The Kambari languages

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The Kambari are perhaps the largest of the Kainji subgroups, numerically. Their languages have been studied more extensively than others in the group although much research has never been completely published. Kambari (Kamberi, Cumbri etc.) is an outsiders’ name, but since there is no overall name for the group it is retained here. Present studies suggest that Kambari has two major divisions, usually referred to as Kambari I and II. These crudely correspond to east and west, but in some regions the two are territorially intertwined (Blench 1982).

 

Table 1 shows the common names of the various Kambari sub-groups and the correct names of the people and language. The initial consonant of the root is marked with upper case.

 

Table 1. The Kambari languages

Usual Name

Other Names

One person

People

 Language

Kambari I

 

 

 

 

Agadi

Kakihum

 

aGaɗi

tsiGaɗi

Abadi, Evadi

Ibeto

 

aVaɗi

tsiVaɗi

Bangawa

 

vuBaangi

aBaangi

ciBaangi

 

Salka

sShíngíní or

məShíngíní

əShingini

ciShingini

Kambari II

 

 

 

 

Agaushi

Auna, Wara

 

aGaushi

tsiGaushi

Kimba

 

 

aKimba

Tsɨkimba

Ngwunci

Agwara

maWunci

ŋWənci

tsuWənci

 

 

 

 

 

Cicipu

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1 gives a tentative subclassification of the Kambari cluster;

 

Figure 1. Subclassification of the Kambari languages

 

 

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