| Bole–Tangale | |
| Also Known As: | A.2 West Chadic |
| Region: | Bauchi, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Borno states of Nigeria |
| Familycolor: | Afro-Asiatic |
| Fam2: | Chadic |
| Fam3: | West Chadic |
| Glotto: | west2715 |
| Glottorefname: | West Chadic A.2 |
| Map: | West Chadic Languages.jpg |
| Mapcaption: | West Chadic per Newman (1977) |
The Bole–Tangale languages (also known as the A.2 West Chadic languages) are a branch of West Chadic languages that are spoken in various states of northeastern Nigeria.
The Bole–Tangale languages are:[1]
Karekare is the most divergent language within the Bole branch, while Dera is the most divergent language within the Tangale branch.[2]
Below is a comprehensive list of Bole–Tangale language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]
| Language | Cluster | Dialects | Alternate spellings | Own name for language | Endonym(s) | Other names (location-based) | Other names for language | Exonym(s) | Speakers | Location(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daza | a few villages (Note: No data available) | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA | |||||||||
| Bara, Fika (Fiyankayen, Anpika) | Bòò Pìkkà, Bopika | Am Pìkkà, Ampika | Fika, Piika | Bolanci | Anika, Bolewa | 32,000 (1952 W&B); est. >100,000 (1990) | Bauchi State, Dukku, Alkaleri, and Darazo LGAs; Borno State, Fika LGA | ||||
| BuBure | Bure | Bure | A single village southeast of Darazo town | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA | |||||||
| Bele | Àɓéelé | bòhé áɓéelé sg., Àɓéelé pl. | Bellawa | 120 (Temple 1922); a few villages | Bauchi State | ||||||
| 9,900 (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA; 45 km northeast of Bauchi town | ||||||||||
| Galembi, Galambe | Galambu | Galambu | 8505 (Temple 1922); 2020 (Meek 1925); 1000 (SIL) | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA, at least 15 villages | |||||||
| Shani, Shellen and Gasi | Bo Dera | na Dera sg., Dera pl. | Kanakuru | 11,300 (W&B) | Adamawa State, Shellen LGA; Borno State, Shani LGA | ||||||
| Fyandigere | sg. laa Fyandigeri, pl. Fyandigeri | Gerawa, Gere, Gera | 13,300 (LA 1971); at least 30 villages. Many Gera villages no longer speak the language. A 2018 survey suggested there are only 4 villages where the language is being passed on to children. | Bauchi State, Bauchi and Darazo LGAs | |||||||
| Sum, Duurum, possibly Gamsawa/Gamshi (Temple) | Gerema, Germa | Geerum (Duurum dialect); Gyeermu (Sum dialect) | Geerum (Duurum dialect); sg. na Gyeermu, pl. Gyeermu (Sum dial.) | 4,700 (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Toro and Darazo LGAs. At least 10 villages | ||||||
| Kirifi | Bu Giiwo | sg. Ba Giiwo, pl. Ma Giiwo | 3,620 (1922 Temple); 14,000 (SIL) | Bauchi State, Alkaleri, Bauchi and Darazo LGAs, 24 villages | |||||||
| Western Jalalum, northern Pakaro and eastern Ngwajum | Kәrekәre, Kerekere, Karaikarai, Kerikeri | 39,000 (1952 W&B) | Bauchi State, Gamawa and Misau LGAs; Yobe State, Fika LGA | ||||||||
| Kode, Koode, Kwoode,Widala, Pia, Wurkum, Pitiko | 2,500 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin) | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, near Didango | |||||||||
| Kuba | 1,090 (1922 Temple); 500 (1973 SIL) | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, 40 km. N.E. of Bauchi town | |||||||||
| Kulung (speakers consider themselves Kulung i.e. Jarawan Bantu, although their language is Chadic and related to Piya) | Wurkum | 2000? | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA | ||||||||
| Kupto | Kúttò | Kúttò | Two villages. 3000 (1990 est.) | Bauchi State, Bajoga LGA, Yobe State, Gujba LGA | |||||||
| Two dialects; Maaka (at Gulani) and Maha (at Vara) | Magha, Maga, Maha | More than 4,000 (1990) | Yobe State, Gujba LGA. Gulani and Bara towns and associated hamlets. Northeast of Dadin Kowa Reservoir. | ||||||||
| Gamo | 17,800 (1952 W&B) | Borno State, Fika LGA; Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, Darazo district and Dukku LGA, Nafada district | |||||||||
| Dialects associated with three major settlements | Walo | Péerò | sg. Péerò, pl. Pìpéerò | Filiya [town name] | 6,664 (1925 Meek); 20,000 (1973 SIL) | Gombe State, Shongom LGA, around Filiya. 3 main villages: Gwandum, Gundale and Filiya. | |||||
| Piya–Kwonci cluster | Piya–Kwonci | Pia | Wurkum, Pitiko | 2,500 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin) | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, near Didango | ||||||
| Piya–Kwonci | Pia | Wurkum | |||||||||
| Piya–Kwonci | Kunshenu | More than 4000 (1990) | |||||||||
| Fo Goji | Nya Goji pl. Memme Goji | Kushe, Kushi | Chong'e | 4000 (1973 SIL); 5000 (1990). ca. 20 villages (2007) | Gombe State, Shongom LGA | ||||||
| Kafarati, Ɗolli | Kwami, Kwom | Kwáámì | Kwáámì | Komawa | 10,000 (1990) | Bauchi State, Kwami LGA | |||||
| Nyambolo | A single village | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, at Andami village | |||||||||
| Ture, Kaltungo, Shongom, Billiri | Tangle | Táŋlɛ̀ | Billiri | 36,000 (1952 W&B); 100,000 (1973 SIL) | Gombe State, Kaltungo, Alkaleri and Akko LGAs |