Biu–Mandara languages
| Biu–Mandara | |
|---|---|
| Central Chadic | |
| Geographic distribution: |
Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon |
| Linguistic classification: |
Afro-Asiatic
|
| Subdivisions: |
|
| Glottolog: | bium1280 |
The Biu–Mandara or Central Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. The most widely spoken is Kamwe, with 300,000 speakers.
Gravina (2014) classifies Central Chadic as follows, as part of a reconstruction of the proto-language. Letters and numbers in parentheses correspond to branches in previous classifications. The greatest changes are breaking up and reassigning the languages of the old Mafa branch (A.5) and Mandage (Kotoko) branch (B.1).
Jilbe was not classified, as no sources were available.
The branches of Biu–Mandara traditionally go by either names or letters and numbers in an outline format. Blench (2006) organizes them as follows:
Central Chadic classification per Newman (1977):
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