Lopa | |
Nativename: | Rerang |
States: | Nigeria |
Region: | Niger State |
Speakers: | 5,000 |
Date: | 1996 |
Ref: | e18 |
Familycolor: | Niger-Congo |
Fam2: | Atlantic–Congo |
Fam3: | Benue–Congo |
Fam4: | Kainji |
Fam5: | Kainji Lake? |
Dia1: | Ollop |
Dia2: | Urcibar (Shuba) |
Iso3: | lop |
Glotto: | lopa1238 |
Glottorefname: | Lopa |
Lopa consists of a pair of minor Kainji languages of Nigeria. The Lopa people neighbouring the Busa language have shifted to that language.
The two languages are Rop (Ollop) and Urcibar (Shuba). Additionally, there is a native name for both dialects as a whole: Rerang, which is unusual in West Kainji languages.[1]
Blench (2019) lists Tsupamini as a related variety.[2]
McGill (2012) also gives the alternate name Oleran for Lopa.[3]
The name Lopa likely comes from the name lópár (Lapar), which refers to both the Rop and the Shuba. Cover terms referring to both Urcibar and Ollop speakers are [dɔ̀ɾìɾáŋ̃ ] (one person), [òːɾìɾáŋ̃ ] (many people), and the language [òlːèɾáŋ̃].