Kotoko languages

Kotoko
Central Chadic
Geographic distribution:	Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon
Linguistic classification:	Negro-Egyptian Chadic Kotoko
Subdivisions:	Tera Bura–Higi Wandala–Mafa Daba Bata (Gbwata) Mandage (Kotoko) Yedina East–Central
Central Chadic per Newman (1977)

The Biu–Mandara, Central Chadic or Kotoko languages of the Negro-Egyptian family are spoken in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. The most widely spoken is Kamwe, with 300,000 speakers.

Languages

The branches of Kotoko go either by names or by letters and numbers in an outline format.

• Tera (A.1): Tera, Pidlimdi (Hinna), Jara, Ga'anda, Gabin, Boga, Ngwaba, Hwana
• Bura–Higi
  • Bura (A.2): Bura-Pabir (Bura), Cibak (Kyibaku), Nggwahyi, Huba (Kilba), Putai (Marghi West), Marghi Central (Margi, Margi Babal), Marghi South
  • ? Kofa
  • Higi (A.3): Kamwə (Psikyɛ, Higi), Bana, Hya, ? Kirya-Konzəl
• Wandala–Mafa
  • Wandala (Mandara) (A.4)
    • East: Wandala (Mura, Mandara, Malgwa), Glavda (Gəlvaxdaxa)
    • Parəkwa (Podoko)
    • West: Gəvoko, Guduf-Gava (Cineni), Dghweɗe, Hdi (Xədi, Hedi, Tur), Lamang, Woga, Vemgo, Mabas
    • Sukur (Sakwun, A.6)
  • Mafa (A.5)
    • Northeast Mafa: Vame (Pəlasla), Mbuko, Gaduwa
    • Matal (Muktele)
    • South Mafa
      • (a) Wuzlam (Ouldémé), Muyang, Maɗa, Məlokwo
      • (b) Zəlgwa-Minew, Gemzek, Ɗugwor, Mikere, Merey
      • (c) North Giziga, South Giziga, North Mofu, Mofu-Gudur (South Mofu), Baldemu (Mbazlam)
      • (d) Cuvok, Mafa, Mefele, Shügule
• Daba (A.7)
  • North Daba: Buwal (Gadala), Gavar (Kortchi)
  • South Daba: Mina (Besleri, Hina), Daba (Mazagway), Mbədam
• Bata (Gbwata) (A.8): Bacama, Bata (Gbwata), Sharwa, Tsuvan, Gude, Fali, Zizilivakan (Ulan Mazhilvən, Fali of Jilbu), Jimi (Jimjimən), Gudu, Holma (†), Nzanyi
• Mandage (Kotoko) (B.1)
  • South Mandage: Msər (Kousseri), Lagwan (Logone)
  • ? Jilbe
  • North Mandage: Afaɗə, Maslam, Malgbe (Gulfey), Mpadə
• Buduma (Yedina)
• East–Central
  • Gidar (Kaɗa)
  • Munjuk (B.2): Mbara, Muskum (Muzuk) (†), Mpus, Beege (Jafga), Vulum (Mulwi)
  • Mida'a (<B.1): Jina, Majəra

References

• Central Chadic resources at africanlanguages.org
• Ethnologue entry for Biu–Mandara languages