| Bendi | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Cross River State in southeasternNigeria, and southwesternCameroon |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo? |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | bend1256 |
 The Bendi languages shown within Nigeria and Cameroon: | |
TheBendi languages are a small group of languages spoken inCross River State, southeasternNigeria.Bokyi is one of the Bendi languages having some speakers inCameroon. Once counted among theCross River languages, they may be a branch ofSouthern Bantoid, with observed similarities especially with theEkoid languages.[1]
Very little research has been conducted on the Bendi languages, and the modern work that does exist often remains either unpublished or inaccessible.[2] The group is notable for having one language (Ubang) that has male and female forms.[2]
The Obudu-Obanlikwu-Eastern Boki languages are:
The data is too poorly covered to allow for detailed internal classification of these languages.
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]
| Language | Cluster | Dialects | Alternate spellings | Own name for language | Other names (location-based) | Other names for language | Exonym(s) | Speakers | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bekwarra | Bekwara, Bekworra | Yakoro | 27,500 (1953), 34,000 (1963), 60,000 (1985 SIL) | Cross River State, Ogoja LGA | |||||
| Obanliku | Basang (Bàsáu), Bebi, Bishiri, Bisu (Gayi), Busi | Abanliku | 19,800 (1963); estimated 65,000 (Faraclas 1989) | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | |||||
| Obe cluster | Obe | Mbube Eastern (a geographical name); Ogberia | Mbe Afal (by the Mbe) | 16,341 (1963) | Cross River State, Obudu LGA. 6 villages: Nkim, Ogboria Ogang, Ogboria Uchuruo, Ojerim (Ojirim), Árágbán, and Òbósó. | ||||
| Mgbenege | Obe | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | |||||||
| Utugwang | Obe | Otugwang | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | ||||||
| Okwọrọgung | Obe | Okorogung | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | ||||||
| Ukwortung | Obe | Okorotung, Okwọrọtung | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | ||||||
| Ubang | Ùbâŋ | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | |||||||
| Ukpe–Bayobiri cluster | Ukpe–Bayobiri | 12,000 (1973 SIL) | Cross River State, Obudu and Ikom LGAs | ||||||
| Ukpe | Ukpe–Bayobiri | ||||||||
| Bayobiri | Ukpe–Bayobiri | ||||||||
| Alege | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | ||||||||
| Bete–Bendi | Bete, Bendi | Bette–Bendi | Dama | 17,250 (1952), 36,800 (1963) | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | ||||
| Bumaji | Bumaji | umuji | Bumaji | Cross River State, Obudu LGA | |||||
| Afrike-Irungene cluster | Afrike-Irungene | Cross River State, Ogoja LGA | |||||||
| Afrike | Afrike-Irungene | Aferikpe | 3,500 (1953) | Cross River State, Ogoja LGA | |||||
| Irungene | Afrike-Irungene | Cross River State, Ogoja LGA | |||||||
| Bokyi | By clans: Abo, Bashua, Boje, East Boki, Irruan, Osokum, Basua/Ɓashua, Wula: Báswó, Okúndi, Kecwan | Boki | Nki, Okii, Uki | Nfua | 43,000 (1963); 50,000 in Nigeria (1987 UBS), 3,700 inCameroon (SIL) | Cross River State, Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu LGAs; and inCameroon |
Comparison of numerals in individual languages:[4]
| Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bekwarra | kìn | -hà | -cià | -nè | -dyaŋ | -dyaàkìn (5 + 1) | -dièhà (5 + 2) | -diècià (5 + 3) | -diènè (5 + 4) | irifo |
| Bete-Bendi (Bə̀ttə́) (1) | ìkèn | ìfè | ìkíé | ìnè | ìdíɔ́ŋ | ìdíɔ́ŋ ìkèn (5 + 1) | ìdíɔ́ŋ ìfè (5 + 2) | ìdíɔ́ŋ ìkíé (5 + 3) | ìdíɔ́ŋ ìnè (5 + 4) | lèhʷó |
| Bete-Bendi (Bette) (2) | iken | ifee | ikʲe | inde | idʲoŋ | idʲoŋ-iken (5 + 1) | idʲoŋ-ifee (5 + 2) | idʲoŋ-ikʲe (5 + 3) | idʲoŋ-inde (5 + 4) | lihʷo |
| Bokyi | kìbɒ́ŋɛ̀ | bìfɛ̀ː | bìt͡ʃât | bìɲìː | bìtáŋɛ̀ | ɲât͡ʃât (lit: "add three") | kát͡ʃákáɲì (lit:3 plus 4) | ɲíríɲì (lit:4 plus 4) | kátáŋɛ̀káɲì (lit:5 plus 4) | děːk͡púː |
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