Geographic
distribution: Nigeria | ||
Linguistic classification: Niger–Congo
Atlantic–Congo
Benue–Congo
Plateau
Central Plateau Subdivisions: Rigwe
Izere
Tyapic
Hyamic
Koro
Gyongic
Yeskwa
North Plateau Glottolog: None
sout3163 (Irigwe–Izeric–Tyapic)
nort3184 (Hyamic–Koroic–Gyongic)
nort3169 (North Plateau) | ||
The twenty Central Plateau languages are a residual branch of the Plateau family spoken in central Nigeria. Tyap, or Katab, has 130 000 speakers, and the closely related Jju a.k.a. Kaje has well over 300,000. Hyam, or Jabba, has another 100,000. Cori is famous for being one of very few languages with six tone levels, though only three are needed for writing.
Classification
The Central Plateau languages are a close geographical group with numerous connections; however, they are to some extent a residual group, and may be a sprachbund. The following classification is taken from Blench (2008). A distinction between North Plateau and the rest of Central Plateau is possible but appears to be geographic; Gerhardt (1994) argues they belong together.
Each of the terminal bullets which follows is a discrete language or dialect cluster and is obviously valid. However, most of the groups (Hyamic, North Plateau, Gyongic, Koro) are not self-evident and may continue to be revised.