The Bendi languages are a small group of languages spoken in
Cross River State
)
, image_map = Nigeria - Cross River.svg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Location of Cross River State in Nigeria
, coordinates =
, coor_pinpoint ...
, southeastern
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
.
Bokyi is one of the Bendi languages having some speakers in
Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
. Once counted among the
Cross River languages
The Cross River or Delta–Cross languages are a branch of the Benue–Congo language family spoken in south-easternmost Nigeria, with some speakers in south-westernmost Cameroon. The branch was first formulated by Joseph Greenberg; it is one of ...
, they may be a branch of
Southern Bantoid
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 branc ...
, with observed similarities especially with the
Ekoid languages
The Ekoid languages are a dialect cluster of Southern Bantoid languages spoken principally in southeastern Nigeria and in adjacent regions of Cameroon. They have long been associated with the Bantu languages, without their status being precisely ...
.
Very little research has been conducted on the Bendi languages, and the modern work that does exist often remains either unpublished or inaccessible.
The group is notable for having one language (
Ubang) that has male and female forms.
Languages
The Obudu-Obanlikwu-Eastern Boki languages are:
:
Alege,
Obanliku,
Bekwarra,
Bete-Bendi,
Bokyi,
Bumaji,
Utugwang,
Ubang,
Ukpe-Bayobiri.
The data is too poorly covered to allow for detailed internal classification of these languages.
Names and locations
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
Numerals
Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
See also
*
Bendi word lists (Wiktionary)
References
*
External links
ComparaLex database with Bendi word lists
{{Niger-Congo branches