The Biu–Mandara or Central Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. The most widely spoken is Kamwe, with 300,000 speakers.
Gravina (2014) classifies Central Chadic as follows, as part of a reconstruction of the proto-language. Letters and numbers in parentheses correspond to branches in previous classifications. The greatest changes are breaking up and reassigning the languages of the old Mafa branch (A.5) and Mandage (Kotoko) branch (B.1).
SouthSouthBata (A.8)Bata Proper: Bacama, Bata, Fali, Gude, Gudu, Holma (†), Jimi, Ngwaba (from A.1 Tera), Nzanyi, SharwaTsuvan: Tsuvan, ZizilivakanDaba (A.7)Daba Proper: Daba, Mazagway HidiMina: Mina, MbudumBuwal: Buwal, GavarMafa (= South A.5 Mafa (d)): Mafa, Mefele, CuvokTera (A.1):East Tera: Boga, Ga'anda, Hwana(West Tera): Jara, TeraSukur (A.6)HurzaHurza (from A.5 Mafa): Vame, MbukoNorthMargi–Mandara–MofuMargi (A.2)Bura: Bura, Cibak, Putai, NggwahyiMargi Proper: Kilba, Margi South, MargiMandara (A.4):Wandala: Mandara (Malgwa), GlavdaDghwede: Cineni, Dghwede, Guduf, Gava, GvokoPodoko: Podoko, Matal (from A.5 Mafa)Mofu (part of South A.5 Mafa)Tokombere: Ouldeme, Mada, Muyang, MolokwoMeri: Zulgo, Gemzek, Merey, DugworMofu Proper: Mofu North, Mofu-GudurMarouaMaroua (part of South A.5 Mafa (c)): Giziga North, Giziga South, MbazlaLamangLamang (West A.4 Wandala): Lamang, Hdi, MabasHigiHigi (A.3): Bana, Hya, Psikyɛ, Kamwe, Kirya-KonzelMusgum – North KotokoKotoko Island: BudumaKotoko North: Mpade, Afaɗə, Malgbe, MaltamMusgum (B.2): Musgum, Mbara, Muskum (†)Kotoko CentreKotoko Centre: Lagwan, MserKotoko SouthKotoko South: Zina, MazeraGidarJilbe was not classified, as no sources were available.
The branches of Biu–Mandara traditionally go by either names or letters and numbers in an outline format. Blench (2006) organizes them as follows:
Tera (A.1): Tera, Pidlimdi (Hinna), Jara, Ga'anda, Gabin, Boga, Ngwaba, HwanaBura–HigiBura (A.2): Bura-Pabir (Bura), Cibak (Kyibaku), Nggwahyi, Huba (Kilba), Putai (Marghi West), Marghi Central (Margi, Margi Babal), Marghi South? KofaHigi (A.3): Kamwə (Psikyɛ, Higi), Bana, Hya, ? Kirya-KonzəlWandala–MafaWandala (Mandara) (A.4)East: Wandala (Mura, Mandara, Malgwa), Glavda (Gəlvaxdaxa)Parəkwa (Podoko)West: Gəvoko, Guduf-Gava (Cineni), Dghweɗe, Hdi (Xədi, Hedi, Tur), Lamang, Woga, Vemgo, MabasSukur (Sakwun, A.6)Mafa (A.5)Northeast Mafa: Vame (Pəlasla), Mbuko, GaduwaMatal (Muktele)South Mafa(a) Wuzlam (Ouldémé), Muyang, Maɗa, Məlokwo(b) Zəlgwa-Minew, Gemzek, Ɗugwor, Mikere, Merey(c) North Giziga, South Giziga, North Mofu, Mofu-Gudur (South Mofu), Baldemu (Mbazlam)(d) Cuvok, Mafa, Mefele, ShüguleDaba (A.7)North Daba: Buwal (Gadala), Gavar (Kortchi)South Daba: Mina (Besleri, Hina), Daba (Mazagway), MbədamBata (Gbwata) (A.8): Bacama, Bata (Gbwata), Sharwa, Tsuvan, Gude, Fali of Mubi, Zizilivakan (Ulan Mazhilvən, Fali of Jilbu), Jimi (Jimjimən), Gudu, Holma (†), NzanyiMandage (Kotoko) (B.1)South Mandage: Msər (Kousseri), Lagwan (Logone)? JilbeNorth Mandage: Afaɗə, Maslam, Malgbe (Gulfey), MpadəBuduma (Yedina)East–CentralGidar (Kaɗa)Munjuk (B.2): Mbara, Muskum (Muzuk) (†), Mpus, Beege (Jafga), Vulum (Mulwi)Mida'a (< B.1): Jina, MajəraCentral Chadic classification per Newman (1977):
