| Southern Bantoid | |
| Region: | Sub-Saharan Africa, but not further west than Nigeria |
| Familycolor: | Niger-Congo |
| Fam2: | Atlantic–Congo |
| Fam3: | Volta–Congo |
| Fam4: | Benue–Congo |
| Fam5: | Bantoid |
| Protoname: | Proto-Southern Bantoid |
| Child1: | Bendi |
| Child2: | Tivoid |
| Child3: | East Beboid |
| Child4: | Fang language (Cameroon) |
| Child5: | Buru–Angwe |
| Child6: | Mamfe (Nyang) |
| Child7: | Furu |
| Child8: | Ekoid–Mbe |
| Child9: | West Beboid ? |
| Child10: | Grassfields |
| Child11: | Bishuo |
| Child12: | Busuu |
| Child13: | Bantu |
| Glotto: | sout3152 |
| Glottorefname: | Southern Bantoid |
| Mapcaption: | The Southern Bantoid languages shown within the Niger–Congo language family. Non-Southern Bantoid languages are greyscale. |
Southern Bantoid (or South Bantoid) is a branch of the Bantoid language family. It consists of the Bantu languages along with several small branches and isolates of eastern Nigeria and west-central Cameroon (though the affiliation of some branches is uncertain). Since the Bantu languages are spoken across most of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Bantoid comprises 643 languages as counted by Ethnologue, though many of these are mutually intelligible.[1]
Southern Bantoid was first introduced by Williamson in a proposal that divided Bantoid into North and South branches.[2]
The unity of the North Bantoid group was subsequently called into question, and Bantoid itself may be polyphyletic, but the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit, something that has not happened for (Narrow) Bantu itself.[3]
According to Williamson and Blench, Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages, Jarawan, Tivoid, Beboid, Mamfe (Nyang), Grassfields and Ekoid families.[4] The Bendi languages are of uncertain classification; they have traditionally been classified with Cross River, but they may actually be Southern Bantoid.[5] Blench suggests that Tivoid, Momo (ex-Grassfields) and East Beboid may form a group, perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru–Angwe:[6]
Ring, Eastern Grassfields (Mbam–Nkam), Momo, ? Ndemli, Southwest Grassfields (Western Momo), ? Ambele
Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund (2012):[7]
Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
| Classification | Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bantu | Luganda | emu | bbiri | ssatu | nnya | ttaano | muukaga | musanvu | muunana | mwenda | kkumi | |
| Ndemli | mɔ̀hɔ́ | ífɛ́ | ítáá | ítʃìjè | ítâŋ | tóhó | sàᵐbá | fɔ̀ːmɔ́ | bùʔɛ̀ | dʒòm | ||
| Tikar | mbɔʔ | ɓî | lê | ɲî | ʃæ̃̂ | ɸyulu | ʃâmɓì | nìnì | tæ̂nì | wûm | ||
| Tivoid | Esimbi (1) | kēnə̄ | mə̄rākpə̄ | mākə̄lə̄ | mōɲī | mātə̄nə̀ | mālālə̄ | mātə̄nə̀ mə̄rākpə̄ (5+ 2) | mōɲìōɲī (4+ 4) | mātə̄nə̀ mōɲī (5 + 4) | būɣù | |
| Tivoid | Esimbi (2) | ɔ-nə | râkpə | á-kələ | oɲí | a-tənə | a-lələ | à-tən râkpə (5+ 2) | ò-ɲi o-ɲí (4+ 4) | à-tən o-ɲí (5 + 4) | bùɣù | |
| Tivoid | émɔ̀ | víàl | vétàt | véɲì | vétàn | véɾátúm | véɾátúm nɔ̀mɔ̀ (6 + 1) | víɲèɲí | víɲèɲí nɔ̀mɔ̀ (8 + 1) | épɔ́ːt | ||
| Tivoid | mɔ̌m | hjâl | tàt | ɲîn | táŋə̀n | kə̀lə̀kə̀tàt | kə̀lə̀kə̀tàt kàt mɔ̀mú (6 + 1) | kíníkìnì | táŋìɲìn (5 + 4 ??) | pùɛ̀ | ||
| Tivoid | mɔ̀ḿ / mɔ́m | úhár | útáŕ | únjì: | útã́ː | átérátáŕ | útã́ː kàː úhár (5 + 2) | ániènì | útã́ː kàː únjì: (5 + 4) | púè / púwè | ||
| Grassfields, Menchum | móʔ (~mʊ́ʔ) | fe | táí | ɪ̀kᶣà (ɪ̀kɥà) | ɪ̀tʲə̂n | ⁿdʊ̀fú | èkᶣànátáí (4 and 3) i.e. (4+ 3) | éfómó | étʲə̂nékᶣà (5+ 4) | éɣúm | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Fe'fe' (1) | ʃʉʔ | pʉ́ɒ́ | tāā | kwɒ̀ | tíì | ntɔ́hɔ́ | sə̀mbʉ́ɒ́ | hə̌ | vʉ̀ʔʉ̄ | ɣǎm | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Fe'fe' (2) | ŋʃʉʔ | pʉ́ə | táá | kwà | tiì | ntóɣó | sə̀mbʉ́ə́ | hə́ə́ | vʉ́ʔʉ́ | ɣám | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | yə́mūʔ | yə́pwə́ | yə́tá | yápfʉə̀ | yə́tɔ̂ | ntɔ̀kə́ | sɔmbwə́ə | hɔ̌m | vʉ̀ʔʉ́ | ɣǎm | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | yimɔʔɔ / mɔʔ | yipá /pa | yitét / tét | nəkʷɔ̀ | yitɛ | ntɔ̌ | sambá | nəhǎ | nəvøʔ | nəɣám | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | ŋtʃɔ̀ʔ | pə́ɣə́ | té | kwò | tɔ̀ | tó | sòmbə̀ɣə̀ | χóp | vɨ̀ʔ | ɣáp | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | mmɔ́ʼɔ́ [m̩̀mɔ́ʔɔ́] | mbʉ́a [m̩̀bɯ́á] | ntá [ǹ̩tá] | lekùa [lèkùȁ] | ntʉ̂a [ɳ̩̀ʈɯ́à] | ntɔɡɔ́ [ǹ̩tɔ̀ʁɔ́] | sɔɔn mbʉ́a [sɔ̃̀ːm̩̀bɯ́á] | lefɔ̌ɔn [lèfɔ̃̌ː] | lepfwɔʼɔ́ [lèpfwɔ̀ʔɔ́] | leɡém [lèɣə́m] | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | yemoʔ | yépá | yétát | yénékwa | yeta | yenentúku | sambá | yénéfom | yenepfúʔú | neɡʉ́m | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | tá | pwó | tárə | kwo | taa | toɣə | saabwó | ləfaa | ləpfuʔú | ləɡham | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | mɔʔfi | -biə | -tat | lɛkwə | -tɛ | -ntuli | saambiə | lɛfɔ | lɛʙə̌ʔá | lɛ̄ɣɛ̀m | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | wɔ́ mɔʔɔ́ | mé piá | mé tét | lekwa | metā | ntukɔ́ | ésabiā | lefá | levuʔɔ́ | leɣɛ̄m | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Awing (1) | mɔ̌ | pɛ́ | térə́ | nə̀kwà | ténə̀ | tóɣə́ | sàmbɛ́ | nə̀fémə́ | nə̀púʔə́ | nə̀ɣə́mə́ | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Awing (2) | mɔh | pəːə | teːre | kwa | taa | ntuɡu | saːmbe | nɨfeːme | nɨpueh | nɨɡeːme | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bafut (1) | mɔ́ʔɔ̂ | báà | tárə̀ | kwàà | ntáà | ntóʔò | sàmbà | fwámə́ | kwálìʔí / nɨ̀bùʔû | tàwûm / nɨ̀wûm | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bafut (2) | mɔʔɔ̂ | baa | tarə | kwà | ǹtaà | ntoʔo | sàmbà | fwamə | kwalɛ̀ʔɛ | tàɡhûm | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bambili-Bambui (1) | mɔ̀ʔɔ̀ | bə̀ɡə̀ | tyè | kyà | tɔ̀ɔ̀ | ntúú | ʃàmbà | nɨ̀fɔ̀ɔ̀ | nɨ̀bɛ̀ʔɛ̀ | nɨ̀ɣám | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bambili-Bambui (2) | mɔʔɔ | bɨɡə | tyé | kɥa | tɔː | n-túː | ʃambá | nɨ-fɔː | nɨ-bɛʔɛ | nɨ-ɣám | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | m²mɔʔɔ⁷⁷ or tɑʔ | bɛ, bɨbɛ, mɨmbɛ | tɑrɨ, bɨ²tɑː⁷⁵ɾə², mɨntɑrɨ | nɨkwɑ, bɨnɨkwɑ, mɨnkwɑ | jitɑ̃, bɨtɑ̃, mɨntɑ̃ | jintoʔ, bɨntoʔ, mɨntoʔ | ʃɑmbɛ, bɨʃɑmbɛ, mɨʃɑmbɛ | nɨfɔ̃, bɨnɨfɔ̃, mɨnɨfɔ̃ | nɨ²buʔ²¹, bɨnɨbuʔ, mɨnɨbuʔ | nɨwũ | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | mɔ̄h | bəɡə | tarɔ | kua | tan | ntɔ̄ | sāmbā | nəfah | nəbuɔ̄h | nəɣəm | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Mbəkum (Mankon) (1) | mɔ́ʔɔ̂ | bâ | tárə̂ | kwà | tánə̀ | ntúɣú | sàmbà | nɨ̀fámə́ | nɨ̀bùʔû | nɨ̀ɣɨ̂m | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Ngemba (Mankon) (2) | mɔ́ʔɔ́ | bǎ | táré | kwà | tâŋ | ntúɡhə̂ | sámbǎ | nɨ̀fə̂ŋ | nɨ̀bvùʔə́ | nɨ̀wúmə̀ | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | mɔ́ʔɔ̀ | páá | táɾə̀ | kwà | tânə̀ | ǹtô | sàmbâ | nə̀fámə̂ | nə̀pùʔə̂ | nə̀wúmə̀ | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | mũũ ˧˩ | baa ˦˧ | ta ˦ | kɥ ˧˩ | tɔ̃ ˦˧ | tɔ̃ ˨ fũ ˧ | sə ˨ mba ˧˨ | wɔ ˦ ŋkxɨt ˦ | bə ˦ ʁət ˨ | wəm˦ | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Limbum (1) | mɔ̀ʔsíɾ | báː | táːɾ | kjèː | tâ | ntūːnfú | sàːmbâ | wāːmí | bɨ̀ʔɨ̂ / bɨ̀ɾɨ̂ | ɾɨ | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Limbum (2) | mòʔsír | báā | táar | kyèe | tâ | ntūunfú | sàambâ | wāamé | bʉ̀ʔʉ̂ | rʉ̂ʉ | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | mìʔincí | bʉ́à | tó | kweé | tóŋ | ntunfúu | sɔ̀mbaa | wáamí | búum | húʔum | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | mòʔfís | bá | tɛʔ | kwè | tàŋ | ntuuŋfú | sàmbâ | fwamɛʔ | və̀kɛʔ | húm | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Baba1 (Papia) (1) | mɔ̀ʔ | mbá | ntí | kúá | tè | ntíóʔó | kpataɾ | fómə́ | ʃìpó | kòɣəm | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Baba (Papia) (2) | jimàa / jímɔ̀ | jípàa / ji mbá | ji tára / ji ntíi | ji kwà / kpa | ji tè | ntúwó / tuʔo | kwàtar / kpataɾ | fómə | tʃìpóo / ʃipɔ | kòɣəm / ɣəm | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | jimuʔu / muʔu³⁵ / tiʔæ⁵³ | jipɑɑ / piæ³⁵ | jitii / tii³⁵ | jikwə / kwə³ | jintɑ̃ĩ⁵³ / tɑ̃ĩ⁵³ | jintou / ntou⁵ | jikwætæ / kwætæ³⁵ | jifũɔ̃ / fũɔ̃⁵ | jipuʔu / puʔu³⁵ | jiɣwũ / ɣwũ⁵³ | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | mʷəʔə | pɛt | tɛt | kʷa | ta | ntɔ | kʷatʃø | nəfɔː | nəpuʔu | nəɣu | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | tɛʔi | paa | tɾe | kʰwɛ | tiɛ̃ | ntiɡaw | kwatʃəɨ | fuõ | ndipoʔu | wuŋ | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamun (Shupamen) (1) | mòʔ | mbàá | tɛ́t | pkà | tɛ̀n | ntú | sàmbà | fámə́ | kóvýʔ | ɣə́m | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamun (Bamum) (2) | ímoʔ | ípáa | ítɛt | ípkwà | ítɛ̀n | ítúu | ísamba | ífámə | ívʉ̀ʔʉ́ | ɣóm | |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | mɔ̀ | mbǎ | tét | kpà | tíjē | ǹtúhù | kpáte̙t | fó | tʃɛ̀ŋɔ́ʔɔ̀ | vwó | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | ntʃɯ̀ʔ | bɔ̂ | t̪át | kwà | t̪ân | ndɔ́ɣə́ | sàmbɔ̂ | fúmə́ | bwə̀ʔə́ | ɣám | ||
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | ɲín | íbáā | itɛ́t | ikwà | itàn | intwúʔ | kwàtát | ifúm | sʉibɔ́m | ɣóm / wɔm | ||
| Grassfields, Momo | ímɔ̄ʔ | íbē | ítád | íkwē | ítã | tìfóɣə́ | sàmbé | fàmí | àbōɡ | ìɣùm | ||
| Grassfields, Momo | yea-mɔʔ | bebe | betat | bekpì | betã̀ã̂ | bentùa | besã̀ã̀mbe | befã̀ã | bebə̀ʔa | èɣɛm | ||
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngamambo (1) | -mɔ̀ʔ | be | tád | kwè | tân | rɨ̀fúɣɔ́ / rʌ̀fúɣɔ́ | sàmbe | fàam | bɔ̀ɔk | ɣum | |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngamambo (2) | -mɔ̀ʔ | bé | tɑ́t | kwè | tɑ̂n | rɨ̀fúɣə́ | sɑ̀mbé | fɑ̌m | ə̀bɔ̌k | wúm | |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngie (1) | ìfìŋ | ìbǐɡə | ìtá | ìkjùɡə | ìtɨŋ | ìfəw | ìsàmbìɡə | ìfɨŋì | àbəw | ìwùm | |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngie (2) | ìfìŋ | ìbǐɡ | ìtá | ìkɥǐɡ | ìtʉ̄ŋ | ìfœ́ | ìsàmbǐɡ | ìfɔ̌ŋ | àbœ̀ | ìwùm | |
| Grassfields, Momo | ŋwāʔ | fjēː | tɛ́d | kwɛ̀ | tân | m̀fó | sàːmbjɛ̄ | fwɔ̌ː | kɔ̄ː | wūm | ||
| Grassfields, Ring | Bamunka (1) | mɔ̌ʔ | buǔ | tiâ | kʷì | taâ | ntɨ̌ʔ | tə́kʷiǐtiâ (4 + 3) ? | fɔ̌ŋ | bɔ̀mɔ̂ʔ (10–1) ? | wûŋ | |
| Grassfields, Ring | Bamunka (2) | mɔʔ L | buː RF | tià F | kʷi L | ta F | ntʉ̀ʔ F | təkʷitia HHF (4 + 3) ? | fɔ̃ R | bɔmɔʔ R (10–1) ? | wũ L | |
| Grassfields, Ring | mùɔ́ʔ | bā | tɨ́ə̀ʔ | tsə̀ | tɛ́ɛ̀ | ǹtùɔ́ʔ | tsə̀tɨ́ə̀ʔ (4 + 3) | fə́mə́ | bùfə̀mùɔ́ʔ (10–1) ? | vóó | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | mùʔ | bò | táʔ | kàʔ | tàn | ǹtʉ̀fə́ | sòmbô | fwòmə́ | àbʉ̀múʔ (10–1) | wúm | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | mɔ̀k | bà | tât | kìk | tân | túfá | sàmbâ | fâmá | búlá mɔ̀k (10–1) | ìwûm | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | nòʔ | bò | tal | kàe / kæ̀ | tâyn | ntufa | nsòmbo / nsombô | nfama | bulamòʔ | ivɨm | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | mɔ̀ʔ | bòː | tóː | kɪ̀ːkò | tâː | tóːfə́ | sōːmboː | fāːmə́ | buː́mɔ̀ʔ (? -1)? | íɣə̄m | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | mɔ̀ʔ | bə̀ː | tə́ː | kʲə̀kə̀ | tàʲ | tūːfə́ | sɛ̀ːⁿbɛː | fɛ̀ːmə́ | bólímɔ̀ʔ (? -1)? | ìɣə̄m | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | mɔ̀ʔ | pɛ᷆ | tá | kjā | tâɲ | tūfɜ́ | sɛ̄mbɛ᷇ | fāmmɜ́ | pʊ̄lɜ̄mɔ̀ʔ (10–1) | ēɣə̆̀m | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | mɔɔ | baa | taa | kwɪʲ | tan | ntuufə | saamba | ɛfaamə | buumək | ɛvəm | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, East | mɔ̀ʔɔ́n | bàà | táár | kwɛ̀ɛ̀ | tàn | ntùùfú | sààmbà | wāāmɛ́ | bvə̀ʔə̀ | ɣwə̀m | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, West | Aghem (1) | mɔ̀ʔ | bə̀ˠà | tə́ˠá | tʃʲàkò | tɛ̀ʲ | tǔ̞ː | sə̀ˠàⁿbə̄ˠā | ɪ́fǎː | tɛ̄ⁿdzū̞ˠū̞ | ɪ́ɣə̄m | |
| Grassfields, Ring, West | Aghem (2) | mɒ̀ʔ | bɨ̀ɣà | tɨ́ɣá | cìakɔ̀ | tɛ̀ | tǒo | sɨ̀ɣàmbɨ̀ɣà | ɛ́ʔfáa | tèndzùɣò | é-ʔɣɨ́m | |
| Grassfields, Ring, West | mɔ̀ʔ | bèː(bè) | tsíː | tʃàʔì | tàː | ntsìfɔ́ŋ | sèmbè | fáːmə́ | bùkə́ | ívə̄m | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, West | mòʔ | bò | tó | kjə̀ʔ | táì | tɔ̀ɔ́ | sùmbô | ìfámá | bə́lə́mɔ̀ʔ | ɨɣɨ́m | ||
| Grassfields, Ring, West | mó | bə̀ɣə́ | tə̀ɣə́ | kaikə́ | tá | tùbə́ | səɣ-mbə̀ɣ | ifám | tàndzú | iɣə́m | ||
| Yemne-Kimbi | mʷə̀ | fʲə̂ŋ | tò | ɲì | kpɛ̂ | kʲàtò | nàtò | nànà | kpɛ̂ɲì | kòɲ | ||
| Yemne-Kimbi | m¹.mö³² | m¹.fɪe³² | n¹.tɔ³² | n¹.de² | kpɔn² | tʃi²ta² | nɔ¹³tɔ² | ne¹ne¹ | kpa²ne¹ | dzo²fɯ² | ||
| Yemne-Kimbi | Mungbam (Abar) (1) | -m̩̀ / -mù | -fìn /-fá | -tì / -tēè | -ɲ̩̀ / -nì | kpáān / kpōa | lētɛ̀ / -lētè | -ɲ̩̀tɛ̄ / -ɲītɛ | -nə̀nè / -nə̄nè | kpánə̀ɲ̩̀ / kpānāɲì | dʒūhɛ́ / dʒóhó | |
| Yemne-Kimbi | Munbam (Munken) (2) | -mwə́nə̀ / -mù / – mù | -fè /-fō / -fé | -tɛ̄ / -tēa / -tè | -ɲə̄nə́ / -ɲì / -ɲì | kpòōnə́ / kpɛ̄n / kpààɲì | -lētɛ̀ / -létēa / -lētɛ̀ | -ɲītɛ̀ / -ɲītə̀ / -ɲītɛ̀ | -ɲīɲì ~ -ɲìɲì / --ɲìɲì / -ɲìɲì | kpɔ̄ndʒùɲì / -ɲìnkpɛ̄n | kwîn / kwîn / kwɔ̂n |