ‘original’ Afizere and that those further north migrated away from the area. This seems rather unlikely, as the Fəran lie wedged between languages that are not closely related and they may well be a refuge population.


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3. Phonology The phonology of Fəran is based on rapid observations and should therefore be regarded as tentative at this stage. 3.1 Vowels Fəran probably has eight phonemic vowels;

Front Central Back

Close i uClose-Mid e ´ o

Open-Mid E ç

Open a 3.2 Consonants Fəran consonants are as follows: Bila

bial Labio-dental

Alve- olar

Alveo- palatal

Palatal Velar Labial-velar

Glottal

Plosive p b t d [c] j k g (kp) Nasal m n ŋ Trill [r] Fricative f v s z S Z ƒ h Approximant y w

Lateral Approximant

l

3.3 Tones 4. Morphology 4.1 Nouns

Gloss sg. pl.


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5. Fəran wordlist The words are classified in sections as; Nouns Pronouns Verbs Numerals Adjectives Other

No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 1. Tree (generic) kàkón nàkón cf. Izere kakón pl. nàkòn, Tarokoid #-kon

but this root is widespread in Niger-Congo, often meaning firewood.

2. Leaf kǔkpé ákpé 3. Root kùlǐŋ àlíŋ 4. Branch hyan ihyán 5. Bark (of tree) kúkom ákom cf. Ganang a-kom, 6. Thorn tírtsɔ̀n átírtsɔ̀n cf. Izere ìkírìtsàn 7. Grass (generic) tsitsét tsítsét 8. Vine (generic) àŋgùn áŋgùn 9. Mushroom tsùn itsùn cf. Izere ìtsòŋ 10. Water-lily 11. Algae 12. Seed/stone/pip kuyák nyak 13. Charcoal tsέn atsέn cf. Izere ritsE@n pl. átsE@n, Kulu di-sheene+, 14. Dust kabúŋ cf. Ganang ka-buŋ, Kulu ge-mpuN+, 15. Ashes intçn cf. Ganang i-ntoŋ, 16. Rubbish-heap kapásáp népásáp 17. Mud kufóm — 18. Clay lóp — cf. Izere rirç@p 19. Dew nímíŋ — cf. Ganang na-miŋ, Ninzo àmé, Ningye

mmeN, Hasha eme, Rukul mmaN, Tarok ìmìmyàN, YaNkam myaN going back to a Niger-Congo root #me-

20. Stone kutá ntá widespread Niger-Congo root 21. Sand mumún — 22. Smoke ìntsiŋ — cf. Ganang i-nsEŋ, Ce I$ncI, Ningye ntEN, Bu

EntE, 23. Fire kurɔ́ŋ — cf. Ganang u-rçŋ, 24. Water incìn — cf. Ganang niSi, 25. Rain ìza — cf. Ganang aza, 26. Cloud ánén — cf. Ganang a-nen, 27. Lightning zirnə́ŋ — 28. Rainy Season kos — 29. Dry season shimaŋ — 30. Harmattan hwep — 31. Year iyé — cf. Izere riyέ pl. ayέ 32. Today kàtut — 33. Yesterday hurí — cf. Izere kuré, Rukul irE, Ningye ryEEN,


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary Hyam ‘today’ re,

34. Tomorrow kátsçn — cf. Ganang katsçn, 35. Morning ícecùn — 36. Evening káshírèm — 37. Dawn kácècùn — 38. Day únɔ́m ìnɔ̀m cf. Kuturmi unuN, Hyam nom+, PJ ‘dry

season’ *-nun, Kabri nu, PEG *-nú. m` 39. Night katúk netúk 40. Moon/month kufén mpěn cf. Niger-Congo #fen, Kuturmi upeni, 41. Sun yínóm — 42. Star(s) yíyírɔ́ neyíyírɔ́ 43. Wind huwîn — 44. God púnóm — 45. Sky cu — 46. World kazátsè — 47. Ground kabén — 48. Large River zek izék 49. Stream kútsén átsén 50. Lake, pond kududûŋ adúdûŋ 51. Forest kúcì ácì 52. Mountain fán ifán cf. words for ‘stone’. Ce kU-bán, Ningye

mpaN, Tarok ìpaN. Also Chadic: Mwaghavul paN

53. Hill górò agórò 54. Bush kayít neyít 55. Farm káp ikáp 56. Field nèk inék 57. Market* tusuŋ táká túsùŋ 58. Compound kətágarí nětàgàrí 59. Room kərí něri 60. Wall (of room) mbəmbaŋ rí ámbə̀mbáŋ rí 61. Thatch roof dùruŋ dúrúŋ 62. Granary àgbàn ágbàn 63. Well kubón ábón 64. Road iryέn nèryɛ̀n 65. Path karìryεn̂ nèryɛ̀n 66. Village/settlement mbɔ̀p kuwɔ́p 67. River-bank mbə̀mbàŋ ámbə̀mbàŋ 68. Swamp/wetland àbùm ábùm 69. Place karç ̂ něrɔ́ 70. Person/people ànet benet 71. Man ametik bamétik 72. Woman abínə́ŋ bebínə́ŋ 73. Child káŋgwén nánuŋ cf. Aten ŋwçn pl. nìnçn,


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 74. Husband phéèrí bephéèrí 75. Wife bínerí bebínerí cf. Ganang a-nEri, 76. Widow kusan bákusan 77. Young man ŋgudafás nénanafás 78. Young girl námáŋ nénunámáŋ 79. Old person àtsərəŋ betsə́réŋ 80. Father adâ béda 81. Mother àdɛ̀ bédέ 82. Barren woman màkúrúk bemakúrúk 83. Ancestors béda 84. Grandparents ? 85. Grandchild hyèm béhyêm 86. Brother gwà bágwà 87. Sister gwà binəŋ bágwà bínə́ŋ 88. Friend sameŋ besámeŋ 89. Guest/stranger àfítsìn afítsin 90. King/chief/ruler gwòm begwôm cf. Butu gwomu, Wapa k´mu, Abuan

ùwémú, Mapeo gàN, PEG *-kụ́m, 91. Hunter àfúgútàŋ befúgútàŋ 92. Thief àfíntsàŋ befíntsàŋ 93. Doctor afíkàn befínékàn 94. Witch tsáŋán itsáŋán 95. Corpse kúm nkum cf. Jijili ukç, Ake çkwç), Eggon okom, Ce kI-

kúm, Izere kukç@m. Also in Chadic Goemai ˚um, Ngas kuum.

96. Blacksmith àtu betú 97. Woodworker tsêp betsép 98. Slave akɔ́ bakɔ́ 99. Masquerade evil kutuk bekutuk not tone-marked 100. Masquerade good kabik nakabik not tone-marked 101. Prophesy 102. Shame ìntsim 103. Fear/fright nyim 104. Bravery/courage ànzàn 105. Laughter kumas 106. Wisdom kabík 107. Guilt àfə̀t 108. Anger kúnjyék ?? 109. Race/running kutéŋ 110. Suffering ŋgbaŋ 111. Death kukú kukús 112. Name yerêŋ ayéréŋ 113. Grave kurεk arεk 114. Song bə́m abə́m


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 115. Proverb ŋásàŋ kùfek ŋásàŋ mpek 116. Story jàjɔ̀t ájàjɔ̀t 117. Word feréŋgufek feréŋ mpèk 118. Lie ákyès akíkyès 119. News bəbyáyi 120. Hunger kukpák 121. Horn tôm átóm 122. Tail kúrùm árûm 123. Egg tsí átsí 124. Wing átsén átsén 125. Beak kanu nénu 126. Nest kari

nenyunúŋ nérí nenyunúŋ

127. Feather itsén atsén 128. Gum/glue nkán 129. Ant-hill kúgòk ágòk 130. Hole in ground bóm ábóm 131. Hole in tree bóŋkon ábóŋkon 132. Smell nkòn 133. Poison zɔ̀n izɔ́n 134. Load kurés arês 135. Bundle kurɔ́p kurɔ́som 136. Firewood kukún nkun 137. Stick àŋgbǒn áŋgbon 138. Yam-heap kùryǐn aryǐn 139. War ìtsum barátsúm 140. Work kùtùmòn ntúmôn 141. Divination (types) kuyέrέk beyεrεk 142. Medicine (generic) ikân nàkàn 143. Money tsçm itsçm 144. Shadow rɔ́shírim nérçshírim 145. Thing ikyén nkyen 146. Strength kugígyák ágígyák 147. Length kundalan ndalan 148. Land/country imben 149. Sleep ìndà 150. Disease(generic) zɔ̀n izɔ́n 151. Smallpox kpɔ̀mɔ̀sɔ̀ 152. Diarrhoea kukúrçk̂ 153. Typhoid ta phot < English but re-analysed as ‘to shoot

wickedly’ 154. AIDS i(d)zɔ̀n

ankpa lit. ‘disease of eight’, re-analysis of the

English term 155. Boil kufút


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 156. Sore/wound ŋkporon áŋkporon 157. Leprosy kpurón ákpúrón 158. Head icwé acwé 159. Eye cwayìízí cwáyiizi 160. Face yìízì áyiizi 161. Cheek kuŋgbâm áŋgbám 162. Forehead kakí néki 163. Nose zôbòk ázóbók 164. Ear kútò átò 165. Mouth kanu nénu 166. Tooth nyîn ányîn 167. Tongue lêm álem 168. Throat mbyen ámbyen 169. Neck kutɔ́ ntç& 170. Jaw kukúp

mgbâm nkùp mgbǎm

171. Chin kadét nédet 172. Shoulder ŋgòk áŋgók 173. Armpit gilêk négílêk 174. Fist kunun

kúbók kunú mbòk

175. Arm kubók mbòk 176. Hand kubók mbòk 177. Leg kuták ntak 178. Foot kutámá

kuták nétama ntak

179. Thigh kukáp nkàp 180. Knee kúùt ákúút 181. Nail (Finger/toe) kumgbrîk ámgbrík 182. Female breast bəsâŋ ábə́sáŋ 183. Stomach ihyá áhyá 184. Chest góm ágóm 185. Navel kukóp ákóp 186. Back kətámǎ nétǎmá 187. Buttocks tsôk itsôk 188. Penis 189. Vagina 190. Skin kukpá nkpa 191. Bone kukúp akúp 192. Rib tsifám átsifám 193. Vein tsìp átsip 194. Blood ntsòk 195. Breath ntsôn 196. Tear nyisî


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 197. Saliva cúncwɛ̀ 198. Sweat kutsîn 199. Urine ncek 200. Faeces abín 201. Hair akúkóyô 202. Beard akúkúyòdet ‘hair of chin’ 203. Liver shishíye 204. Heart kók ikók 205. Intestines álá 206. Body nkàp 207. Meat nam anam 208. Animal (Bush) nyǎm nyam 209. *Camel lànkúmán álànkumán < Hausa raakumii 210. Cow ràndç&ŋ aràndç&ŋ 211. Bull 212. Calf kə̀mbyǎn

ràndç&ŋ némban aràndç&ŋ

213. Goat bçn ibɔ́n 214. He-goat kpyák ikpyák 215. Castrated goat shàm ishám 216. Sheep tsimêŋ itsíméŋ 217. Ram fə̀ràk ifə́rák 218. Castrated sheep 219. Dog kabú nébù 220. *Cat bàŋgànkurí nébàŋànkurí 221. *Pig 222. *Horse tsap itsáp 223. *Donkey 224. Elephant mgbiní ámgbíní 225. Hippo kəbúnshi nebunshi 226. Buffalo zàt izát 227. Lion kabó kpàt nebo kpàt 228. Leopard kòncì ákóncì 229. Hyena1 murum ámurum cf. Iten èmùrûm, but a widespread form 230. Civet cat2 231. Genet cat3 232. Bush cat kápún nepun 233. Jackal4 234. Wart-hog5 zìrìza ázìrìza cf. Iten è(d)zìrìzá, 235. Aardvark6 atôm átôm cf. Iten ètòom, 1 (Crocuta crocuta) 2 (Viverra civetta) 3 (Genetta genetta) 4 (Canis aureus) 5 (Phacochoerus aethiopus)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 236. Duiker antelope7 237. Kob antelope8 238. Roan antelope9 239. Porcupine10 ìshàs ishás cf. Iten ìshàs, 240. Tree pangolin11 tànkpat átànkpat cf. Iten ètànkpaát, 241. Baboon gbòm ágbòm cf. Izere àgbóòm, 242. Patas monkey12 zaram izárám cf. Iten ìzàràm ‘jackal’, 243. Vervet monkey13 itamgblon netamgblon 244. Squirrel (ground) àphye néphye cf. Iten èphyee, 245. Squirrel (tree) àlyok nélyok 246. Rat (generic) ìcwe icwé cf. Izere ìcì, 247. Bush-rat I jàkwí ijákwí 248. Bush-rat II ncòm néncóm 249. Bush-rat III kùbùl ákubul 250. Bush-rat IV búgɛ̀l abugɛ̀l 251. Bush-rat V kə̀ká 252. Giant rat14 àgòt ágòt 253. Fat mouse àgbó-àbîn ágbó ábín 254. Pygmy mouse ncìrěp nencirep 255. Grasscutter15 gwep gwép 256. Hedgehog16 cágásà necágásà 257. Hare17 àsòm nésòm 258. House-bat gúgón águgón 259. Fruit-bat néntèk nentek 260. Nile crocodile tsèlèm ítsélèm 261. Chameleon àkosom ákosom 262. Agama lizard àdàŋ ádàŋ 263. Skink mburuk ámburuk 264. Gecko ncìríp nénciríp 265. Monitor lizard

(damo) kùlúm ŋgyúwá

akulum ŋgyúwá

266. Monitor lizard (guza)

zòl ízól

267. Toad cìmblók ácìmblók 6 (Orycteropus afer) 7 (Cephalophus spp.) 8 (Kobus kob) 9 (Hippotragus equinus) 10 (Hystrix cristata) 11 (Manis tricuspis) 12 (Erythrocebus patas) 13 (Cercopithecus aethiops) 14 (Cretomyces sp.) 15 (Thryonomys Swinderianus) 16 (Atelerix albiventris) 17 (Lepus Crawshayi)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 268. Frog I ntsún antsún 269. Frog II nzέ ánzέ 270. Tortoise kòrìdǒk ákorìdók 271. Snake (Generic) hyen ihyén 272. Spitting cobra nyεrinkyok nyέrinkyok 273. Python kampêk némpêk 274. Turtle 275. Crab n kannan ánkánnán 276. River shells 277. Fish (generic) ìzos izós 278. Tilapia (spp.) lalí álali 279. Fish sp. I ŋgǎn áŋgán 280. Fish sp. II wàp áwàp 281. Fish sp. III kikyén ákikyén 282. Fish sp. IV àmbǔk ámbunu 283. Fish sp. V yòk áyòk 284. Puffer fish18 285. Catfish (spp.)19 286. Nile Perch20 287. Electric fish21 ŋgona áŋgona 288. Bird (generic) nyùnyunon nényùnyunon lit. ‘little chicken’ 289. Chicken nyǒn inyon 290. Cock mgbǎk amgbâk 291. *Duck (Domestic) 292. Pigeon (Domestic) 293. Guinea-fowl ntsèk ntsék 294. Hooded Vulture22 295. Village Weaver23 áhyok áhyók 296. Cattle-egret24 nyàlé nényàlé 297. Black kite25 298. Standard-wing

night-jar lilebét álilebét

299. Owl (various spp.) yísì áyísì 300. Grey Parrot26 ìnyurúk ányurúk 301. Senegal Coucal27

18 (Tetraodon fahaka) 19 (Synodontis spp.) 20 (Lates niloticus) 21 (Malapterurus electricus) 22 (Neophron monachus) 23 (Ploceus cucullatus) 24 (Ardeola ibis) 25 (Milvus migrans) 26 (Poicephalus senegalus) 27 (Centropus spp.)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 302. Bush-

fowl/partridge zìp ízíp

303. Swallow tyùm diyalaŋ

nétyùm diyalaŋ

304. *Pied crow28 305. Woodpecker gúgók agúgók 306. Insect (Generic) tsìtsé 307. Scorpion fiphǒ áfiphǒ 308. Butterfly dìdébét ádìdebet 309. Dragon-fly 310. Mosquito zàŋtá ázàŋtá 311. Spider29 nìnàràŋ ánìnàràŋ 312. Mason wasp30 njàl ánjàl 313. Bee ìSòs iSós 314. Sweat-fly nentíŋ néntíŋ 315. Sandfly 316. Housefly tsìtsěŋ tsítséŋ 317. Ant (Generic) shìrìshǒn néshìrìshón 318. Louse (Human) tsènèŋ ítsénéŋ 319. Millipede 320. Cockroach 321. Termite 322. Flying-ant 323. Grasshopper 324. Praying mantis 325. Firefly 326. Giant Cricket 327. Earthworm 328. Giant Snail 329. Soap (Traditional) 330. Oil 331. Fat/grease 332. Salt 333. Soup/stew 334. Porridge 335. Sorghum-beer 336. Palm-wine 337. Peelings 338. Filter 339. Rag 340. Floor-beater

28 (Corvus albus) 29 (Acarina spp.) 30 (Belenogaster spp.)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 341. Handle (of tool) 342. Sickle 343. Cutlass 344. Iron 345. Axe 346. Adze 347. Hoe I 348. Hoe II 349. Hoe III 350. Hammer 351. Knife 352. Comb 353. Broom 354. Bag 355. Sack 356. Fireplace 357. Shoe 358. Cloth 359. Grindstone (top) 360. Grindstone (lower) 361. Mortar (wood) 362. Pestle 363. Pot (generic) 364. Pot I 365. Pot II 366. Pot III 367. Pot IV 368. Head-pad 369. Basket (generic) 370. Basket I 371. Basket II 372. Winnowing tray 373. Mat (generic) 374. Mat I 375. Needle 376. Spear 377. Bow 378. Arrow 379. Quiver 380. Chain 381. Rope 382. Stool 383. Wooden door 384. Fence


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 385. Bridge 386. Ladder 387. Canoe 388. Paddle 389. Bee-hive 390. Fish-Net 391. Fish-trap I 392. Fish-trap II 393. Fish-trap III 394. Snare 395. One 396. Two 397. Three 398. Four 399. Five 400. Six 401. Seven 402. Eight 403. Nine 404. Ten 405. Eleven 406. Twelve 407. Twenty 408. Twenty-four 409. Forty 410. Sixty 411. Eighty 412. Hundred 413. Black 414. White 415. Red 416. Sweet 417. Bitter 418. Half 419. Hot 420. Cold 421. Old 422. New 423. Wet 424. Dry 425. Smooth 426. Add to 427. Answer (question) 428. Arrive


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 429. Ask a question 430. Ask/beg for

something

431. Awaken (s.o.) 432. Bark (dog) 433. Be bent 434. Be heavy 435. Be on (s.t.) 436. Be rotten 437. Be short 438. Beat (drum) 439. Beat (s.o.) 440. Become dry 441. Begin 442. Bite 443. Blow (flute etc.) 444. Boil 445. Build (house etc.) 446. Burn (fire burns) 447. Bury 448. Buy 449. Call (to someone) 450. Carry 451. Carve (wood etc.) 452. Catch 453. Chew 454. Choose 455. Climb 456. Close 457. Come 458. Come out (of

room)

459. Continue (to do s.t.)

460. Cook 461. Cough 462. Count 463. Cover 464. Cut down (tree) 465. Cut in two 466. Cut off (head etc.) 467. Dance 468. Die 469. Dig (earth etc.)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 470. Divide/share 471. Do/make 472. Drag 473. Draw water 474. Dream 475. Drink 476. Drop 477. Dry in sun 478. Eat 479. Enter 480. Extinguish 481. Fall (rain) 482. Fall over 483. Fear 484. Feel (cold etc.) 485. Fight (in war) 486. Fill 487. Finish (a task) 488. Float 489. Flog 490. Flow (water etc.) 491. Fly (birds) 492. Fold (cloth etc.) 493. Follow 494. Forget 495. Fry (in oil) 496. Gather/collect 497. Get 498. Give 499. Give birth 500. Go 501. Go out/exit 502. Grind 503. Grow (plants) 504. Hatch (egg) 505. Have 506. Hear 507. Hit/strike (drum) 508. Hoe 509. Hunt 510. Jump 511. Kill 512. Kneel 513. Know


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 514. Laugh 515. Learn 516. Lick 517. Lie down 518. Listen 519. Lose s.t. 520. Marry 521. Mix 522. Mould (pot) 523. Mount 524. Open 525. Pierce/stab 526. Plait (hair) 527. Plant (crop etc.) 528. Play 529. Pound (in mortar) 530. Pour (liquid) 531. Pull 532. Push 533. Put on (clothes) 534. Receive 535. Refuse 536. ‘Remain’ 537. Remember 538. Resemble 539. Return 540. Ride (horse etc.) 541. Roast on coals 542. Rub 543. Run 544. Say/speak 545. Scatter 546. See 547. Seek 548. Sell 549. Send 550. Set trap 551. Sew 552. Shake 553. Sharpen 554. Shoot (arrow, gun) 555. Sing 556. Sit down 557. Slaughter (animal)


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 558. Sleep 559. Smash 560. Smell 561. Snap in two 562. Sow seeds 563. Spit 564. Split 565. Stand 566. Steal 567. Stir (soup) 568. Suck (breast etc.) 569. Surpass 570. Swallow 571. Sweep 572. Swell 573. Swim 574. Take 575. Tear (cloth etc.) 576. Tell 577. Throw 578. Tie 579. Touch 580. Twist (rope etc.) 581. Untie 582. Uproot (tuber) 583. Vomit 584. Walk 585. Want/need 586. Wash 587. Wear 588. Weave 589. Weed 590. Weep 591. Wipe 592. Work 593. Yawn 594. I 595. You 596. He/she/it 597. we 598. you pl. 599. They 600. Who? 601. Which?


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No. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 602. What? 603. When? 604. Where? Exclamations 605. Adverbs 606. Particles etc. 607. Edible and Useful Plants NO. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 608. Guinea-yam31 609. Aerial yam32 610. Red yam33 611. Water-yam34 612. Taro (Old cocoyam)35 613. New cocoyam36* 614. Cassava*37 615. Sweet potato*38 616. Wild yam I 617. Wild yam II 618. Tumuku39 619. Rizga40 620. Sorghum41 621. 3-month Sorghum42 622. Bulrush millet43 (gero) 623. Bulrush millet

(maiwa)

624. Eleusine*44 625. Fonio (H. acca)45 626. Iburu (H. iburu)46

31 (Dioscorea guineensis) 32 (Dioscorea bulbifera) 33 (Dioscorea cayenensis) 34 (Dioscorea alata) 35 (Colocasia esculenta) 36 (Xanthosoma mafaffa) (H. wali) 37 (Manihot esculenta) 38 (Ipomoea batatas) 39 (Plectranthus esculentus) 40 (Solenostemon rotundifolius) 41 (Sorghum bicolor) 42 (H. jigaari)) 43 (Pennisetum spp.) 44 (H. tamba) (Eleusine coracana) 45 (Digitaria exilis)


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NO. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 627. Maize*47 628. Rice*48 629. Cowpea49 630. Spiral cowpea 631. Lima bean50* 632. Other beans I 633. Other beans II 634. Other beans III 635. Bambara groundnut51 636. Kersting's ground-

nut52

637. Groundnut (Peanut)53 638. Tiger-nut54 639. Garden egg55 640. Okra56 641. Chili pepper* (large)57 642. Birdseye chili*58 643. Onion (Allium cepa) 644. Garlic59 645. Tomato60 646. Egusi melon61 647. Melon (other)62 648. Edible squash63 649. Sorrel/roselle64 650. Jews' mallow65 651. Kenaf66 652. Sesame seeds67 653. Black sesame68

46 (Digitaria iburua) 47 (Zea mays) 48 (Oryza sativa/ glaberrima) 49 (Vigna unguiculata) 50 (Phaseolus lunatus) 51 (Vigna subterranea) 52 (Macrotyloma geocarpa) 53 (Arachis hypogaea) 54 (Cyperus esculentus) 55 (Solanum melongena) 56 (Abelmoschus esculentus) 57 (Capsicum frutescens) 58 (Capsicum annuum) 59 (Allium sativum) 60 (Lycopersicon esculentum) 61 (Citrullus lanatus) 62 (Cucumis spp) 63 (Cucurbita pepo) 64 (H. yakuwa) (Hibiscus sabdariffa) 65 (H. lalo)(Corchorus olitorius) 66 (H. rama) (Hibiscus cannabinus) 67 (H. RiÎii) (Sesamum indicum)


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NO. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 654. Sesame leaves69 655. Bitterleaf70 656. Waterleaf*71 657. Plantain (Musa AAB) 658. Banana (Musa AAA) 659. Orange*72 660. Bamboo 661. Pineapple*73 662. Coconut*74 663. Pawpaw*75 664. Gourd (Generic) 665. Gourd-bottle76 666. Gourd (spherical)77 667. Other gourds 668. Cotton 669. Tobacco* 670. Sugar-cane* 671. Loofah78 (H. soso) 672. Cola 673. Oil-palm79 674. Palm-fruit 675. Palm-oil 676. Palm kernel 677. Raphia/ bamboo

palm80

678. Fan-palm81 679. Monkey-guava82 680. Canarium tree83 681. Custard apple84 682. Wild date-palm85 683. Baobab86

68 (Sesamum radiatum) 69 (H. karkashi) 70 Vernonia amygdalina 71 (Amaranthus spp) 72 (Citrus sinensis) 73 (Ananas comosus) 74 (Cocos nucifera) 75 (Carica papaya) 76 (Lagenaria siceraria) 77 (Cucurbita maxima) 78 (Luffa cylindrica) 79 (Elaeis guineensis) 80 (Raphia spp.) 81 (Borassus aethiopum) 82 (Diospyros mespiliformis) 83 (Canarium schweinfurthii) 84 (Annona senegalensis) 85 (Phoenix reclinata) 86 (Adansonia digitata)


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NO. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 684. Silk-cotton tree87 685. Shea tree88 686. Shea-fruit 687. Locust tree89 688. Locust fruit 689. Locust-bean cakes 690. Tamarind90 691. Sodom apple91 692. Terminalia sp.92 693. Black plum93 Musical Instruments NO. Gloss Singular Plural Commentary 694. Drum I 695. Drum II 696. Drum III 697. Flute 698. Zither 699. Lute 700. Xylophone 701. Harp 702. Transverse horn 703. Clarinet 704. Iron gong 705. Gourd-rattle 706. Ankle rattles References Abraham, R.C. 1962. Dictionary of the Hausa language. London: University of London Press. Bendor-Samuel, J. ed. 1989. The Niger-Congo languages. Lanham: University Press of America. CAPRO ined. An ethnic survey of Plateau State. Jos: CAPRO Research Office. Crozier, D. and Blench, R.M. 1992. Index of Nigerian Languages (edition 2). SIL, Dallas. De Wolf, P. 1971. The noun class system of Proto-Benue-Congo. The Hague: Mouton. Gerhardt, L. 1983. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen des Nigerianischen Plateaus. Glückstadt: Verlag J.J.

Augustin. Guthrie, M. 1967-73. Comparative Bantu. 4 vols. Gregg International Publishers. Mukarovsky, H. 1976-1977. A study of Western Nigritic. 2 vols. Wien: Institut für Ägyptologie und

Afrikanistik, Universität Wien. Newman, R.M. 1997. An English-Hausa dictionary. Lagos: Longman.

87 (Ceiba pentandra) 88 (Vitellaria paradoxa) 89 (Parkia biglobosa) 90 (Tamarindus indica) 91 (Calotropis procera H. tumfafiya) 92 (H. baushe) 93 (Vitex doniana)


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Shimizu, K. 1975. A lexicostatistical study of Plateau languages and Jukun. Anthropological Linguistics, 17:413-418.

Temple, Olive 1922. Notes on the Tribes, Provinces, Emirates and States of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. Argus Printing and Publishing Co. Capetown.

Westermann, D. 1927. Die Westlichen Sudansprachen und ihre Beziehungen zum Bantu. Berlin: de Gruyter. Williamson, K., and K. Shimizu. 1968. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist, Vol. 1. Ibadan: West African

Linguistic Society. Williamson, Kay 1971. The Benue-Congo languages & Njọ. In Current trends in Linguistics 7 (ed.) T.

Sebeok 245-306. The Hague: Mouton. Williamson, Kay 1973. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist: Vol.2. Ibadan: West African Linguistic Society.

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