Mvanip (Mvano), or Magu, is a minor Mambiloid language of Nigeria. Despite the small number of speakers, language use is vigorous. Ethnologue classifies Mvanip as threatened.[2]
As of 1964, Mvanip had 800 speakers in and around the town of Zongo Ajiya, which is located on the Mambila Plateau in Nigeria.[3] By 1999, however, the language was only spoken by about 100 speakers. Despite this, all of the children of Mvanip speakers still speak the language, meaning that it is still alive. Fulfulde, Mambila, and Ndoro are also spoken in Zongo Ajiya.[4]
Many confuse Mvanip with the Kaka language, which is spoken in the southeastern Nigeria and the adjacent areas in Cameroon.[5] Despite the confusion, these two languages are unrelated.
The most closely related language is Ndunda, which is also located on the Mambila Plateau.[4] Some other languages Mvanip is related to are Fam, Nizaa, Kwanja, Mambila, Vute and Wawa, which all evolved from proto-Mambiloid.[5]
Phonologyedit
While not much information exists about the phonology of Mvanip itself, there is information about the phonology of its related languages.
For example, labialisation is used extensively in both Kwanja and Nizaa, two other Mambiloid Languages. Vowel merger in languages such as Mambila suggest that Mvanip most likely also has less vowels than their common ancestor, proto-Mambiloid. It is unclear whether any vowels or consonants are nasalised in Mvanip, as some of its relatives have nasalised sounds and some do not.
All Mambiloid languages seem to have very complex tonal systems. For example, Vute, Kwanja, Atta and Gembu Mambila all have a variety of level and glide tones that are incorporated into the speech. Mambiloid languages also have noun affix systems.[5]
Referencesedit
^Mvanip at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
^Voegelin, C. F.; Voegelin, F. M. (1964). "Languages of the World: African Fascicle One". Anthropological Linguistics. 6 (5): 1–339. JSTOR 30022465.
^ abBlench, R. (2012). An atlas of Nigerian languages.
^ abcBlench, Roger (1993). "An Outline Classification of the Mambiloid Languages" (PDF). Journal of West African Languages.
December 18, 2023
mvanip, language, mvanip, mvano, magu, minor, mambiloid, language, nigeria, despite, small, number, speakers, language, vigorous, ethnologue, classifies, mvanip, threatened, mvanipmvanomagunative, tonigeriaregiontaraba, statenative, speakers100, 1999, language. Mvanip Mvano or Magu is a minor Mambiloid language of Nigeria Despite the small number of speakers language use is vigorous Ethnologue classifies Mvanip as threatened 2 MvanipMvanoMaguNative toNigeriaRegionTaraba StateNative speakers100 1999 1 Language familyNiger Congo Atlantic CongoBenue CongoMambiloidMambila KonjaMambila VuteKamkamMvanipLanguage codesISO 639 3 a href https iso639 3 sil org code mcj class extiw title iso639 3 mcj mcj a Glottologmvan1238ELPMvanipGeneral information editAs of 1964 Mvanip had 800 speakers in and around the town of Zongo Ajiya which is located on the Mambila Plateau in Nigeria 3 By 1999 however the language was only spoken by about 100 speakers Despite this all of the children of Mvanip speakers still speak the language meaning that it is still alive Fulfulde Mambila and Ndoro are also spoken in Zongo Ajiya 4 Many confuse Mvanip with the Kaka language which is spoken in the southeastern Nigeria and the adjacent areas in Cameroon 5 Despite the confusion these two languages are unrelated The most closely related language is Ndunda which is also located on the Mambila Plateau 4 Some other languages Mvanip is related to are Fam Nizaa Kwanja Mambila Vute and Wawa which all evolved from proto Mambiloid 5 Phonology editWhile not much information exists about the phonology of Mvanip itself there is information about the phonology of its related languages For example labialisation is used extensively in both Kwanja and Nizaa two other Mambiloid Languages Vowel merger in languages such as Mambila suggest that Mvanip most likely also has less vowels than their common ancestor proto Mambiloid It is unclear whether any vowels or consonants are nasalised in Mvanip as some of its relatives have nasalised sounds and some do not All Mambiloid languages seem to have very complex tonal systems For example Vute Kwanja Atta and Gembu Mambila all have a variety of level and glide tones that are incorporated into the speech Mambiloid languages also have noun affix systems 5 References edit Mvanip at Ethnologue 18th ed 2015 subscription required Mvanip Ethnologue Retrieved 2016 04 29 Voegelin C F Voegelin F M 1964 Languages of the World African Fascicle One Anthropological Linguistics 6 5 1 339 JSTOR 30022465 a b Blench R 2012 An atlas of Nigerian languages a b c Blench Roger 1993 An Outline Classification of the Mambiloid Languages PDF Journal of West African Languages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mvanip language amp oldid 1088850835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
