Geji (Gezawa) is a minor Chadic dialect cluster of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The three varieties are Buu, Gyaazi and Mәgang. The latter two are quite similar or alike.[3]
| Geji | |
|---|---|
| Region | Bauchi State |
Native speakers | 8,000 (2019)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Latin | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:gyz – Geji (Gyazi)zbu – Buu |
| Glottolog | geji1246 |
| ELP | Geji |
| Buu (Nigeria)[2] | |
Varieties
editBlench (2020) lists:[3]
- Buu
- Gyaazi, Mәgang
Zaranda, an exonym for Bu, endonym Bùù, is a Chadic language spoken in the South of Bauchi State, in Nigeria, belonging to the South-Bauchi West group of Chadic languages (Shimizu 1978). Although generally associated with Bolu, Pelu and Geji, Buu stands apart from these other lects with which there is no intercomprehension. Most of the Buu population has migrated from the original location of the Zaranda village (Zaranda Habe, longitude 9,57; latitude 10,28) to the present Zaranda (longitude 9,52; latitude 10,23) where they have abandoned their language for Hausa and Fulfulde. The few that have retained their language live in Zaranda Habe, in houses scattered in the hills, gathering around the chief once a year for the traditional religious festivities. It is believed to be clearly distinct and probably a separate language.[4]
Gezawa, Gaejawa are exonyms for Geji, endonym Gyaazә. Bagba is a loconym.
Mәgang ('Mugan') is spoken by about 3,000-4,000 speakers in the following 8 villages of Bauchi LGA, Bauchi State (all located just to the south of Bauchi city).[3]
| Village name | IPA | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Byeru | bʲèrúp | |
| Haɗobilang | háɗòbíla᷄ŋ | |
| Baking Kura | bàkíŋ kúrá | Hausa name |
| Pakimi | pákìmī | |
| Beddare | béddárè | |
| Balla | bāllā | |
| Bәm Mәgang | bә̄m mә̀ga᷄ŋ | |
| Makyera | màkʲérá | Hausa name |
Belu and Pelu are variant spellings of Byeru, also spelled Pyaalu (Pyààlù) or Fyalu.
Numerals
editThe Mәgang numerals are:[3]
| Numeral | Mәgang |
|---|---|
| one | ɗéɗә᷄m |
| two | ɗélóp |
| three | ɗèmèkáŋ |
| four | ɗu᷄psí |
| five | ɗènàntә́ŋ |
| six | ɗә́màkā |
| seven | ɗèníŋgī |
| eight | ɗíwsә́psı᷄ |
| nine | nētʷópsī |
| ten | ɗēkúɬ |
References
edit- ^ Geji (Gyazi) at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
Buu at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- ^ Endangered Languages Project data for Buu (Nigeria).
- ^ a b c d Blench, Roger. 2020. An introduction to Mәgang, a South Bauchi language of Central Nigeria.
- ^ Buu-Zaranda
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