Southern Bantoid languages
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Southern Bantoid was first introduced by Williamson in a proposal that divided Bantoid into North and South branches.
The unity of the North Bantoid group was subsequently called into question, and Bantoid itself may be polyphyletic, but the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit, something that has not happened for (Narrow) Bantu itself.
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Internal classification
According to Williamson and Blench, Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages, Jarawan, Tivoid, Beboid, Mamfe (Nyang), Grassfields and Ekoid families. The Bendi languages are of uncertain classification; they have traditionally been classified with Cross River, but they may actually be Southern Bantoid. Blench suggests that Tivoid, Momo (ex-Grassfields) and East Beboid may form a group, perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru–Angwe:
- ? Bendi
- Tivoid–Beboid: Tivoid, Esimbi, East Beboid, ? Buru–Angwe, ? Menchum
- West Beboid (geographic)
- Furu
- Mamfe
- Ekoid–Mbe: Ekoid, Mbe
- Grassfields: Ring, Eastern Grassfields (Mbam–Nkam), Momo, ? Ndemli, Southwest Grassfields (Western Momo), ? Ambele
- Narrow Bantu, Jarawan–Mbam
Grollemund (2012)
Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund (2012):
Numerals
Comparison of numerals in individual languages: