Northwest Kainji languages explained

Northwest Kainji
Also Known As:	Lela, Duka
Region:	Nigeria
Familycolor:	Niger-Congo
Fam2:	Atlantic–Congo
Fam3:	Benue–Congo
Fam4:	Kainji
Glotto:	duka1247
Glottorefname:	Northwestern Kainji

The six Northwest Kainji languages, also known as the Lela languages or the Duka languages, are spoken near Kainji Lake on the Niger River in Nigeria. They are distinguishable from other Kainji languages by the reduction of their noun-class prefixes to single consonants.^[1]

Classification

Blench (2018)

Northwest Kainji classification by Blench (2018):^[2]

• Northwest Kainji
  • ? Damakawa
    • • • cLela
    • Hun-Saare
    • Ma'in, Wurə-Gwamhyə-Mba

The position of Damakawa is uncertain.

Blench (2010)

In Blench (2010), Lela (C'lela and Ribah) is divergent from the other languages, though poorly attested Damakawa has similarities.^[1]

• Northwest Kainji
  • Lela (C'lela), ? Damakawa
    • • • Gwamhi-Wuri
    • ut-Ma'in (Fakai), Hun-Saare (Duka)

Notes and References

1. Roger Blench, 2010, The Northwest Kainji languages
2. Blench, Roger M. 2018. Nominal affixing in the Kainji languages of northwestern and central Nigeria. In John R. Watters (ed.), East Benue-Congo: Nouns, pronouns, and verbs, 59–106. Berlin: Language Science Press.