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Southern Bantoid (or South Bantoid) is a branch of the Bantoid language family. It consists of the Bantu languages along with several small branches and isolates of eastern Nigeria and west-central Cameroon (though the affiliation of some branches is uncertain). 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.
Southern Bantoid | |
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Geographic distribution | Sub-Saharan Africa, but not further west than Nigeria |
Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo?
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Proto-language | Proto-Southern Bantoid |
Subdivisions |
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Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
Glottolog | sout3152 |
![]() The Southern Bantoid languages shown within the Niger–Congo language family. Non-Southern Bantoid languages are greyscale. |
History
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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 (Narrow) Bantu itself.
Internal classification
According to Williamson and Blench, Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages, Jarawan, Tivoid, Beboid, Mamfe (Nyang), 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 (ex-Grassfields) and East Beboid may form a group, perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru–Angwe:
- ? Bendi
- Tivoid–Beboid: Tivoid, Esimbi, East Beboid, ? Buru–Angwe, ? Menchum
- West Beboid (geographic)
- Furu
- Mamfe
- Ekoid–Mbe: Ekoid, Mbe
- Grassfields: Ring, Eastern Grassfields (Mbam–Nkam), Momo, ? Ndemli, Southwest Grassfields (Western Momo), ? Ambele
- Narrow Bantu, Jarawan–Mbam
Grollemund (2012)
Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund (2012):
Southern Bantoid |
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Numerals
Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
Classification | Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
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Bantu | Luganda | emu | bbiri | ssatu | nnya | ttaano | muukaga | musanvu | muunana | mwenda | kkumi |
Ndemli | Ndemli | mɔ̀hɔ́ | ífɛ́ | ítáá | ítʃìjè | ítâŋ | tóhó | sàᵐbá | fɔ̀ːmɔ́ | bùʔɛ̀ | dʒòm |
Tikar | Tikar | mbɔʔ | ɓî | lê | ɲî | ʃæ̃̂ | ɸyulu | ʃâmɓì | nìnì | tæ̂nì | wûm |
Tivoid | Esimbi (1) | kēnə̄ | mə̄rākpə̄ | mākə̄lə̄ | mōɲī | mātə̄nə̀ | mālālə̄ | mātə̄nə̀ mə̄rākpə̄ (5+ 2) | mōɲìōɲī (4+ 4) | mātə̄nə̀ mōɲī (5 + 4) | būɣù |
Tivoid | Esimbi (2) | ɔ-nə | râkpə | á-kələ | oɲí | a-tənə | a-lələ | à-tən râkpə (5+ 2) | ò-ɲi o-ɲí (4+ 4) | à-tən o-ɲí (5 + 4) | bùɣù |
Tivoid | Ipulo | émɔ̀ | víàl | vétàt | véɲì | vétàn | véɾátúm | véɾátúm nɔ̀mɔ̀ (6 + 1) | víɲèɲí | víɲèɲí nɔ̀mɔ̀ (8 + 1) | épɔ́ːt |
Tivoid | Iyive | mɔ̌m | hjâl | tàt | ɲîn | táŋə̀n | kə̀lə̀kə̀tàt | kə̀lə̀kə̀tàt kàt mɔ̀mú (6 + 1) | kíníkìnì | táŋìɲìn (5 + 4 ??) | pùɛ̀ |
Tivoid | Tiv | mɔ̀ḿ / mɔ́m | úhár | útáŕ | únjì: | útã́ː | átérátáŕ | útã́ː kàː úhár (5 + 2) | ániènì | útã́ː kàː únjì: (5 + 4) | púè / púwè |
Grassfields, Menchum | Befang | móʔ (~mʊ́ʔ) | fe | táí | ɪ̀kᶣà (ɪ̀kɥà) | ɪ̀tʲə̂n | ⁿdʊ̀fú | èkᶣànátáí (4 and 3) i.e. (4+ 3) | éfómó | étʲə̂nékᶣà (5+ 4) | éɣúm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Fe'fe' (1) | ʃʉʔ | pʉ́ɒ́ | tāā | kwɒ̀ | tíì | ntɔ́hɔ́ | sə̀mbʉ́ɒ́ | hə̌ | vʉ̀ʔʉ̄ | ɣǎm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Fe'fe' (2) | ŋʃʉʔ | pʉ́ə | táá | kwà | tiì | ntóɣó | sə̀mbʉ́ə́ | hə́ə́ | vʉ́ʔʉ́ | ɣám |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ghomala | yə́mūʔ | yə́pwə́ | yə́tá | yápfʉə̀ | yə́tɔ̂ | ntɔ̀kə́ | sɔmbwə́ə | hɔ̌m | vʉ̀ʔʉ́ | ɣǎm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Mengaka (Megaka) | yimɔʔɔ / mɔʔ | yipá /pa | yitét / tét | nəkʷɔ̀ | yitɛ | ntɔ̌ | sambá | nəhǎ | nəvøʔ | nəɣám |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Nda'nda' | ŋtʃɔ̀ʔ | pə́ɣə́ | té | kwò | tɔ̀ | tó | sòmbə̀ɣə̀ | χóp | vɨ̀ʔ | ɣáp |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngiemboon | mmɔ́ʼɔ́ [m̩̀mɔ́ʔɔ́] | mbʉ́a [m̩̀bɯ́á] | ntá [ǹ̩tá] | lekùa [lèkùȁ] | ntʉ̂a [ɳ̩̀ʈɯ́à] | ntɔɡɔ́ [ǹ̩tɔ̀ʁɔ́] | sɔɔn mbʉ́a [sɔ̃̀ːm̩̀bɯ́á] | lefɔ̌ɔn [lèfɔ̃̌ː] | lepfwɔʼɔ́ [lèpfwɔ̀ʔɔ́] | leɡém [lèɣə́m] |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngomba | yemoʔ | yépá | yétát | yénékwa | yeta | yenentúku | sambá | yénéfom | yenepfúʔú | neɡʉ́m |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngombale | tá | pwó | tárə | kwo | taa | toɣə | saabwó | ləfaa | ləpfuʔú | ləɡham |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngwe | mɔʔfi | -biə | -tat | lɛkwə | -tɛ | -ntuli | saambiə | lɛfɔ | lɛʙə̌ʔá | lɛ̄ɣɛ̀m |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Yemba (Dschang) | wɔ́ mɔʔɔ́ | mé piá | mé tét | lekwa | metā | ntukɔ́ | ésabiā | lefá | levuʔɔ́ | leɣɛ̄m |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Awing (1) | mɔ̌ | pɛ́ | térə́ | nə̀kwà | ténə̀ | tóɣə́ | sàmbɛ́ | nə̀fémə́ | nə̀púʔə́ | nə̀ɣə́mə́ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Awing (2) | mɔh | pəːə | teːre | kwa | taa | ntuɡu | saːmbe | nɨfeːme | nɨpueh | nɨɡeːme |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bafut (1) | mɔ́ʔɔ̂ | báà | tárə̀ | kwàà | ntáà | ntóʔò | sàmbà | fwámə́ | kwálìʔí / nɨ̀bùʔû | tàwûm / nɨ̀wûm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bafut (2) | mɔʔɔ̂ | baa | tarə | kwà | ǹtaà | ntoʔo | sàmbà | fwamə | kwalɛ̀ʔɛ | tàɡhûm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bambili-Bambui (1) | mɔ̀ʔɔ̀ | bə̀ɡə̀ | tyè | kyà | tɔ̀ɔ̀ | ntúú | ʃàmbà | nɨ̀fɔ̀ɔ̀ | nɨ̀bɛ̀ʔɛ̀ | nɨ̀ɣám |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bambili-Bambui (2) | mɔʔɔ | bɨɡə | tyé | kɥa | tɔː | n-túː | ʃambá | nɨ-fɔː | nɨ-bɛʔɛ | nɨ-ɣám |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bamukumbit | m²mɔʔɔ⁷⁷ or tɑʔ | bɛ, bɨbɛ, mɨmbɛ | tɑrɨ, bɨ²tɑː⁷⁵ɾə², mɨntɑrɨ | nɨkwɑ, bɨnɨkwɑ, mɨnkwɑ | jitɑ̃, bɨtɑ̃, mɨntɑ̃ | jintoʔ, bɨntoʔ, mɨntoʔ | ʃɑmbɛ, bɨʃɑmbɛ, mɨʃɑmbɛ | nɨfɔ̃, bɨnɨfɔ̃, mɨnɨfɔ̃ | nɨ²buʔ²¹, bɨnɨbuʔ, mɨnɨbuʔ | nɨwũ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Mendankwe-Nkwen | mɔ̄h | bəɡə | tarɔ | kua | tan | ntɔ̄ | sāmbā | nəfah | nəbuɔ̄h | nəɣəm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Mbəkum (Mankon) (1) | mɔ́ʔɔ̂ | bâ | tárə̂ | kwà | tánə̀ | ntúɣú | sàmbà | nɨ̀fámə́ | nɨ̀bùʔû | nɨ̀ɣɨ̂m |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Ngemba (Mankon) (2) | mɔ́ʔɔ́ | bǎ | táré | kwà | tâŋ | ntúɡhə̂ | sámbǎ | nɨ̀fə̂ŋ | nɨ̀bvùʔə́ | nɨ̀wúmə̀ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Pinyin | mɔ́ʔɔ̀ | páá | táɾə̀ | kwà | tânə̀ | ǹtô | sàmbâ | nə̀fámə̂ | nə̀pùʔə̂ | nə̀wúmə̀ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Kwaja | mũũ ˧˩ | baa ˦˧ | ta ˦ | kɥ ˧˩ | tɔ̃ ˦˧ | tɔ̃ ˨ fũ ˧ | sə ˨ mba ˧˨ | wɔ ˦ ŋkxɨt ˦ | bə ˦ ʁət ˨ | wəm˦ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Limbum (1) | mɔ̀ʔsíɾ | báː | táːɾ | kjèː | tâ | ntūːnfú | sàːmbâ | wāːmí | bɨ̀ʔɨ̂ / bɨ̀ɾɨ̂ | ɾɨ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Limbum (2) | mòʔsír | báā | táar | kyèe | tâ | ntūunfú | sàambâ | wāamé | bʉ̀ʔʉ̂ | rʉ̂ʉ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Mfumte (Koffa) | mìʔincí | bʉ́à | tó | kweé | tóŋ | ntunfúu | sɔ̀mbaa | wáamí | búum | húʔum |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Yamba | mòʔfís | bá | tɛʔ | kwè | tàŋ | ntuuŋfú | sàmbâ | fwamɛʔ | və̀kɛʔ | húm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Baba1 (Papia) (1) | mɔ̀ʔ | mbá | ntí | kúá | tè | ntíóʔó | kpataɾ | fómə́ | ʃìpó | kòɣəm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Baba (Papia) (2) | jimàa / jímɔ̀ | jípàa / ji mbá | ji tára / ji ntíi | ji kwà / kpa | ji tè | ntúwó / tuʔo | kwàtar / kpataɾ | fómə | tʃìpóo / ʃipɔ | kòɣəm / ɣəm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bafanji | jimuʔu / muʔu³⁵ / tiʔæ⁵³ | jipɑɑ / piæ³⁵ | jitii / tii³⁵ | jikwə / kwə³ | jintɑ̃ĩ⁵³ / tɑ̃ĩ⁵³ | jintou / ntou⁵ | jikwætæ / kwætæ³⁵ | jifũɔ̃ / fũɔ̃⁵ | jipuʔu / puʔu³⁵ | jiɣwũ / ɣwũ⁵³ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamali (Papia) | mʷəʔə | pɛt | tɛt | kʷa | ta | ntɔ | kʷatʃø | nəfɔː | nəpuʔu | nəɣu |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bambalang | tɛʔi | paa | tɾe | kʰwɛ | tiɛ̃ | ntiɡaw | kwatʃəɨ | fuõ | ndipoʔu | wuŋ |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamun (Shupamen) (1) | mòʔ | mbàá | tɛ́t | pkà | tɛ̀n | ntú | sàmbà | fámə́ | kóvýʔ | ɣə́m |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamun (Bamum) (2) | ímoʔ | ípáa | ítɛt | ípkwà | ítɛ̀n | ítúu | ísamba | ífámə | ívʉ̀ʔʉ́ | ɣóm |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bangolan | mɔ̀ | mbǎ | tét | kpà | tíjē | ǹtúhù | kpáte̙t | fó | tʃɛ̀ŋɔ́ʔɔ̀ | vwó |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Medumba | ntʃɯ̀ʔ | bɔ̂ | t̪át | kwà | t̪ân | ndɔ́ɣə́ | sàmbɔ̂ | fúmə́ | bwə̀ʔə́ | ɣám |
Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Mungaka (Bali) | ɲín | íbáā | itɛ́t | ikwà | itàn | intwúʔ | kwàtát | ifúm | sʉibɔ́m | ɣóm / wɔm |
Grassfields, Momo | Moghamo | ímɔ̄ʔ | íbē | ítád | íkwē | ítã | tìfóɣə́ | sàmbé | fàmí | àbōɡ | ìɣùm |
Grassfields, Momo | Mundani | yea-mɔʔ | bebe | betat | bekpì | betã̀ã̂ | bentùa | besã̀ã̀mbe | befã̀ã | bebə̀ʔa | èɣɛm |
Grassfields, Momo | Ngamambo (1) | -mɔ̀ʔ | be | tád | kwè | tân | rɨ̀fúɣɔ́ / rʌ̀fúɣɔ́ | sàmbe | fàam | bɔ̀ɔk | ɣum |
Grassfields, Momo | Ngamambo (2) | -mɔ̀ʔ | bé | tɑ́t | kwè | tɑ̂n | rɨ̀fúɣə́ | sɑ̀mbé | fɑ̌m | ə̀bɔ̌k | wúm |
Grassfields, Momo | Ngie (1) | ìfìŋ | ìbǐɡə | ìtá | ìkjùɡə | ìtɨŋ | ìfəw | ìsàmbìɡə | ìfɨŋì | àbəw | ìwùm |
Grassfields, Momo | Ngie (2) | ìfìŋ | ìbǐɡ | ìtá | ìkɥǐɡ | ìtʉ̄ŋ | ìfœ́ | ìsàmbǐɡ | ìfɔ̌ŋ | àbœ̀ | ìwùm |
Grassfields, Momo | Ngwo | ŋwāʔ | fjēː | tɛ́d | kwɛ̀ | tân | m̀fó | sàːmbjɛ̄ | fwɔ̌ː | kɔ̄ː | wūm |
Grassfields, Ring | Bamunka (1) | mɔ̌ʔ | buǔ | tiâ | kʷì | taâ | ntɨ̌ʔ | tə́kʷiǐtiâ (4 + 3) ? | fɔ̌ŋ | bɔ̀mɔ̂ʔ (10–1) ? | wûŋ |
Grassfields, Ring | Bamunka (2) | mɔʔ L | buː RF | tià F | kʷi L | ta F | ntʉ̀ʔ F | təkʷitia HHF (4 + 3) ? | fɔ̃ R | bɔmɔʔ R (10–1) ? | wũ L |
Grassfields, Ring | Wushi | mùɔ́ʔ | bā | tɨ́ə̀ʔ | tsə̀ | tɛ́ɛ̀ | ǹtùɔ́ʔ | tsə̀tɨ́ə̀ʔ (4 + 3) | fə́mə́ | bùfə̀mùɔ́ʔ (10–1) ? | vóó |
Grassfields, Ring, Center | Babanki (Kejom) | mùʔ | bò | táʔ | kàʔ | tàn | ǹtʉ̀fə́ | sòmbô | fwòmə́ | àbʉ̀múʔ (10–1) | wúm |
Grassfields, Ring, Center | Bum | mɔ̀k | bà | tât | kìk | tân | túfá | sàmbâ | fâmá | búlá mɔ̀k (10–1) | ìwûm |
Grassfields, Ring, Center | Kom | nòʔ | bò | tal | kàe / kæ̀ | tâyn | ntufa | nsòmbo / nsombô | nfama | bulamòʔ | ivɨm |
Grassfields, Ring, Center | Kuk | mɔ̀ʔ | bòː | tóː | kɪ̀ːkò | tâː | tóːfə́ | sōːmboː | fāːmə́ | buː́mɔ̀ʔ (? -1)? | íɣə̄m |
Grassfields, Ring, Center | Kung | mɔ̀ʔ | bə̀ː | tə́ː | kʲə̀kə̀ | tàʲ | tūːfə́ | sɛ̀ːⁿbɛː | fɛ̀ːmə́ | bólímɔ̀ʔ (? -1)? | ìɣə̄m |
Grassfields, Ring, Center | Mmen | mɔ̀ʔ | pɛ᷆ | tá | kjā | tâɲ | tūfɜ́ | sɛ̄mbɛ᷇ | fāmmɜ́ | pʊ̄lɜ̄mɔ̀ʔ (10–1) | ēɣə̆̀m |
Grassfields, Ring, Center | Oku | mɔɔ | baa | taa | kwɪʲ | tan | ntuufə | saamba | ɛfaamə | buumək | ɛvəm |
Grassfields, Ring, East | Lamnso' | mɔ̀ʔɔ́n | bàà | táár | kwɛ̀ɛ̀ | tàn | ntùùfú | sààmbà | wāāmɛ́ | bvə̀ʔə̀ | ɣwə̀m |
Grassfields, Ring, West | Aghem (1) | mɔ̀ʔ | bə̀ˠà | tə́ˠá | tʃʲàkò | tɛ̀ʲ | tǔ̞ː | sə̀ˠàⁿbə̄ˠā | ɪ́fǎː | tɛ̄ⁿdzū̞ˠū̞ | ɪ́ɣə̄m |
Grassfields, Ring, West | Aghem (2) | mɒ̀ʔ | bɨ̀ɣà | tɨ́ɣá | cìakɔ̀ | tɛ̀ | tǒo | sɨ̀ɣàmbɨ̀ɣà | ɛ́ʔfáa | tèndzùɣò | é-ʔɣɨ́m |
Grassfields, Ring, West | Isu | mɔ̀ʔ | bèː(bè) | tsíː | tʃàʔì | tàː | ntsìfɔ́ŋ | sèmbè | fáːmə́ | bùkə́ | ívə̄m |
Grassfields, Ring, West | Laimbue | mòʔ | bò | tó | kjə̀ʔ | táì | tɔ̀ɔ́ | sùmbô | ìfámá | bə́lə́mɔ̀ʔ | ɨɣɨ́m |
Grassfields, Ring, West | Weh | mó | bə̀ɣə́ | tə̀ɣə́ | kaikə́ | tá | tùbə́ | səɣ-mbə̀ɣ | ifám | tàndzú | iɣə́m |
Yemne-Kimbi | Ajumbu | mʷə̀ | fʲə̂ŋ | tò | ɲì | kpɛ̂ | kʲàtò | nàtò | nànà | kpɛ̂ɲì | kòɲ |
Yemne-Kimbi | Mundabli | m¹.mö³² | m¹.fɪe³² | n¹.tɔ³² | n¹.de² | kpɔn² | tʃi²ta² | nɔ¹³tɔ² | ne¹ne¹ | kpa²ne¹ | dzo²fɯ² |
Yemne-Kimbi | Mungbam (Abar) (1) | -m̩̀ / -mù | -fìn /-fá | -tì / -tēè | -ɲ̩̀ / -nì | kpáān / kpōa | lētɛ̀ / -lētè | -ɲ̩̀tɛ̄ / -ɲītɛ | -nə̀nè / -nə̄nè | kpánə̀ɲ̩̀ / kpānāɲì | dʒūhɛ́ / dʒóhó |
Yemne-Kimbi | Munbam (Munken) (2) | -mwə́nə̀ / -mù / – mù | -fè /-fō / -fé | -tɛ̄ / -tēa / -tè | -ɲə̄nə́ / -ɲì / -ɲì | kpòōnə́ / kpɛ̄n / kpààɲì | -lētɛ̀ / -létēa / -lētɛ̀ | -ɲītɛ̀ / -ɲītə̀ / -ɲītɛ̀ | -ɲīɲì ~ -ɲìɲì / --ɲìɲì / -ɲìɲì | kpɔ̄ndʒùɲì / -ɲìnkpɛ̄n | kwîn / kwîn / kwɔ̂n |
References
- McWhorter, J. 2001. The Power of Babel (p. 81-82). Freeman-Times-Henry Holt, New York.
- Williamson, Kay (1989) 'Niger–Congo Overview'. In: The Niger–Congo languages, ed. by John Bendor-Samuel, 3–45. University Press of America.
- Roger Blench. "Niger-Congo classification : Niger-Congo: an alternative view" (PDF). Rogerblench.info. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- Williamson, Kay & Blench, Roger (2000) 'Niger–Congo', in Heine, Bernd and Nurse, Derek (eds) African Languages – An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, pp. 11–42.
- Blench, Roger (2011). "'The membership and internal structure of Bantoid and the border with Bantu" (PDF). Berlin: Humboldt University. p. 17.
- Blench, Roger (2010). "The Tivoid Languages" (PDF). pp. 12, 15.
- Grollemund, Rebecca. 2012. Nouvelles approches en classification : Application aux langues bantu du Nord-Ouest. Ph.D Dissertation, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, 550 pp.
External links
- ComparaLex, database with Southern Bantoid word lists
Southern Bantoid or South Bantoid is a branch of the Bantoid language family It consists of the Bantu languages along with several small branches and isolates of eastern Nigeria and west central Cameroon though the affiliation of some branches is uncertain 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 Southern BantoidGeographic distributionSub Saharan Africa but not further west than NigeriaLinguistic classificationNiger Congo Atlantic CongoVolta CongoBenue CongoBantoidSouthern BantoidProto languageProto Southern BantoidSubdivisionsBendi Tivoid East Beboid Fang language Cameroon Buru Angwe Mamfe Nyang Furu Ekoid Mbe West Beboid Grassfields Bishuo Busuu BantuLanguage codesISO 639 3 Glottologsout3152The Southern Bantoid languages shown within the Niger Congo language family Non Southern Bantoid languages are greyscale HistoryThe Southern Bantoid branches of Nigeria and Cameroon 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 Narrow Bantu itself Internal classificationAccording to Williamson and Blench Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages Jarawan Tivoid Beboid Mamfe Nyang 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 ex Grassfields and East Beboid may form a group perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru Angwe Bendi Tivoid Beboid Tivoid Esimbi East Beboid Buru Angwe Menchum West Beboid geographic Furu Mamfe Ekoid Mbe Ekoid Mbe Grassfields Ring Eastern Grassfields Mbam Nkam Momo Ndemli Southwest Grassfields Western Momo Ambele Narrow Bantu Jarawan MbamGrollemund 2012 Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund 2012 Southern Bantoid NyangEkoidBeboidTivoidWide GrassfieldsA40 60 Jarawan A31 Mbam Jarawan Bube BantuNumeralsComparison of numerals in individual languages Classification Language 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Bantu Luganda emu bbiri ssatu nnya ttaano muukaga musanvu muunana mwenda kkumiNdemli Ndemli mɔ hɔ ifɛ itaa itʃije itaŋ toho saᵐba fɔ ːmɔ buʔɛ dʒomTikar Tikar mbɔʔ ɓi le ɲi ʃae ɸyulu ʃamɓi nini tae ni wumTivoid Esimbi 1 kene me rakpe make le mōɲi mate ne malale mate ne me rakpe 5 2 mōɲiōɲi 4 4 mate ne mōɲi 5 4 buɣuTivoid Esimbi 2 ɔ ne rakpe a kele oɲi a tene a lele a ten rakpe 5 2 o ɲi o ɲi 4 4 a ten o ɲi 5 4 buɣuTivoid Ipulo emɔ vial vetat veɲi vetan veɾatum veɾatum nɔ mɔ 6 1 viɲeɲi viɲeɲi nɔ mɔ 8 1 epɔ ːtTivoid Iyive mɔ m hjal tat ɲin taŋe n ke le ke tat ke le ke tat kat mɔ mu 6 1 kinikini taŋiɲin 5 4 puɛ Tivoid Tiv mɔ ḿ mɔ m uha r utaŕ unji uta ː aterataŕ uta ː kaː uha r 5 2 anieni uta ː kaː unji 5 4 pue puweGrassfields Menchum Befang moʔ mʊ ʔ fe tai ɪ kᶣa ɪ kɥa ɪ tʲe n ⁿdʊ fu ekᶣanatai 4 and 3 i e 4 3 efomo etʲe nekᶣa 5 4 eɣumGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Fe fe 1 ʃʉʔ pʉ ɒ taa kwɒ tii ntɔ hɔ se mbʉ ɒ he vʉ ʔʉ ɣǎmGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Fe fe 2 ŋʃʉʔ pʉ e taa kwa tii ntoɣo se mbʉ e he e vʉ ʔʉ ɣamGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Ghomala ye muʔ ye pwe ye ta yapfʉe ye tɔ ntɔ ke sɔmbwe e hɔ m vʉ ʔʉ ɣǎmGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Mengaka Megaka yimɔʔɔ mɔʔ yipa pa yitet tet nekʷɔ yitɛ ntɔ samba nehǎ nevoʔ neɣamGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Nda nda ŋtʃɔ ʔ pe ɣe te kwo tɔ to sombe ɣe xop vɨ ʔ ɣapGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Ngiemboon mmɔ ʼɔ m mɔ ʔɔ mbʉ a m bɯ a nta ǹ ta lekua lekuȁ ntʉ a ɳ ʈɯ a ntɔɡɔ ǹ tɔ ʁɔ sɔɔn mbʉ a sɔ ːm bɯ a lefɔ ɔn lefɔ ː lepfwɔʼɔ lepfwɔ ʔɔ leɡem leɣe m Grassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Ngomba yemoʔ yepa yetat yenekwa yeta yenentuku samba yenefom yenepfuʔu neɡʉ mGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Ngombale ta pwo tare kwo taa toɣe saabwo lefaa lepfuʔu leɡhamGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Ngwe mɔʔfi bie tat lɛkwe tɛ ntuli saambie lɛfɔ lɛʙe ʔa lɛ ɣɛ mGrassfields Mbam Nkam Bamileke Yemba Dschang wɔ mɔʔɔ me pia me tet lekwa meta ntukɔ esabia lefa levuʔɔ leɣɛ mGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Awing 1 mɔ pɛ tere ne kwa tene toɣe sambɛ ne feme ne puʔe ne ɣe me Grassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Awing 2 mɔh peːe teːre kwa taa ntuɡu saːmbe nɨfeːme nɨpueh nɨɡeːmeGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Bafut 1 mɔ ʔɔ baa tare kwaa ntaa ntoʔo samba fwame kwaliʔi nɨ buʔu tawum nɨ wumGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Bafut 2 mɔʔɔ baa tare kwa ǹtaa ntoʔo samba fwame kwalɛ ʔɛ taɡhumGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Bambili Bambui 1 mɔ ʔɔ be ɡe tye kya tɔ ɔ ntuu ʃamba nɨ fɔ ɔ nɨ bɛ ʔɛ nɨ ɣamGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Bambili Bambui 2 mɔʔɔ bɨɡe tye kɥa tɔː n tuː ʃamba nɨ fɔː nɨ bɛʔɛ nɨ ɣamGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Bamukumbit m mɔʔɔ or tɑʔ bɛ bɨbɛ mɨmbɛ tɑrɨ bɨ tɑː ɾe mɨntɑrɨ nɨkwɑ bɨnɨkwɑ mɨnkwɑ jitɑ bɨtɑ mɨntɑ jintoʔ bɨntoʔ mɨntoʔ ʃɑmbɛ bɨʃɑmbɛ mɨʃɑmbɛ nɨfɔ bɨnɨfɔ mɨnɨfɔ nɨ buʔ bɨnɨbuʔ mɨnɨbuʔ nɨwũGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Mendankwe Nkwen mɔ h beɡe tarɔ kua tan ntɔ samba nefah nebuɔ h neɣemGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Mbekum Mankon 1 mɔ ʔɔ ba tare kwa tane ntuɣu samba nɨ fame nɨ buʔu nɨ ɣɨ mGrassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Ngemba Mankon 2 mɔ ʔɔ bǎ tare kwa taŋ ntuɡhe sambǎ nɨ fe ŋ nɨ bvuʔe nɨ wume Grassfields Mbam Nkam Ngemba Pinyin mɔ ʔɔ paa taɾe kwa tane ǹto samba ne fame ne puʔe ne wume Grassfields Mbam Nkam Nkambe Kwaja mũũ baa ta kɥ tɔ tɔ fũ se mba wɔ ŋkxɨt be ʁet wem Grassfields Mbam Nkam Nkambe Limbum 1 mɔ ʔsiɾ baː taːɾ kjeː ta ntuːnfu saːmba waːmi bɨ ʔɨ bɨ ɾɨ ɾɨGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nkambe Limbum 2 moʔsir baa taar kyee ta ntuunfu saamba waame bʉ ʔʉ rʉ ʉGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nkambe Mfumte Koffa miʔinci bʉ a to kwee toŋ ntunfuu sɔ mbaa waami buum huʔumGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nkambe Yamba moʔfis ba tɛʔ kwe taŋ ntuuŋfu samba fwamɛʔ ve kɛʔ humGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Baba1 Papia 1 mɔ ʔ mba nti kua te ntioʔo kpataɾ fome ʃipo koɣemGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Baba Papia 2 jimaa jimɔ jipaa ji mba ji tara ji ntii ji kwa kpa ji te ntuwo tuʔo kwatar kpataɾ fome tʃipoo ʃipɔ koɣem ɣemGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Bafanji jimuʔu muʔu tiʔae jipɑɑ piae jitii tii jikwe kwe jintɑ ĩ tɑ ĩ jintou ntou jikwaetae kwaetae jifũɔ fũɔ jipuʔu puʔu jiɣwũ ɣwũ Grassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Bamali Papia mʷeʔe pɛt tɛt kʷa ta ntɔ kʷatʃo nefɔː nepuʔu neɣuGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Bambalang tɛʔi paa tɾe kʰwɛ tiɛ ntiɡaw kwatʃeɨ fuo ndipoʔu wuŋGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Bamun Shupamen 1 moʔ mbaa tɛ t pka tɛ n ntu samba fame kovyʔ ɣe mGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Bamun Bamum 2 imoʔ ipaa itɛt ipkwa itɛ n ituu isamba ifame ivʉ ʔʉ ɣomGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Bangolan mɔ mbǎ tet kpa tije ǹtuhu kpate t fo tʃɛ ŋɔ ʔɔ vwoGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Medumba ntʃɯ ʔ bɔ t at kwa t an ndɔ ɣe sambɔ fume bwe ʔe ɣamGrassfields Mbam Nkam Nun Mungaka Bali ɲin ibaa itɛ t ikwa itan intwuʔ kwatat ifum sʉibɔ m ɣom wɔmGrassfields Momo Moghamo imɔ ʔ ibe itad ikwe ita tifoɣe sambe fami abōɡ iɣumGrassfields Momo Mundani yea mɔʔ bebe betat bekpi beta a bentua besa a mbe befa a bebe ʔa eɣɛmGrassfields Momo Ngamambo 1 mɔ ʔ be tad kwe tan rɨ fuɣɔ rʌ fuɣɔ sambe faam bɔ ɔk ɣumGrassfields Momo Ngamambo 2 mɔ ʔ be tɑ t kwe tɑ n rɨ fuɣe sɑ mbe fɑ m e bɔ k wumGrassfields Momo Ngie 1 ifiŋ ibǐɡe ita ikjuɡe itɨŋ ifew isambiɡe ifɨŋi abew iwumGrassfields Momo Ngie 2 ifiŋ ibǐɡ ita ikɥǐɡ itʉ ŋ ifœ isambǐɡ ifɔ ŋ abœ iwumGrassfields Momo Ngwo ŋwaʔ fjeː tɛ d kwɛ tan m fo saːmbjɛ fwɔ ː kɔ ː wumGrassfields Ring Bamunka 1 mɔ ʔ buǔ tia kʷi taa ntɨ ʔ te kʷiǐtia 4 3 fɔ ŋ bɔ mɔ ʔ 10 1 wuŋGrassfields Ring Bamunka 2 mɔʔ L buː RF tia F kʷi L ta F ntʉ ʔ F tekʷitia HHF 4 3 fɔ R bɔmɔʔ R 10 1 wũ LGrassfields Ring Wushi muɔ ʔ ba tɨ e ʔ tse tɛ ɛ ǹtuɔ ʔ tse tɨ e ʔ 4 3 fe me bufe muɔ ʔ 10 1 vooGrassfields Ring Center Babanki Kejom muʔ bo taʔ kaʔ tan ǹtʉ fe sombo fwome abʉ muʔ 10 1 wumGrassfields Ring Center Bum mɔ k ba tat kik tan tufa samba fama bula mɔ k 10 1 iwumGrassfields Ring Center Kom noʔ bo tal kae kae tayn ntufa nsombo nsombo nfama bulamoʔ ivɨmGrassfields Ring Center Kuk mɔ ʔ boː toː kɪ ːko taː toːfe sōːmbo ː faːme buː mɔ ʔ 1 iɣe mGrassfields Ring Center Kung mɔ ʔ be ː te ː kʲe ke taʲ tuːfe sɛ ːⁿbɛ ː fɛ ːme bolimɔ ʔ 1 iɣe mGrassfields Ring Center Mmen mɔ ʔ pɛ ta kja taɲ tufɜ sɛ mbɛ fammɜ pʊ lɜ mɔ ʔ 10 1 eɣe mGrassfields Ring Center Oku mɔɔ baa taa kwɪʲ tan ntuufe saamba ɛfaame buumek ɛvemGrassfields Ring East Lamnso mɔ ʔɔ n baa taar kwɛ ɛ tan ntuufu saamba waamɛ bve ʔe ɣwe mGrassfields Ring West Aghem 1 mɔ ʔ be ˠa te ˠa tʃʲako tɛ ʲ tǔ ː se ˠaⁿbe ˠa ɪ fǎː tɛ ⁿdzu ˠu ɪ ɣe mGrassfields Ring West Aghem 2 mɒ ʔ bɨ ɣa tɨ ɣa ciakɔ tɛ tǒo sɨ ɣambɨ ɣa ɛ ʔfaa tendzuɣo e ʔɣɨ mGrassfields Ring West Isu mɔ ʔ beː be tsiː tʃaʔi taː ntsifɔ ŋ sembe faːme buke ive mGrassfields Ring West Laimbue moʔ bo to kje ʔ tai tɔ ɔ sumbo ifama be le mɔ ʔ ɨɣɨ mGrassfields Ring West Weh mo be ɣe te ɣe kaike ta tube seɣ mbe ɣ ifam tandzu iɣe mYemne Kimbi Ajumbu mʷe fʲe ŋ to ɲi kpɛ kʲato nato nana kpɛ ɲi koɲYemne Kimbi Mundabli m mo m fɪe n tɔ n de kpɔn tʃi ta nɔ tɔ ne ne kpa ne dzo fɯ Yemne Kimbi Mungbam Abar 1 m mu fin fa ti tee ɲ ni kpaan kpōa letɛ lete ɲ tɛ ɲitɛ ne ne ne ne kpane ɲ kpanaɲi dʒuhɛ dʒohoYemne Kimbi Munbam Munken 2 mwe ne mu mu fe fō fe tɛ tea te ɲe ne ɲi ɲi kpoōne kpɛ n kpaaɲi letɛ letea letɛ ɲitɛ ɲite ɲitɛ ɲiɲi ɲiɲi ɲiɲi ɲiɲi kpɔ ndʒuɲi ɲinkpɛ n kwin kwin kwɔ nReferencesMcWhorter J 2001 The Power of Babel p 81 82 Freeman Times Henry Holt New York Williamson Kay 1989 Niger Congo Overview In The Niger Congo languages ed by John Bendor Samuel 3 45 University Press of America Roger Blench Niger Congo classification Niger Congo an alternative view PDF Rogerblench info Retrieved 2017 07 07 Williamson Kay amp Blench Roger 2000 Niger Congo in Heine Bernd and Nurse Derek eds African Languages An Introduction Cambridge Cambridge University press pp 11 42 Blench Roger 2011 The membership and internal structure of Bantoid and the border with Bantu PDF Berlin Humboldt University p 17 Blench Roger 2010 The Tivoid Languages PDF pp 12 15 Grollemund Rebecca 2012 Nouvelles approches en classification Application aux langues bantu du Nord Ouest Ph D Dissertation Universite Lumiere Lyon 2 Lyon 550 pp External linksComparaLex database with Southern Bantoid word lists