Obanliku language

{{Short description|Bendi language of Nigeria}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Obanliku

| altname = Banliku

|states=Nigeria

|speakers=65,000

|date=1989

|ref = e25

|familycolor=Niger-Congo

|fam2=Atlantic–Congo

|fam3=Benue–Congo

|fam4=Southern Bantoid?

|fam5=Bendi

| dia1 = Basang

| dia2 = Bebi

| dia3 = Bishiri

| dia4 = Bisu

| dia5 = Busi

|iso3=bzy

|glotto=oban1244

|glottorefname=Obanliku

}}

Obanliku (Banliku, Abanliku) is a Bendi language of Nigeria. There are five dialects or varieties: Bisu, Busi, Bishiri, Basang and Bebi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788|title=Summary Report of a Sociolinguistic Survey of the Obanliku Speech Varieties of Cross River State, Nigeria An Abridged Version of a Full Report (PDF Download Available)|date=2011|website=ResearchGate|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801035716/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788_Summary_Report_of_a_Sociolinguistic_Survey_of_the_Obanliku_Speech_Varieties_of_Cross_River_State_Nigeria_An_Abridged_Version_of_a_Full_Report|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=|access-date=2017-07-31}}

In a 2011 survey, it was found that the Bisu, Busi, Bishiri and Bebi dialects share above 75% lexical similarity and are mutually intelligible, but the southwestern Basang dialect had less than 75%, causing some difficulty for speakers of the other dialects.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788|title=Summary Report of a Sociolinguistic Survey of the Obanliku Speech Varieties of Cross River State, Nigeria An Abridged Version of a Full Report (PDF Download Available)|date=2011|website=ResearchGate|page=3|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801035716/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788_Summary_Report_of_a_Sociolinguistic_Survey_of_the_Obanliku_Speech_Varieties_of_Cross_River_State_Nigeria_An_Abridged_Version_of_a_Full_Report|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=|access-date=2017-08-01}} Basang speakers could understand the other dialects, however.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788|title=Summary Report of a Sociolinguistic Survey of the Obanliku Speech Varieties of Cross River State, Nigeria An Abridged Version of a Full Report (PDF Download Available)|date=2011|website=ResearchGate|page=7|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801035716/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788_Summary_Report_of_a_Sociolinguistic_Survey_of_the_Obanliku_Speech_Varieties_of_Cross_River_State_Nigeria_An_Abridged_Version_of_a_Full_Report|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=|access-date=2017-08-01}} Additionally, all Obanliku speakers have some understanding of the neighbouring Bete-Bendi language, mainly through learning it at the market;{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788|title=Summary Report of a Sociolinguistic Survey of the Obanliku Speech Varieties of Cross River State, Nigeria An Abridged Version of a Full Report (PDF Download Available)|date=2011|website=ResearchGate|page=9|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801035716/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281278788_Summary_Report_of_a_Sociolinguistic_Survey_of_the_Obanliku_Speech_Varieties_of_Cross_River_State_Nigeria_An_Abridged_Version_of_a_Full_Report|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=|access-date=2017-08-01}} the Obanliku and Bete-Bendi languages also had an average of 70% lexical similarity.