Ukaan language
{{Short description|Proposed Branch of the Volta-Niger Languages}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Ukaan
|states=Nigeria
|region=Ondo State, Ekiti State, Kogi State
|speakers=18,000
|date=1973
|ref=e18
|familycolor=Niger-Congo
|fam2=Atlantic–Congo
|fam3=Benue–Congo ?
|dia1=Ukaan proper
|dia2=Igau
|dia3=Ayegbe (Iisheu)
|dia4=Iinno (Iyinno)
|iso3=kcf
|glotto=ukaa1243
|glottorefname=Ukaan
}}
Ukaan (also Ikan, Anyaran, Auga, or Kakumo) is a poorly described Niger–Congo language or dialect cluster of uncertain affiliation.{{cite book
| title = Ethnologue: Languages of the World
| entry = Ukaan
| entry-url = http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=kcf
| entry-url-access = limited
| access-date = 2 August 2022
| editor-last1 = Eberhard |editor-first1 = David M.
| editor-last2 = Simons | editor-first2 = Gary F.
| editor-last3 = Fennig | editor-first3 = Charles D.
| date = 2022
| edition = 25th
| version = Online version
| location = Dallas, Texas
| publisher = SIL International}}{{cite web
| title = HRELP – Projects
| url = http://www.hrelp.org/grants/projects/index.php?projid=93
| access-date = 2009-04-03}}
Roger Blench suspects, based on wordlists, that it might be closest to the (East) Benue–Congo languages (or, equivalently, the most divergent of the Benue–Congo languages). Blench (2012) states that "noun-classes and concord make it look Benue-Congo, but evidence is weak."Roger Blench, [http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/General/Niger-Congo%20an%20alternative%20view.pdf Niger-Congo: an alternative view]
Varieties
The name Anyaran is from the town of Anyaran, where it is spoken. Ukaan has several divergent dialects: Ukaan proper, Igau, Ayegbe (Iisheu), Iinno (Iyinno), which only have one-way intelligibility in some cases.
Roger Blench (2005, 2019)Blench, Roger. 2005. The Ukaan language: Bantu in south-western Nigeria? considers Ukaan to consist of at least 3 different languages, and notes that Ukaan varieties spoken in Ìshè,̣ Ẹkakumọ, and Auga all have different lexemes.{{Cite book|title=An Atlas of Nigerian Languages|last=Blench|first=Roger|publisher=Kay Williamson Educational Foundation|year=2019|edition=4th|location=Cambridge}}
Salffner (2009: 27)Salffner, Sophie. 2009. Tone in the phonology, lexicon and grammar of Ikaan. Doctoral dissertation, University of London. lists the following four dialects of Ukaan.
- Ikaan: spoken in Ikakumo (Edo State)
- Ayegbe: spoken in Ise
- Iigau or Iigao: spoken in Auga
- Iino: spoken in Ayanran
Distribution
Ethnologue lists the following locations where Ukaan is spoken.
- Ondo State: Akoko North-East LGA
- Edo State: Akoko Edo LGA
- Kogi State: Ijumu LGA
Blench (2019) lists Ondo State, Akoko North LGA, towns of Kakumo–Aworo (Kakumo–Kejĩ, Auga and Iṣe); Edo State, Akoko Edo LGA, towns of Kakumo–Akoko and Anyaran.
Reconstruction
Proto-Ukaan has been reconstructed by Abiodun (1999).Abiodun, Michael Ajibola. 1999. A comparative phonology and morphology of Ukaan dialects of Old Akoko division. Doctoral dissertation. University of Ilorin.
See also
- List of Proto-Ukaan reconstructions (Wiktionary)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- ELAR archive of [http://elar.soas.ac.uk/deposit/0259 Farming, food and yam: language and cultural practices among Ikaan speakers]
- [http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/VN/Ukaan/Ukaan%20page.htm Roger Blench: Aika (Ukaan) materials]
{{Languages of Nigeria}}
{{Niger-Congo branches}}