Today, Tula–Waja languages is a topic that has acquired great relevance in various areas of society. From politics to popular culture, Tula–Waja languages has become a constant point of discussion and a source of inspiration for many people. Over time, Tula–Waja languages has grown in importance and has had a significant impact on the way people interact with each other. This article aims to explore in detail the impact of Tula–Waja languages on today's society and examine how it has evolved over time. Likewise, the different perspectives and opinions that exist around Tula–Waja languages will be analyzed, with the aim of providing a comprehensive vision of this very relevant topic.
| Tula–Waja | |
|---|---|
| Tula–Wiyaa | |
| Geographic distribution | northeastern Nigeria |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo?
|
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | tula1250 |
The Tula–Waja, or Tula–Wiyaa languages are a branch of the provisional Savanna languages, closest to Kam (Nyingwom), spoken in northeastern Nigeria. They are spoken primarily in southeastern Gombe State and other neighbouring states.
They were labeled "G1" in Joseph Greenberg's Adamawa language-family proposal and later placed in a Waja–Jen branch of that family.
Guldemann (2018) observes significant internal lexical diversity within Tula-Waja, partly as a result of word tabooing accelerating lexical change.[1] Although noun classes have been lost in Dadiya, Maa, and Yebu, Waja and Tula retain complex noun class systems.[2] Kleinewillinghöfer (1996) also observes many morphological similarities between the Tula–Waja and Central Gur languages,[3] a view shared by Bennett (1983) and Bennett & Sterk (1977).[4][5]
Ulrich Kleinewillinghöfer (2014), in the Adamawa Languages Project website, classifies the Tula–Waja languages as follows. Kleinewillinghöfer considers Tso and Cham to be branches that had diverged earlier. Waja is considered by Kleinewillinghöfer to be a distinct branch, although its exact position within Tula-Waja remains uncertain.[2]
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[6]
| Language | Dialects | Alternate spellings | Own name for language | Endonym(s) | Other names (location-based) | Other names for language | Exonym(s) | Speakers | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dijim–Bwilim | 7,545 (1968). ca. 20 villages | Gombe State, Balanga LGA, Adamawa State, Lamurde LGA | |||||||
| Dijim | Dijim | sg Níi Dìjí pl. Dìjím | Cham, Cam, Kindiyo, | ||||||
| Bwilim | Bwilə́m | sg Níi Bwilí pl. Bwilə́m | Mwana, Mwona , Fitilai | 4,282 | |||||
| Dadiya | Nda Dia, Dadia | Bwe Daddiya pl. Daddiyab | Nyíyò Daddiya | 3,986 (1961), 20,000 (1992 est.). | Gombe State, Balanga LGA, Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA and Adamawa State, Lamurde LGA. Between Dadiya and Bambam. | ||||
| Ma | Ma sg. nụbá Ma pl. | nyii Ma | Kamo, Kamu | 3000 (SIL) | Gombe State, Kaltungo and Akko LGAs | ||||
| Tsobo | Bәrbou, Guzubo, Swabou | Cibbo | Tsóbó | nyi Tsó | Lotsu–Piri, Pire, Fire | Kitta | 2,000 (1952) | Gombe State, Kaltungo LGA, Adamawa State, Numan LGA | |
| Tula | Baule, Wangke , Yiri | Ture | yii Kitule | Naba Kitule pl. Kitule | 19,209 (1952 W&B); 12,204 (1961–2 Jungraithmayr); 19,000 (1973 SIL). ca. 50 villages ?100,000 est. | Gombe State, Kaltungo LGA. Tula is 30 km. east of Billiri. | |||
| Wiyaa | Plain and Hills | Wagga | Nyan Wịyáù | Wịyáà | Waja | 19,700 (1952 W&B); 50,000 (1992 est.) | Gombe State, Balanga and Kaltungo LGAs, Waja district. Taraba State, Bali LGA. | ||
| Bangjinge | Nabang, Kaloh | Bangunji, Bangunje, Bangwinji | Báŋjìŋè sg. Báŋjìŋèb pl. | nyii Bánjòŋ | 8000 CAPRO (1995a).[7] 25 villages (2008) | Gombe State, Shongom LGA | |||
| Yebu | Yěbù | Nìín Yěbù | Awok | 2,035 (1962) | Gombe State, Kaltungo LGA: 10 km northeast of Kaltungo |
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