Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Nyo
Dictionary:Accam, T. N. 1966. Adangme Vocabularies. Legon, Ghana: Institute of African Studies.
Other Sources:
Kropp, Mary Esther. 1964. "The Morphology of the Adangme Verb Complex,"JAL 3, 80-95. Language Guide (Daŋme Version). 1968. Accra: Bureau of Ghana Languages. Dakubu, M. E. Kropp. 1970. "The Adangme Verb Reconsidered," JAL 9, 19-26. Apronti, E. O. 1971. "The Structure of the Nominal Group in Dangme," JAL 10, 65-72.
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ f s š h v z m n ñ ŋ ŋm l r
Stops:p b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f v s z š h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ ŋm
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:cʷ č ɡ̌ š h ŋ
Glides:j ɥ w
Vowel system:
I ʋ ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:I ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:ʋ ɔ
Long Vowels:ī ē ū ō ɔ̄
Nasal Vowels:ṽ ?
Tones:hi (mid) lo
Noun Number:s p
Articles:def
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA GN ND N-NUM POSS-N N+A+Num+D
Number:422
Language:Ewe
Dialect:Anglo
Location:SE Ghana
Population:2.4 million
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Grammar:Westermann, Diedrich. 1960. A Study of the Ewe Language. London: Oxford Univ Press.
TextBooks:Warburton, Irene, Prosper Kpotufe and Roland Glover. 1968. Ewe Basic Course. Bloomington: African Studies Program, Indiana Univ.
Other Sources:Berry, Jack. The Pronunciation of Ewe. Cambridge: Heffer.
Consonant system:
(p) t̪ k kp b d̪ ḍ ɡ ɡb t̪s (č) d̪z (ɡ̌) ɸ f s x β v z ɣ ɦ m n̪ ñ ŋ l (ɹ)
Stops:(p) b t̪ d̪ ḍ k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:t̪s d̪z (č) (ɡ̌)
Fricatives:ɸ β f v s z x ɣ ɦ
Nasals:m n̪ ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:(ɹ)
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e ǝ o ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e
Central Vowels:ǝ a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Long Vowels:v̄ all
Nasal Vowels:
ṽ all but e v̄̃ all
Diphthongs:diphthonɡs
Syllable:(C)(L)V Nˈ
Tones:hi mid lo ris fall (ris-fall)
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:2
Articles:def indef
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA GN ND N-NUM POSS-N/(N-POSS)
Prep/Post:POST
Number:423
Language:Ewe
Dialect:Adja
Location:SW Benin
Population:2.4 million (475,000)
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Dictionary:Harguindéguy, R. 1969. Dictionnaire adja-français, 2 vols. Lyon: Afrique et Langage.
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ḍ ɡ ɡb č ̌ ɡ̌ f s š x h v z ž ɣ m n ñ ŋ l r
Stops:p b t d ḍ k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f v s z š ž x ɣ h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ı̃ ɛ̃ ã ũ ɔ̃
Tones:
hi mid lo ris
Syntax:SVO
Number:424
Language:Ewe
Dialect:Gũ
Location:S Benin
Population:2.4 million
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Other Sources:
Rouget, Gilbert. 1962. "Une chante-fable d'un signe divinatoire (Dahomey)," JAL 1, 273-92. Rouget, Gilbert. 1963. "Le problème du 'ton moyen' en gũ," JAL 2, 218-21.
Consonant system:
t k kp b d ḍ ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ f s x h v m n ñ l
Stops:b t d ḍ k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f v s x h
Nasals:m n ñ
Laterals:l
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ı̃ ɛ̃ ã ũ ɔ̃
Tones:hi (mid) lo ris fall
Syntax:SVO
Number:425
Language:Fon
Alternate Name:Fongbe
Location:S Benin
Population:1.4 million
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Dictionary:Segurola, B. 1963. Dictionnaire fon-français. Cotonou, Dahomey.
Grammar:Alapini, Julien. 1969. Le petit dahoméen. Cotonou, Dahomey: Les Éditions du Benin.
TextBooks:Guillet, Gérard. 1972. Initiation à la tonalité et à la grammaire de la langue fon. Cotonou, Dahomey.
Consonant system:
(p) t k kp b d ḍ ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ f s x v z ɦ m n ñ l
Stops:(p) b t d ḍ k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f v s z x ɦ
Nasals:m n ñ
Laterals:l
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ı̃ ɛ̃ ã ũ ɔ̃
Tones:hi mid lo fall-ris (mid-ris) (mid-fall)
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:2
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG/GN ND N-NUM N-POSS
Prep/Post:PREP/POST
Number:426
Language:Mbato
Location:Ivory Coast
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Consonant system:
Number:427
Language:Ebrie
Alternate Name:Kyama
Location:Ivory Coast
Population:11,500
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Other Sources:Vogler, P. 1968. "Esquisse phonologique de l'ebrié," Annales de l'Univ d'Abidjan, Series H, Linguistique, tome 1, fascicule 1, 60-5.
Consonant system:
p t c k kp b d ɟ ɡ ɡb f s (h) m n ñ l
Stops:p b t d c ɟ k ɡ kp ɡb
Fricatives:f s (h)
Nasals:m n ñ
Laterals:l
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ẽ ã õ
Tones:hi lo
Number:428
Language:Attie
Location:Ivory Coast
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Consonant system:
Number:429
Language:Abe
Location:Ivory Coast
Population:22,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Consonant system:
Number:430
Language:Abiji
Location:Ivory Coast
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Consonant system:
Number:431
Language:Krobu
Location:Ivory Coast
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Consonant system:
Number:432
Language:Adyukru
Location:S Ivory Coast
Population:72,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Grammar:Hérault, G. 1978. Éléments de grammaire adioukrou. Abidjan: Institut de Linguistique Appliquée, Univ d'Abidjan.
Other Sources:LWA
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ f s (x) m n ñ ŋ ľ r
Stops:p b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f s (x)
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:ľ
Vibrants:r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:Nˈ lˈ rˈ
Tones:
hi lo ris fall downstep
Noun Number:s p
Noun Classes:
8
Demonstratives:1 + ref
Articles:def
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6 + indef
Syntax:SVO NA GN ND N-NUM POSS-N(1 3 4 5 6)/N-POSS (2) N+A+D
Prep/Post:POST
Number:433
Language:Aladian
Location:Ivory Coast
Population:7,500
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Consonant system:
Number:434
Language:Avikam
Location:Ivory Coast
Population:8,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Western: Togo
Consonant system:
Number:435
Language:Ebira
Alternate Name:Igbirra
Location:WC Nigeria (Kwara)
Population:180,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Niger-Kaduna
Other Sources:
Ladefoged, Peter. 1964. "Igbirra Notes and Word-List," JWAL 1:1, 27-37 . STAL
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ v s h z m n ñ ŋ r
Stops:p b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:v s z h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:cʷ s z h ŋ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u I ʋ e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Long Vowels:v̄
Nasal Vowels:ṽ ?
Modified Vowels:vowel harmany
Tones:hi mid lo
Syntax:SVO NA N-POSS
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:436
Language:Gade
Location:C Nigeria
Population:90,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Niger-Kaduna
Grammar:Sterk, Jan Pieter. 1977. Elements of Gade Grammar. Madison: Univ of Wisconsin Diss.
Consonant system:
p t c k kp b d ɡ ɡb f s v z m n r
Stops:p b t d c k ɡ kp ɡb
Fricatives:f v s z
Nasals:m n
Vibrants:r
Modified Consonants:
cj cʷ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u I ʋ e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:Nˈ
Tones:hi mid lo [+ ten gliding tones]
Noun Number:s p
Noun Classes:5: (1) 'general' person nouns, (2) the word 'person', (3) non-person nouns-vowel initial, (4) non-person nouns-consonant initial, (5) 'co-wife,' senior person, doctor.
Demonstratives:2
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6hH H=non-human
Syntax:SVO NA NG ND N-NUM N-POSS
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:437
Language:Nupe
Location:WC Nigeria (Kwara)
Population:500,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Niger-Kaduna
Dictionary:Banfield, A. W. 1914, 1916. Dictionary of the Nupe Language, 2 vols. Shonga, Nigeria: The Niger Press. [Reprinted 1969 by Gregg International Publishers, Farnborough, England]
Grammar:Smith, N. V. 1967. An Outline Grammar of Nupe. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, Univ of London.
Other Sources:
Smith, N. V. 1967. "The Phonology of Nupe," JAL 6, 153-67. Smith, N. V. 1969. "Nupe," in TNL, 133-41.
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb ts č dz f s h v z m n l ɾ
Stops:p b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:ts dz č
Fricatives:f v s z h
Nasals:m n
Laterals:l
Vibrants:ɾ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o a
Front Vowels:i e
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o
Long Vowels:v̄ a only
Nasal Vowels:Ĩ ɐ̃ ʋ̃
Syllable:(C)(G)V Nˈ
Tones:hi mid lo ris fall
Noun Number:s p
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA GN ND N-NUM N-POSS
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:438
Language:Gwari
Location:C Nigeria (Benue)
Population:155,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Niger-Kaduna
Grammar:Hyman, Larry M. and Daniel J. Magaji. 1970. Essentials of Gwari Grammar. Ibadan: Institute of African Studies, Univ of Ibadan.
Consonant system:
p t k kp ɓ d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ f s š (h) β v z ž m n ñ ŋ l (r)
Stops:p ɓ t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:β f v s z š ž (h)
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:(r)
Glides:j ɥ w
Vowel system:
i u e o a
Front Vowels:i e
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o
Syllable:(C)(C)(C)V
Tones:hi mid (hi-mid) lo (ris) (fall)
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:2 + ref
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3hHA 6 + indef H=non-human, A=abstract
Syntax:SVO NA GN ND N-NUM POSS-N N+A+Num+D
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:439
Language:Alago
Location:Nigeria
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Idoma
Consonant system:
Number:440
Language:Idoma
Dialect:Oturkpo
Location:SE Nigeria (Benue-Plateau)
Population:600,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Idoma
Grammar:Abraham, R. C. 1967. The Idoma Language. London: Univ of London Press.
Other Sources:
Armstrong, R. G. 1963. "The Subjunctive in Idoma," JAL 2, 155-9. STAL
