Adamava-Ubangan languages

Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​include about 150 languages. According to one of the latest classifications, they are divided into 2 subfamilies - Adamava and Ubangian.

The Adamava subfamily consists of 6 branches (about 90 languages).

1. Waja-jen unites groups:

vaja ( tula , bangwiji , waja , dadiya , tsobo , dikaka (cham-mona, djim-bvilim) , kamu , avak );

longood;

Jen [Lelau (Munga-Lelau), , Jen (Nzangi) , Kyak, Burak, Mahdi, Moo, Lo, Poppy, Tha];

yungur [mboys, or (kaan), robe (lala-roba), yungur (voro-ben)].

2. Leko-nimbari includes groups:

leko [the chamba subgroup is leko, mumbake (ndagam, nyong) and dong; PTO, Kolbil];

fool [dupa, diya, papa, sari; Dooley (dead); namshi (dooyo, seve), hymnim, gimme, coma, faith (mom jango) , woko (longto), pere (kotopo, kutin)];

Nimbari

mumuye-yandang ( gengle , kumba , mumuye ( rank , pangseng , zinn ), waka , theme ; yandang , kpasam , bali , kugama ).

3. Mbum-dai unites groups:

mbum [kare, karang , nzakambai, pana, kuo , dama, ndai, mono, mambai (mangbai), mundang, tupuri, mbum, dec, laka, pam];

bois (bois, bulgo , bon gula, gula iro, koke, nyelim, noah, tunya, zan gula, fanya);

kim [demon, gundo, kim (masa)];

give.

4. Fali.

5. Cam.

6. Kwa (ba).

The Adamava subfamily also includes 3 unclassified languages: Oblo, Geve (dead), La'bi.

The Ubangan subfamily is divided into 5 branches (about 60 languages).

1. Gbaya-mandza-ngbaka: suma, bokoto, gbana, gbaya, ali, bofi, bonzo, manza (manga), ngbaka , banganda.

2. Gang (central): gobu, kpagva, gang (group of dialects or closely related languages), mono, ngundu, langbashi, mbandza, ngbundu.

3. Zande (southern): baramba, pambia, heme, kpatili, nzakara, zande.

4. Ngbandi - a group of dialects: ngbandi, yakoma, mbangi, dandy.

5. Sere-ngbaka-mba includes groups:

mba [dongo, mba, ma (amadi) , ndunga];

ngbaka [bangba, mayogo, mundu, tank, bomass, gundi, ganzi, ngombe, ngbaka, bouaka (gilima, ngbaka ma'bo ), beetroot, gbansiri, kpala, monzombo, yango];

sulfur (feroge, mangayat, indri, togoyo, bai, bviri, ndogo, sulfur, tagbu). Among the languages ​​of this group, a special place is occupied by the Sango language ( Creole based on Ngbandi), which plays the role of the lingua franca in the vast territory of central Africa.

Typologically, the Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​are heterogeneous; there are languages ​​with a predominance of agglutination (for example, MBA), isolation (ndogo), with a mixed typology (MBUM).

Phonological systems contain up to 7 or more vowels; among consonants, labio-velar (kp, gb), implosive ɓ, ɖ, various affricates, palatal are frequent. Consonant combinations are rare, the syllable has an advantage. the consonant + vowel or consonant + vowel + consonant structure. Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​- tones , up to 4 high-altitude registers are found, contour tones (ascending and descending) are possible; tones distinguish both lexical and grammatical meanings.

In the morphology of many languages, nominal classes are represented (indicated by suffixes), by the presence and absence of which Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​are divided into 2 classes regardless of the genetic grouping (for example, in the Adamaua group, nominal classes are in longood, tula and are absent in mbum, chamba, mumbak ; in the Ubangan group, they are in the MBA, but not in the Ndogo, etc.). The number of classes is different in languages ​​(in Tula - 6, in MBA - 8, etc.), sets of singular and plural classes are not symmetrical (for example, in MBA there are 5 classes of the singular and 3 of the plural), and different nouns of the same singular classes may correspond to different plural classes. There is a harmonization of adjectives and pronouns ( indicative , possessive). In the system of personal pronouns, some Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​distinguish between the forms of inclusive and exclusive. Numerals have decimal and quintuple number systems. In the verb there are categories of aspectuality and tense, which are expressed using suffixes, auxiliary verbs, particles. Among the aspectual meanings, the main one is perfection-imperfection; there are suffix forms of iterative, intensive, causative, beneficial. In the category of time there are special forms of near / distant past and future. The syntax presents the type “subject + predicate + (direct) addition”, the circumstance of time may occupy the final or initial position in the sentence; adjectives, demonstrative pronouns, numerals usually follow a noun. Possessive constructions are constructed according to the “possessed + possessor” model, and it is possible to distinguish between alienable and inalienable accessories; Wed in cepe: kere ndi ni 'woman's basket' (alienable affiliation, ndi indicator) - ti mbongo 'tusk' (lit. 'elephant tooth'; inalienable affiliation, without ndi indicator).

Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​are mostly non-written.

Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​are one of the least studied languages ​​in Africa. The history of their occurrence and stages of development have not been studied. The first descriptions of individual languages ​​appear at the beginning of the XX century. Their authors are French and German missionaries, colonial employees. From the middle of the 20th century attention to adamava-ubangian languages ​​is increasing. As a special genetic community, they were singled out by J. Greenberg ( 1955 ) under the name Adamava-Oriental; in the earlier classification of D. Westerman, these languages ​​belonged to the Sudanese languages ​​and combined with the languages ​​that modern scholars attribute to Chadian , Kordofan , Nilo-Sahara . In 1971, the American scientist W. Samarin proposed calling them Adamava-Ubangian; this name is now generally accepted. The internal classification of the Adamava-Ubangian languages ​​is not final. Their classification was also revised as part of the Niger-Congolese languages; currently they are drawing closer to the languages ​​of the gurus ; this decision remains hypothetical.

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