U̠t-Ma'in language explained

Ut Main
States:Nigeria
Region:Kebbi State, Niger State, Sokoto State, Zamfara State
Speakers:36,000
Date:1992
Ref:e18
Familycolor:Niger-Congo
Fam2:Atlantic–Congo
Fam3:Benue–Congo
Fam4:Kainji
Fam5:Northwest Kainji
Iso3:gel
Glotto:kagf1238
Glottorefname:Ut-Main

u̠t-Ma'in or Fakai is a Northwest Kainji dialect continuum spoken by 36,000 people in Nigeria. (The letter (IPA|u̠) is pronounced as //ə//.) There are numerous rather divergent dialects:

Names

Names for the u̠t-Ma'in peoples and languages from Blench (2012):[1]

Hausa name c-Lela name People Language
Fakkawa Pək-nu Kag-ne ǝt-Kag
Fakkawa Pək-nu əs-Us ǝt-Us
Gelawa Geeri-ni a-Jiir ǝt-Jiir
Zuksun Wipsi-ni a-Zuksun ǝt-Zuksun
Kukumawa Wipsi-ni əs-Fer ǝt-Fer
Kelawa Keri-ni Kər-ni ǝt-Kər
Tuduwa ǝd-Gwan a-Ror ǝt-ma-Ror
Kuluwa ? a-Koor ǝt-ma-Koor

Geographic distribution

The Ut-Ma'in language is spoken mainly in Kebbi State (especially Fakai) and Sokoto State (Kebbe) but also in Niger State (Kontagora) and Zamfara State.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blench. Roger. The Kainji languages of northwestern and central Nigeria. Kay Williamson Educational Foundation. 2012. Cambridge.