Alumic languages

{{Infobox language family

|name=Alumic

|region=Nigeria

|familycolor=Niger-Congo

|fam2=Atlantic–Congo

|fam3=Benue–Congo

|fam4=Plateau

|glotto=alum1250

|glottorefname=Alumu–Toro

}}

The four scattered and poorly attested Alumic languages form a branch of the Plateau languages of central Nigeria.

Classification

The following classification is taken from Blench (2008). The languages are not closely related and are morphologically quite diverse due to different contact situations; given the poor state of their description, their relationship is provisional.

{{clade

|label1=Alumic

|1={{clade

|label1=Alumu-Toro

|1={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Alumu-Tesu

|2=Akpondu

}}

|2=Toro (Turkwam)

}}

|label2=Hasha-Sambe

|2={{clade

|1=Sambe

|2=Hasha (Yashi)

}}

}}

}}

Ethnologue scatters these languages throughout Plateau: Hasha and Sambe with Eggon (Southern branch), and Alumu–Tesu and Toro as two independent branches.

Blench (2019) also includes Nigbo (extinct).

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).{{Cite book|title=An Atlas of Nigerian Languages|last=Blench|first=Roger|publisher=Kay Williamson Educational Foundation|year=2019|edition=4th|location=Cambridge}}

class="wikitable sortable" | style="font-size: 85%;" |

! Language !! Cluster !! Alternate spellings !! Own name for language !! Endonym(s) !! Other names (location-based) !! Speakers !! Location(s)

Akpondu (extinct)Akpondu1 (2005). The last speaker was only a remember and can only recall fragmentary vocabularyPlateau State
SambeSambeSambe2 (2005)Kaduna State
Alumu-Tәsu clusterAlumu-TәsuArum–ChessuNasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
AlumuAlumu-TәsuArumAlumuSeven villages. ca. 5000 (Blench 1999)
TәsuAlumu-TәsuChessuTwo villages. ca. 1000 (Blench 1999)
HashaIyashi, Yashi400 (SIL); 3000 (Blench est. 1999)Nasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
ToroTɔrɔTurkwam6,000 (1973 SIL). 2000 (Blench 1999). The Toro people live in one large village, Turkwam, some two km. southeast of Kanja on the Wamba-Fadan Karshi roadNasarawa State, Akwanga LGA
Nigbo (extinct)near Agameti on the Fadan Karshi-Wamba road.

References

{{Reflist}}

  • Blench (2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20140407193342/http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/BC/Plateau/General/Prospecting%20proto-Plateau%20Unicode.pdf Prospecting proto-Plateau]. Manuscript.