Chadic languages

Composition

Paul Newman (1977) classified the languages into the four groups which have been accepted in all subsequent literature. Further subbranching, however, has not been as robust; Roger Blench (2006), for example, only accepts the A/B bifurcation of East Chadic. Subsequent work by Joseph Lovestrand argues strongly that Kujarge is a valid member of East Chadic. The placing of Luri as a primary split of West Chadic is erroneous. Bernard Caron (2004) shows that this language is South Bauchi and part of the Polci cluster. A suggestion for including the language isolate Kujargé as an early-diverged member, which subsequently became influenced by East Chadic, has been made by Blench (2008).

• Chadic
  • West Chadic
    • the Hausa, Ron, Bole, and Angas languages
    • the Bade, Warji, and Zaar languages
  • Biu–Mandara (Central Chadic)
    • the Bura, Kamwe, and Bata languages, among other groups
    • the Buduma and Musgu languages
    • Gidar
  • East Chadic
    • the Tumak, Nancere, and Kera languages
    • the Dangaléat, Mukulu, and Sokoro languages
  • Masa