Gwara, an unknown language of Central Nigeria Phonology, wordlist and suggestions for orthography
[DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT -NOT FOR CITATION WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR]
Roger Blench Kay Williamson Educational Foundation 8, Guest Road Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/ Ans 0044-(0)1223-560687 Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7847-495590 E-mail
[email protected] http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm
This printout: December 2, 2014
R.M. Blench Gwara Wordlist Circulated for comment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................ 1 2. LOCATION, HISTORY AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC SITUATION........................................................... 1 2.1 Nomenclature ............................................................................................................................................... 1 2.2 Location and settlements.............................................................................................................................. 1 2.3 Language status............................................................................................................................................ 2 2.4 Gwara culture and history............................................................................................................................ 2 2.5 The classification of Gwara ......................................................................................................................... 2 3. PHONOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................. 2 3.1 Vowels ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Consonants ................................................................................................................................................... 3 3.3 Tones............................................................................................................................................................ 4 4. MORPHOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 5 4.1 Nouns ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 4.1.1 General .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 4.1.2 Morphologically marked plurals............................................................................................................................ 5 4.1.3 Tonally marked plurals .......................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Pronouns....................................................................................................................................................... 6 5. ORTHOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................................... 6 6. GWARA WORDLIST ..................................................................................................................................... 8 7. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................................... 27 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................... 27 TABLES Table 1. Labialised consonants in Gwara
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Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist 1. Introduction This is an annotated wordlist of the Gwara language, spoken in Gora A village in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Gwara has not previously been referred to in any document or reference work. Unknown languages are, of course, easier to find when their villages are marked with clear signboards in English. This Gora is not the same as the language Idon-Gora-Ankwe spoken elsewhere in Kaduna State and listed in Crozier & Blench (1992). A preliminary wordlist was collected by Roger Blench with the assistance of Baba Duhnya from a group of villagers in Gora A on the 20th of April 2009. A much extensive wordlist was recorded on 5th April, 2012, and this is the basis for transcriptions in the current version of the paper. The main informants on these occasions were;
20/4/2009 Pastor Joshua Ndakas Jonathan Musa Dogwara Agwai Yano Yaki Wayo Bai
5/4/2012
Thanks to them and to the chief for arranging the elicitation session. This analysis was prepared by Roger Blench, who added the comparative observations. This document is being circulated for comment. 2. Location, history and sociolinguistic situation 2.1 Nomenclature The nomenclature for the people speaking the Gwara language is as follows; iGwara uŋGwara aGwara
language one person Gwara people
This pattern is similar to Idũ and Nyankpa. The Hausa form of this, ‘Gora’ has been adopted as the village name. 2.2 Location and settlements The Gwara live in five settlements known locally as Gora A,B,C,D and E in Jaba and Kagarko Local Governments in Kaduna State. Their correct local names are; Gora A Gora B Gora C Gora D Gora E
Gɔridɛ Agarage Dey Goma Akpirkɔ Ŋgɛ̃
The turnoff to Gora A, C, D and E is a few kilometres left, north of Kwoi on the Keffi-Kaduna road. Gora B is a few kilometres before Kubacha at the turnoff to Kurmin Jibrin, further north on the same road.
1
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist 2.3 Language status Hausa is a very important language but most children still have at least a passive knowledge of the Gwara language. But it is definitely threatened and active knowledge is disappearing. There are probably only a few hundred truly competent speakers out of an ethnic population of several thousand, although interventions by schoolchildren during the elicitation sessions suggested that the views of adults may be too pessimistic. Other languages spoken by many older people include Idũ, Ashe and Hyam. Nearby languages include Gyong and Hyam, but it appears these are not widely spoken by Gwara. Idũ in particular may be an important source of loanwords in Gwara. 2.4 Gwara culture and history The chief recounted that the Gwara have been in their present location for at least the last century, and that they originally migrated from the Jaba (i.e. Hyam-speaking area) which is no great distance. Despite this, their language shows little influence from Hyam. 2.5 The classification of Gwara Gwara is undoubtedly a member of the Koro cluster and shows lexical links with Tinor and Nyankpa, but most importantly with Idũ. Figure 1 shows a tentative outline classification of the languages in the Koro cluster. Figure 1. Classification of the Koro languages Proto-Koro
Tinɔr-Myamya
Ashe
Nyankpa-Barde
Idũ
Gwara
However, it is puzzling that that Idũ and Gwara do not show more evident sound-correspondences; lexical cognates appear to be highly varied. It may be that the languages are related, but that there is a significant layer of Idũ loanwords as well.
3. Phonology The phonology of Gwara should be regarded as tentative.
3.1 Vowels Gwara has seven phonemic vowels;
Front Close Close-Mid Open-Mid
Central
Back
i
u e
o ɛ
ɔ
Open
a
The close-mid back vowel /o/ is often high and sometimes centralised, and so can be difficult to distinguish from [ʉ] and /u/. Doubled vowels occur although they are not very frequent. All vowels can be nasalised, and probably doubled, although no examples have yet been recorded for some vowels.
2
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist Close Close-Mid Open-Mid Open
Front ĩ ẽ ɛ̃
Central
Back ũ õ ɔ̃
ã
Gwara permits Vy and Vw sequences in word-final position, but these are not contrastive with Vi and Vu as is the case in Idũ. One of the striking features of Gwara morphology is the occurrence of ṼṼ sequences, presumably resulting from intervocalic consonant deletion. Examples;
ẽ́ ũ̀ dzẽ́ õ̀
Nose Go
3.2 Consonants Gwara consonants are as follows:
Bilabial Plosive Nasal Tap Trill/Tap Fricative Affricate Approximant Lateral Approximant
Labiodental
p b m
Alveolar t n
Postalveolar
Retroflex
Palata l
d
Vela r
Labialvelar
kg ŋ
kp gb
Glottal
ɽ fv
ɾ sz ts dz
ʃʒ
ɣ ʧ y
h
ʤ w
l
No doubled consonants of the type recorded in Idũ were heard. /s/ and /ʃ/ appear to be in free variation in word-medial position in some words, for example ‘eye’ ùsú ~ ùʃú. As with the other languages in the Koro cluster a rolled ‘r’ is heard in word-final position, or sometimes word-medially, alternating with a tap /ɾ/. This is probably a positional allophone. Status of [ɽ] Apart from [ɾ], Idũ has a retroflex [ɽ],occurring in the follow words; Today Yesterday Neck Pigeon (Domestic) Sleep
ìɽenɛ àɽetse ùɽɔ̀ ɽìnɛ̀w ɽɔ̀
This is commonly written ‘rh’ in Nigerian orthographic practice. Palatalisation and labialisation are relatively rare in Gwara. 3
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
Palatalisation Palatalised consonants occur in Gwara but are rare. Star Farm Man King/chief/ruler Agama lizard
ìgyɛrr ìkyàŋ sukya ùwyere ìgbyɛ́r
Labialisation Labialised consonants occur in Gwara but are relatively rare. Table 1 shows all the forms so far identified; Table 1. Labialised consonants in Gwara Gloss Gwara Forest akwoy Dog igvwí Cock ìkwòy Millipede dakwoy Animal (Bush) igywɛ It seems possible that labialisation is a non-phonemic consequence of the sequence velar plus back vowel.
Prenasalised consonants Gwara permits contrastive homorganic nasals preceding consonants, although they are not common in the language. These are realised as m- before bilabials, ŋ- before velars and n- before all others. With a very few exceptions, these are not tonebearing. In the case of the nouns, these almost certainly arise from the deletion of a vowel prefix and the move of the tone rightwards onto the nasal. However, as in Idũ there are syllabic nasals in pronouns and interrogatives of uncertain origin, for example; m̄ bɔ
They
3.3 Tones Gwara has three level tones, and glide tones that arise from sequences of level tones. The basic conventions are as follows; High Mid Low Rising Falling
ʹ Unmarked ˋ ˇ ˆ
All syllables are marked for tone in the present document. Thus any unmarked syllables should be considered mid. A number of words exhibit three tone heights in one word, illustrating the contrast. Examples;
nɛ́ragɔ̀w náŋgbaʒì ìgyɔ́ŋda
Doctor Masquerade Thigh
4
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist Falling tone is very important and is often a significant marker of plurals in nouns. E.g;
ìdzù ìnù ìnà
Housefly Chicken Cow
ídzû ínû ínâ
Rising tone is much rarer, but is present; Sheep
ìdòy
ídǒy
4. Morphology 4.1 Nouns 4.1.1 General Gwara must originally have had a system of nominal plurals based on affix alternation, but this has almost entirely broken down, its only remnants being i- and u- prefixes in the singular and i-, a- prefixes in the plural. For many words, the singular prefixes have been deleted in citation forms and only appear in sentence contexts. They were elicited for this wordlist, but they are clearly often not called to mind naturally. The disappearance of the prefixes appears to have resulted in a complex morphotonology; tone changes between singular and plural of nouns are highly unpredictable with only fragmentary patterns occurring. In addition, many nouns that might naturally have plurals, such as household objects, seem to have lost them. 4.1.2 Morphologically marked plurals Gwara has a very restricted range of vowel prefixes marking nouns. These are probably remnants of a more complex nominal class system that has collapsed. There are some fossilised traces of nasal prefixes, which are no longer functional. Many nouns now have no prefix. The citation forms of nouns are often given without prefixes and the correct prefix can only be elicited in a frame or by forming singular plural pairs. It seems likely that Gwara is on the way to losing all its prefixes, as in some neighbouring languages, such as Mada and Hyam. Singular prefixes
ì, ù Plural prefixes
a, ì, í A feature of Gwara not shared by Idũ is the reduplication of the first syllable of the noun root in the plural. This is a typical feature of Chadic and may represent a long-ago interaction with Chadic languages. There is some evidence that this may have once been characteristics of Idũ as a number of noun-roots have nonproductive reduplication. These appear to be particularly focused on body parts although there are some examples outside this domain. Examples; Chameleon Body Nail (Finger/toe) Leg Arm Neck
nyànyaha yórr gbɛ̀rtó uda ubɔ ùɽɔ̀ 5
ɛ̀nyahanyaha àyùyórr gbɛ̀gbɛ̀rtó àdùda àbùbɔ àɽùɽɔ
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
4.1.3 Tonally marked plurals Numerous noun plurals are marked only by tone, almost exclusively those with an ì- prefix. These occur most commonly with animal names, although there are some examples outside this domain. The patterns are highly various, but some common patterns emerge. Tooth Horse Cow Goat Sheep Elephant Chicken
ìga ígá ìdɔ idɔ ìnà ínâ ìbũ̀ ibũ ìdòy ídǒy ìdzóm ídzóm ìnù ínû
4.2 Pronouns Gwara is relatively rare in that subject and object pronouns are the same. They are marked for tense/aspect, as is common in Plateau languages. The table shows the pronouns for the completive and progressive aspect. I You He/she/it we you pl. They
mɛ̂ ̃ ŋwu iyê idê kutsadè m̄ bɔ
5. Orthography The Gwara language is unwritten and the speakers had no knowledge of attempts to write it; indeed the idea seemed not to have occurred to them. Nonetheless, there is an active community around the church and older speakers were not opposed to the idea. Gwara phonology has fewer problems than Idũ and a functioning orthography could be developed relatively simply. However, it would not be a worthwhile exercise unless the status of the language is confirmed vis-à-vis Hausa. Below are some suggestions concerning writing issues. The practice of representing vowels with underlines; ɛ ɔ
as e as o
and so on, derives from the days when there were no computers and this was a convention easily available on a typewriter. However, it has the disadvantage that the underlines are easily left off or forgotten. The use of IPA-like symbols (as, for example the nasalisation adopted for Idũ) would avoid this problem. With computers used to prepare all documents, it is now easier and more practical to use ‘ɛ’ and ‘ɔ’. However, there is nothing wrong with underlined letters in terms of the sounds of the language, if that is what the community decides. [ɽ] It is strongly recommended that the retroflex [ɽ] be considered a significant sound and written consistently. Nigerian orthographic practice usually uses ‘rh’ for this sound. [ɾ] and [r]̃ 6
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist As noted above, these are in complementary distribution and could both be written ‘r’. However, there would be no problem in retaining the orthographic convention ‘r’ and ‘rr’.
Tones Tone plays a crucial role in Gwara and it is difficult to see how an effective orthography could ignore this. Numerous plurals are made only by tone. The role of grammatical tone is yet to be explored, but it is unlikely to be minor.
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Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
6. Gwara wordlist This wordlist is partly filled in as a reflection of the time available. The gaps are left so that it is possible to complete the list with the community another time. The words are classified in sections as; Nouns Other
NO.
Singular
Pronouns
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Gloss Tree (generic) Leaf Root Branch Bark (of tree) Thorn Grass (generic) Mushroom Seed/stone/pip Charcoal Dust Ashes Rubbish-heap Mud Clay Dew Stone Sand Smoke
20. 21.
Fire Water
ìlá àmɛ́ ̃
— —
22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.
Rain Cloud Lightning Rainy Season Dry season Harmattan Year Today Yesterday Tomorrow Morning Evening Dawn Day
ìnáy ìbúr
— —
títì ìyērá ǹnáŋ ǹnáw gùgú ìdīdɔ́ m̀ bɛ́hɛ́ ̃ ìsúù ìkṹ ìsúwà ìkīrá àtɔ́ mbímbím àdém àbē ʤín àmɛ́hɛ́ ùtɛ́r àdzúdzów àdzú
ìmɛ́ ìɽɛ́nɛ́ àɽétsé ìdã́
ùnɔ̄mɛ́
Verbs Numerals
Adjectives
Plural
Commentary cf. Tinor ìti , àtítì àyērá cf. Idũ ùyɛ̀rɛ́, ànūnáŋ cf. Idũ ùnúná, ánábè àgūgú ídídɔ̀ cf. Idũ ídìdɔ̀, Tinor gìdìdɔ̀k, Gwara ɛ̀dɔ̀k,
ùmbɛ̀hɛ̀ ̃ ísùù íkũ̀ àsúwà — — àmbímbím — — — átɛ́r — —
cf. Idũ ìsù, Gwara èsùsùk, Nunku jǔ, cf. Idũ zuù, cf. Gwara àtɔk, Idũ àtɔ́, Niger-Congo #ntoN
? àbɛ ̃ sakaya cf. Tinor gùtà, Idũ utar, Niger-Congo #-ta cf. Idũ zuzew, cf. Idũ àzòò, Tinor gàzù, Hyam jɔ̀ŋ, Eggon odzo cf. Idũ àmɛ̀, Gwara àmɛ̀, Eggon ami, Ake imbi, Akpa ìmὲny, cf. Idũ ìnai,
àmɛ́ cf. Idũ mɛ́k, cf. Idũ ìrérɛ̀, cf. Idũ dã̀ ,
ìnɔ̄mɛ́ -8-
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
NO. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78.
Gloss Night Moon/month Sun Star Wind God Sky World Ground Large River Stream Lake, pond Forest Mountain, Hill Bush Farm Field Market* Compound Room Wall (of room) Thatch roof Granary Playground Road, path Village/settleme nt River-bank Swamp/wetland Place Person/people Man Woman Child Husband Wife Young man Young girl Old person Old person II Father Mother Relations Ancestors
Singular útù ùhɛ́ ̃ ùnɔ́m ìgyɛ́rr ùgbá ùnɔ́m áhã́ ùdɛ́ ̃ àbɛ́ ̃ ádzɛ́ ̃ zàgòŋ dá’ádzɛ̀ ̃ káŋgɔ̀r’àmɛ̀ àkʷéy ìgṹ ùsí ìkyáŋ ízɛ̀ ɛ̀ɛ́r ùbá ìdzín ìsú ùmbán ùmpáná ùdí ùtōw tsútsìgà ìháŋ àdzɛ̀ ̃ ìbɔ́ ùnáŋ ùnēré sùkyá sùtsɛ́r ùŋwɛ̀tsīgá ùkyá ùtsɛ́r ùŋwēdzám ùnūnɛ́ sùkún ùkōgá tɛ̀tɛ́ yàyá àndèrīdé àntɛ̄rɛ́
Plural ùtūgɛ́ àhɛ́ ̃ ànūnɔ́m ígyɛ̀rr — — — — — —
Commentary cf. Idũ ùfɛ̀ ,̃
cf. Idũ ugba,
cf. Idũ àbĩ̀, cf. Idũ zɛ̀ ,̃
àkūkʷéy cf. Idũ akoi, ígũ̀ cf. Idũ ìgũ̀ , cf. Idũ usi ‘farm’, — íkyàŋ — àūɛ́r àùmbūbá ìdzīdzín — àùmbūbán àūmpáná àdídí cf. Idũ utsíndì, àtūtów cf. Idũ uteu, tsàtsìgà ‘side of river’ íbɔ̀ ànūnáŋ ànēré cf. Idũ únérâ, àsākyá àsātsɛ́r ̄ àŋwɛ tsétsìgà àkyá àtsɛ́r àŋwēdzám ànūnɛ́ àsākún àùkōgá àtɛ̄tɛ́ cf. Idũ ùtɛ, àyāyá cf. Idũ ùya, — — -9-
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
NO. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120.
Gloss Grandparents Grandchild Brother Sister Friend Guest/stranger King/chief/ruler Hunter Thief Doctor Witch Corpse Blacksmith Slave Masquerade I Masquerade II Masquerade III Masquerade IV Masquerade V Masquerade VI Masquerade VII Masquerade VIII Masquerade IX Masquerade X Suffering Death Name Grave Song Proverb Story Word Lie Hunger Horn Tail Egg Wing Feather Gum/glue Ant-hill Hole
Singular
ùŋwēyír ùnāwdé ùwɛ́rɛ́ ùtsén ùwʸērí ùláw ùhéw ùnèrāgów ùdzím ùkóm ùnērnáhà
Plural
ùgã́ rã́ úkù(ù) ùnāŋgbóʒí ùntérúkú ùkūʤákùm ùkōmkú ùkūdóm ùmbùmbwĩ́ yà ùndānír
àŋwēyír ànāwdé àwɛ́rɛ́ átsèn àwʸērí álàw áhèw ánèràgòw àdzím àkūkóm ánèrnàhà, ábìnàhà àgã́ rã́ ákù(ù) ànāŋgbóʒí àntérúkú àkūʤákùm àkōmkú àkūdóm àmbùmbwĩ́ yà àndānír
kùsūgóŋ kùsūtsígà
ákùsàgòŋ ákùsàtsìgà
ùdzɛ́
àdzūdzɛ́
ùbúm ìsārá ùrém àɲí ìmér ùtóm ùsáw ùdzé ùpɛ́ ̃ ìtsár
àmbūmbúm ísárà àrūrém àɲīɲí — àtūtóm àsūsáw àdzé àpūpɛ́ ̃ ítsàr
ùkērĩ́ ùkwé
àkērĩ́ àkūkwé -10-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
NO. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162.
Gloss Smell Poison Load Bundle Firewood Stick, staff War Work Divination (types) Medicine Money Shadow Thing Strength Length Land/country Sleep Disease(generic ) Smallpox Epidemic Diarrhoea Eczema Goitre Boil Spot Sore/wound Leprosy Head Eye Face Cheek Forehead Nose Ear Mouth Tooth Tongue Throat Neck Jaw Chin Shoulder
Singular
Plural
úkĩ̀ tókpà ìdóŋ ìwá ìkyér ágwò
ùhwɛ́ ùsīs̃ ĩ́ rà ùbín
àbɛ́ ̃ ìɽāɽá kpàtsú ìkpyó ìɲīrá ìkwɛ̄r̃ ɛ́ ̃ ìgūrɔ́ ìnɔ́r ìʃí ùtsɔ́ kpìnítò íkè ùʃú ùʷɛ́ɛ̀ʃù ùtám ìʃí íŋwù ùtó àɲí ìgá ùɽɛ́m tùmrɔ́ ùrɔ́
ùtɛ́
Commentary
àkīkĩ́ ìtókpà ídòŋ ordinary stick = ‘tree’ íwà íkyèr àgūgwó
— àsīs̃ ĩ́ rà àbín
— íɽàɽà
íkpyò
ínɔ̀r íʃì àtsūtsɔ́ àŋkpīnítò àkīké àʃūʃú — àtám àʃīʃí H. goshi — àtūtó àɲīɲí ígà áɽɛ̀m ìtūmrɔ́ àrūrɔ́
àtūtɛ́ -11-
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
NO. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172. 173. 174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. 189. 190. 191. 192. 193. 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. 200. 201. 202. 203. 204. 205.
Gloss Armpit Fist Arm Hand Leg Foot Thigh Knee Nail (Finger/toe) Female breast Stomach Belly Chest Navel Back Buttocks Penis Vagina Skin Bone Rib Vein Blood I Blood II Breath Tear Saliva Sweat Urine Faeces I Faeces II Hair Beard Liver Heart Intestines Body Meat Animal (Bush) Horse Donkey Cow Bull
Singular
Plural
ùbɔ́ ùntébɔ̀ ùdá
àbūbɔ́ àntébɔ̀ àdūdá
ìgyóŋdà ùkīkérù gbɛ̀rtó
ígyóŋàdà àkīkérù gbɛ̀gbɛ̀rtó
ùbɛ́ ̃ nòkèrāná àná
àbɛ́ ,̃ àbūbɛ́ ̃
ùbṹ ùpó ìbúrà ???
àbūbṹ àpūpó íbúrà
ùkūkú
àkūkú
àdzír ùmɛ́hɛ̀
— —
àkyí ìsúsù àhīrá àbí ìdèrēbúr
— — — — —
áʃày ìkpí kàrābí ìyór ìgywɛ́ ìgywɛ́ ìdɔ́ dzàki ìná
— — àyūyór — ígywɛ̀ ídɔ̀ àdzākí ínà -12-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
NO.
Gloss
206. 207. 208. 209. 210. 211. 212. 213. 214. 215. 216. 217. 218. 219. 220. 221. 222. 223. 224. 225. 226. 227. 228.
Calf Goat He-goat Female goat Castrated goat Sheep Ram Castrated sheep Pig Dog Cat Elephant Hippo Buffalo Lion Leopard Hyena1 Civet cat2 Genet cat3 Jackal4 Wart-hog5 Bush-pig6 Duiker antelope7 Kob antelope8 Roan antelope9 Big antelope Mid antelope Porcupine10 Aardvark11 Tree pangolin12
229. 230. 231. 232. 233. 234. 235.
1
Singular
Plural
ìbṹ ìʃúr ìsáw ìbũ̀
íbũ̀ íʃùr ísáw ìbũ̀
ìdóy ùŋgbá
ídòy àŋgbá
àlédè ìgwí mùsá ìdzóm ìyém ìyáy wyɛ́rɛ́’gwyɛ náŋgɔ̀m ùmūrĩ́
— àŋwīŋgwí àmūsà ídzòm íyèm íyày
ùbígìbà
àbígíbà
ùntsérà
àntsérà
ìdém ìdzúŋ ìyí ùnkwĩ́
ídèm ídzùŋ íyì ànkwĩ́
‘king of beasts’
ànáŋgɔ̀m àmūrĩ́
(Crocuta crocuta)
2
(Viverra civetta) (Genetta genetta) 4 (Canis aureus) 3
5
(Phacochoerus aethiopus) (Potamochoerus Porcus) 7 (Cephalophus spp.) 6
8 9
(Kobus kob) (Hippotragus equinus)
10
(Hystrix cristata)
11
(Manis tricuspis) (Manis tricuspis)
12
Commentary
-13-
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist
NO. 236. 237. 238. 239. 240. 241. 242. 243. 244. 245. 246. 247. 248. 249. 250. 251. 252. 253. 254. 255. 256. 257. 258. 259. 260. 261. 262. 263. 264. 265. 266. 267. 268.
Gloss Baboon Patas monkey13 Guenon monkey14 Squirrel (ground) Squirrel (tree) Rat (generic) Shrew Giant rat15 Fat mouse Pygmy mouse Grasscutter16 Hedgehog17 Rock hyrax18 Hare19 House-bat Fruit-bat Nile crocodile Chameleon Agama lizard Skink Gecko Monitor lizard Toad Frog Tortoise Snake (Generic) Spitting cobra Python Puff adder Amphisbaenid Crab Prawn Fish (generic)
13
(Erythrocebus patas)
14
(Cercopithecus aethiops)
Singular
Plural
ìkɔ́ ìtsɛ́m ìdú
íkɔ̀ ítsɛ̀m ídù
ùndók
àndók
ùŋkwírìŋkpì ìkpí ǹzúzíkpì ìkɔ́r
àŋkwírìŋkpì íkpì ànzúzíkpì íkɔ̀r
ìbów ìmúm ìsɔ̄hɔ́ ̃ ìŋgyó àŋkpáŋákù àŋkpáŋ ìhár ùɲáɲáhà ìgbyér ùkúŋgwèr ùʃábídòm ìyér ùwér ùwáránʤàm ùnkúr ìsú ìdúm ìtséŋ, ìtsáŋ ùŋgúrúŋ ùhúhú ùtánkwòy (ù)ʃíʃèŋ ìkyá
íbòw ímùm ísɔ́hɔ̀ ̃ àyīŋgyó — — íhàr àɲáɲáhà ígbyèr àkúŋgwèr àʃábídòm íyèr àwér àwáránʤàm ànkúr ísù ídùm ítsèŋ, ítsàŋ àŋgúrúŋ àhúhú àtánkwòy àʃíʃèŋ íkyà
15
(Cretomyces sp.) 16 (Thryonomys Swinderianus) 17 (Atelerix albiventris) 18 (Atelerix albiventris) 19
(Lepus Crawshayi)
-14-
Commentary
check???
H. guza
H. mesa H. kasa H. gobe da nisa
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 269. 270. 271. 272. 273. 274. 275. 276. 277. 278. 279. 280. 281. 282. 283. 284. 285. 286. 287. 288. 289. 290. 291. 292. 293. 294. 295. 296.
Gloss Tilapia (spp.) Fish sp. I Fish sp. II Fish sp. I Fish sp. I Bird (generic) Chicken Cock *Duck (Domestic) Pigeon (Domestic) Guinea-fowl Hooded Vulture20 Village Weaver21 Cattle-egret22 Black kite23 Standard-wing Night-jar Owl (various spp.) Eagle Eagle sp. Palm-nut vulture Senegal Coucal24 Bush-fowl Swallow *Pied crow25 Kingfisher Woodpecker Insect (Generic) Scorpion
Singular ùgúm ùŋkéráhɔ̀dɔ̀ ùtsútsòw ùŋgbwégéɲì ùwéndénà únùnù ìnú ìkwóy àgwāgwá
Plural àgúm àkéráhɔ̀dɔ̀ àtsútsòw àŋgbwégéɲì àwéndénà ánùnù ínù íkwòy < Hausa —
ùrīnɔ́
àrīnɔ́
ìgyók ùŋgbɛ́bɛ́
ígyòk àŋgbɛ́bɛ́
ùɛ́
àɛ́
ùnùnīná ùkūká
ànùnīná àkūká
ìgú
ígù
ìtsītsów ìkã́ hã̀ ùŋkpɔ́gùlè
àtsītsów íkã́ hã̀ It flies very high àŋkpɔ́gùlè
ìkwéy ùkpàŋākú
íkwèy àkpàŋākú
ùnùn’āmɛ́ ùŋkpōtítí
ànùn’āmɛ́ àkpōtítí
ìnāɣá
ínáɣà
20
(Neophron monachus) (Ploceus cucullatus) 22 (Ardeola ibis) 23 (Milvus migrans) 21
24
(Centropus spp.)
25
(Corvus albus) -15-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 297. 298. 299. 300. 301. 302. 303. 304. 305. 306. 307. 308. 309. 310. 311. 312. 313. 314. 315. 316. 317. 318. 319. 320. 321. 322. 323. 324. 325. 326. 327. 328. 329. 330. 331. 332. 333. 334.
26 27
Gloss Butterfly Dragon-fly Mosquito Spider26 Mason wasp27 Bee Sweat-fly Sandfly Fly sp. Biting fly sp. Housefly Ant (Generic) Sugar-ant Stink-ant Biting ant Red biting ant Louse (Human) Millipede Cockroach Termite Flying-ant Locust Locust variegated Grasshopper sp. Grasshopper sp. Bedbug Dung-beetle Praying mantis Firefly Giant Cricket Earthworm Giant Snail Oil Salt Soup/stew Porridge Sorghum-beer Palm-wine
Singular ùkàdākú ùnzùkātám ìbów ùsántén ùndzúrúbì ìyóy ìʃém ùdzúdzù ùmāndzín ùtswí ìdzú ùgów ùhwátó ùnzúnzér ìhíhèrì (ù)mándòm ìɽów ùdākwóy ùhéw ùɽéŋ ùɥé ùtsūtsú ùtsūtsú àkù ùndērá gbaŋgato ùŋgwírã̀ (ù)bórábì ùndɔ́ rɔ ̃ ̀̃ ìgyér ìdēá ùntúntòm ìkór àtsé ùwã́ ìgyáw ùbóy àdɛ́ ùbɔ́m
Plural àkàdākú ànzùkātám íbòw àsántén àndzúrúbì íyòy íʃèm àdzúdzù àmāndzín àtswí ídzù ágùgòw àhwátó ànzúnzér àhíhèrì àmándòm íɽòw àdākwóy àhéw àɽéŋ àɥé àtsūtsú àtsūtsú àkù àndērá àgbaŋgato check ??? àŋgwírã̀ àŋbórábì àn(dɔ̀ )̃ dɔ́ rɔ ̃ ̀̃ ígyèr ídéà àntúntòm íkòr — — — — — —
(Acarina spp.) (Belenogaster spp.) -16-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 335. 336. 337. 338. 339. 340. 341. 342. 343. 344. 345. 346. 347. 348. 349. 350. 351. 352. 353. 354. 355. 356. 357. 358. 359. 360. 361. 362. 363. 364. 365. 366. 367. 368. 369. 370. 371. 372. 373. 374. 375. 376. 377. 378.
Gloss Peelings Filter Rag Floor-beater Handle (of tool) Sickle Cutlass Iron Axe Adze Hoe I Hoe II Hammer Knife Spoon Gourd ladle Comb Broom Bag Fireplace Shoe Shirt, cloth Trousers Grindstone (top) Mortar (wood) Pestle Pot (generic) Clay dish Pot II Large water-pot Largest pot Head-pad Basket (generic) Basket I Basket II Winnowing tray Mat (generic) Mat I Needle Spear Bow Arrow Quiver Chain
Singular àhégè ìsārá àbòtāyín ùtìtī rérànùŋ úhò ùlāwʤé àdá ùdzów ìgɔ́ ìhyáw ùkp ́r ìrón ùtóŋ ìkʷón ìkyɔ́ ùdūdár ùtsásá úhɔ̀ ùkpōgá tsélà ùtárà ùtāyím ùwōndó ùkɔ́ ùtúr ùgí ìɲí ítɛ̀ ̃ ìdúm ìgyámà ìdór ùdzīdzír
Plural — — — àtìtī rérànùŋ áhò àlāwʤé — àdzaw ígɔ̀ íhyàw àkp ́r íròn àtóŋ àkʷón íkyɔ̀ ádàr àtsásá áhɔ̀ àkpōgá átsélà àntárà àtāyím àwōndó àkɔ́ àtúr àgí íɲì átɛ̀ ̃ ídùm ígyámà ídòr àdzīdzír
waŋ tɔɔ gwe
àwaŋ atɔɔ agwe
-17-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO.
Gloss
379. 380. 381. 382. 383. 384. 385. 386. 387. 388. 389. 390. 391. 392. 393. 394. 395. 396. 397. 398.
Rope Stool Wooden door Fence Bridge Ladder Canoe Paddle Bee-hive Fish-Net Fish-trap I Fish-trap II Fish-trap III Snare One Two Three Four Five Six
399. 400. 401. 402. 403. 404.
Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve
405. 406. 407. 408. 409. 410. 411. 412. 413. 414. 415. 416. 417. 418. 419. 420. 421.
Twenty Twenty-four Forty Sixty Eighty Hundred Black White Red Sweet Bitter Half Hot Cold Old New Wet
Singular
Plural
nyiŋ kwɛ̀r ǹtar naà ntõõ̀ to o᷅ỹ tɔ́kwɛ̀r tɔ́rɔ́k bɔ́nkòp kóp sɔ́g gí nyì ye yĩ́ sɔ́g gí nyì ye kwɛ̀r sɔ́g gí kwɛ̀r
nàgge
-18-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO.
Gloss
422. 423. 424. 425.
Dry Smooth Add to Answer (question) Arrive Ask a question Ask/beg for something Awaken (s.o.) Bark (dog) Be bent Be heavy Be on (s.t.) Be rotten Be short Beat (drum) Beat (s.o.) Become dry Begin Bite Blow (flute etc.) Boil Break Build (house etc.) Burn (fire burns) Bury Buy Call (to someone) Carry Carve (wood etc.) Catch Chew Choose Climb Close Come Come out (of room)
426. 427. 428. 429. 430. 431. 432. 433. 434. 435. 436. 437. 438. 439. 440. 441. 442. 443. 444. 445. 446. 447. 448. 449. 450. 451. 452. 453. 454. 455. 456. 457.
Singular
Plural
hárrgé dzim
goy
kĩ
ba
-19-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 458. 459. 460. 461. 462. 463. 464. 465. 466. 467. 468. 469. 470. 471. 472. 473. 474. 475. 476. 477. 478. 479. 480. 481. 482. 483. 484. 485. 486. 487. 488. 489. 490. 491. 492. 493. 494. 495. 496. 497. 498.
Gloss Continue (to do s.t.) Cook Cough Count Cover Cut down (tree) Cut in two Cut off (head etc.) Dance Die Dig (earth etc.) Divide/share Do/make Drag Draw water Dream Drink Drop Dry in sun Eat Enter Extinguish Fall (rain) Fall over Fear Feel (cold etc.) Fight (in war) Fill Finish (a task) Float Flog Flow (water etc.) Fly (birds) Fold (cloth etc.) Follow Forget Fry (in oil) Gather/collect Get Give Give birth
Singular
Plural
gbɛ̀r
tsérè
hwa
le
sòyàŋ
-20-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO.
Gloss
499. 500. 501. 502. 503. 504. 505. 506.
Go Go out/exit Grind Grow (plants) Hatch (egg) Have Hear Hit/strike (drum) Hoe Hunt Jump Kill Kneel Know Laugh Learn Lick Lie down Listen Lose s.t. Marry Mix Mould (pot) Mount Open Pierce/stab Plait (hair) Plant (crop etc.) Play Pound (in mortar) Pour (liquid) Pull Push Put on (clothes) Receive Refuse ‘Remain’ Remember Resemble Return Ride (horse etc.) Roast on coals
507. 508. 509. 510. 511. 512. 513. 514. 515. 516. 517. 518. 519. 520. 521. 522. 523. 524. 525. 526. 527. 528. 529. 530. 531. 532. 533. 534. 535. 536. 537. 538. 539. 540.
Singular dzẽ́ õ̀
Plural
hɛr
dzim
dàra yírá
-21-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO.
Gloss
541. 542. 543. 544. 545. 546. 547. 548. 549. 550. 551. 552. 553.
Rub Run Say/speak Scatter See Seek Sell Send Set trap Sew Shake Sharpen Shoot (arrow, gun) Sing Sit down Slaughter (animal) Sleep Smash Smell Snap in two Sow seeds Spit Split Stand up Steal Stir (soup) Suck (breast etc.) Surpass Swallow Sweep Swell Swim Take Tear (cloth etc.) Tell Throw Tie Touch Twist (rope etc.) Untie Uproot (tuber)
554. 555. 556. 557. 558. 559. 560. 561. 562. 563. 564. 565. 566. 567. 568. 569. 570. 571. 572. 573. 574. 575. 576. 577. 578. 579. 580. 581.
Singular
Plural
gwegè dùŋgɛ́
ʃíʃedà
ɽɔ̀
sòdúdɛ ̃
-22-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 582. 583. 584. 585. 586. 587. 588. 589. 590. 591. 592. 593. 594. 595. 596. 597. 598. 599. 600. 601. 602. 603.
Gloss Vomit Walk Want/need Wash Wear Weave Weed Weep Wipe Work Yawn I You He/she/it We You Pl. They Who? Which? What? When? Where? Exclamations
Singular
Plural
Commentary
kyɛ̀rɛ
mɛ̂ ̃ ŋwu iyê idê kutsadè m̄ bɔ
604. Adverbs 605. Particles etc. 606.
Edible and Useful Plants NO. 607. 608. 609. 610. 611.
28 29
Gloss Guinea-yam28 Aerial yam29 Red yam30 Water-yam31 Taro (Old cocoyam)32
Plural
(Dioscorea guineensis) (Dioscorea bulbifera)
30
(Dioscorea cayenensis)
31
(Dioscorea alata) (Colocasia esculenta)
32
Singular
-23-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 612. 613. 614. 615. 616. 617. 618. 619. 620. 621. 622. 623. 624. 625. 626. 627. 628. 629. 630. 631. 632. 633. 634. 635. 636. 637. 638.
Gloss New cocoyam33* Cassava*34 Sweet potato*35 Wild yam I Wild yam II Tumuku36 Rizga37 Sorghum38 3-month Sorghum39 Bulrush millet40 (gero) Bulrush millet (maiwa) Eleusine*41 Fonio (H. acca)42 Iburu (H. iburu)43 Maize*44 Rice*45 Cowpea46 Spiral cowpea Lima bean47* Other beans I Other beans II Other beans III Bambara groundnut48 Kersting's ground49 nut Groundnut (Peanut)50 Tiger-nut51 Garden egg52
33
(Xanthosoma mafaffa) (H. wali)
34
(Manihot esculenta)
35
(Ipomoea batatas)
36
(Plectranthus esculentus)
37
(Solenostemon rotundifolius) (Sorghum bicolor)
38
Singular
Plural
39
(H. jigaari)) (Pennisetum spp.) 41 (H. tamba) (Eleusine coracana) 40
42 43 44
(Digitaria exilis) (Digitaria iburua) (Zea mays)
45
(Oryza sativa/ glaberrima) 46 (Vigna unguiculata) 47 (Phaseolus lunatus) 48 (Vigna subterranea) 49
(Macrotyloma geocarpa)
50
(Arachis hypogaea)
51
(Cyperus esculentus)
-24-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 639. 640. 641. 642. 643. 644. 645. 646. 647. 648. 649. 650. 651. 652. 653. 654. 655. 656. 657. 658. 659. 660. 661. 662. 663. 664. 665.
52 53 54 55 56 57
Gloss Okra53 Chili pepper* (large)54 Birdseye chili*55 Onion (Allium cepa) Garlic56 Tomato57 Egusi melon58 Melon (other)59 Edible squash60 Sorrel/roselle61 Jews' mallow62 Kenaf63 Sesame seeds64 Black sesame65 Sesame leaves66 Bitterleaf67 Waterleaf*68 Plantain (Musa AAB) Banana (Musa AAA) Orange*69 Bamboo Pineapple*70 Coconut*71 Pawpaw*72 Gourd (Generic) Gourd-bottle73 Gourd (spherical)74
Singular
Plural
(Solanum melongena) (Abelmoschus esculentus)
(Capsicum frutescens) (Capsicum annuum) (Allium sativum) (Lycopersicon esculentum)
58
(Citrullus lanatus)
59
(Cucumis spp)
60
(Cucurbita pepo)
61
(H. yakuwa) (Hibiscus sabdariffa) 62 (H. lalo)(Corchorus olitorius) 63 (H. rama) (Hibiscus cannabinus) 64 (H. RiÎii) (Sesamum indicum) 65 (Sesamum radiatum) 66 (H. karkashi) 67 Vernonia amygdalina 68 69
(Amaranthus spp) (Citrus sinensis)
70
(Ananas comosus) (Cocos nucifera) 72 (Carica papaya) 73 (Lagenaria siceraria) 71
-25-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist NO. 666. 667. 668. 669. 670. 671. 672. 673. 674. 675. 676. 677. 678. 679. 680. 681. 682. 683. 684. 685. 686. 687. 688. 689. 690. 691. 692.
74
Gloss Other gourds Cotton Tobacco* Sugar-cane* Loofah75 (H. soso) Cola Oil-palm76 Palm-fruit Palm-oil Palm kernel Raphia/ bamboo palm77 Fan-palm78 Monkey-guava79 Canarium tree80 Custard apple81 Wild date-palm82 Baobab83 Silk-cotton tree84 Shea tree85 Shea-fruit Locust tree86 Locust fruit Locust-bean cakes Tamarind87 Sodom apple88 Terminalia sp.89 Black plum90
Singular
Plural
(Cucurbita maxima)
75
(Luffa cylindrica) 76 (Elaeis guineensis) 77 (Raphia spp.) 78 (Borassus aethiopum) 79 (Diospyros mespiliformis) 80 (Canarium schweinfurthii) 81 (Annona senegalensis) 82 (Phoenix reclinata) 83 (Adansonia digitata) 84 (Ceiba pentandra) 85 (Vitellaria paradoxa) 86 (Parkia biglobosa) 87 (Tamarindus indica) 88 (Calotropis procera H. tumfafiya) 89 (H. baushe) 90 (Vitex doniana)
-26-
Commentary
Roger Blench: Gwara Wordlist Musical Instruments NO. 693. 694. 695. 696. 697. 698. 699. 700. 701. 702. 703. 704. 705.
Gloss Drum I Drum II Drum III Flute Zither Lute Xylophone Harp Transverse horn Clarinet Iron gong Gourd-rattle Ankle rattles
Singular
Plural
Commentary
7. Conclusion Gwara is an unknown language of the Koro group with a small but significant body of speakers. Its vitality is hard to gauge without further survey. The community are in principle receptive to a literacy initiative, although again, this cannot be fully assessed. The phonology is relatively simple compared with some neighbouring languages and many of the same conventions adopted for Idũ could be adapted for Gwara. References Abraham, R.C. 1962. Dictionary of the Hausa language. London: University of London Press. Bendor-Samuel, J. ed. 1989. The Niger-Congo languages. Lanham: University Press of America. CAPRO ined. An ethnic survey of Plateau State. Jos: CAPRO Research Office. Crozier, D. and Blench, R.M. 1992. Index of Nigerian Languages (edition 2). SIL, Dallas. Gerhardt, L. 1983a. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen des Nigerianischen Plateaus. Glückstadt: Verlag J.J. Augustin. Gerhardt, Ludwig 1983b. Lexical interferences in the Chadic/Benue-Congo Border-Area. In Wolff, E. & Meyer-Bahlburg, H. (eds.) Studies in Chadic and Afroasiatic Linguistics. 301-310. Hamburg: Helmut Buske. Jungraithmayr, H. and Dymitr Ibriszimow 1995. Chadic lexical roots. [2 vols.] Berlin: Reimer. Newman, R.M. 1997. An English-Hausa dictionary. Lagos: Longman. Temple, Olive 1922. Notes on the Tribes, Provinces, Emirates and States of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. Argus Printing and Publishing Co. Capetown. Westermann, D. 1927. Die Westlichen Sudansprachen und ihre Beziehungen zum Bantu. Berlin: de Gruyter. Williamson, K., and K. Shimizu. 1968. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist, Vol. 1. Ibadan: West African Linguistic Society. Williamson, Kay 1973. Benue-Congo comparative wordlist: Vol.2. Ibadan: West African Linguistic Society.
-27-
