# Bole–Tangale languages

The Bole–Tangale languages (also known as the A.2 West Chadic languages) are a branch of West Chadic languages that are spoken in various states of northeastern Nigeria.

## Languages

The Bole–Tangale languages are:
* Bole (Bole–Tangale) (A.2)
** North (Bole proper): Bure, Bole, Gera, Geruma, Deno, Galambu, Giiwo, Kubi, Ngamo, Maaka (Maagha), Ɓeele, Daza (Dazawa), ?Pali, Karekare
** South (Tangale): Kwaami, Pero, Piya-Kwonci, Kulung, Kholok, Nyam, Kushi (Goji), Kutto (Kupto), Tangale, Dera (Kanakuru)
Karekare is the most divergent language within the Bole branch, while Dera is the most divergent language within the Tangale branch.

## Names and locations

Below is a comprehensive list of Bole–Tangale language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
| Language | Cluster | Dialects | Alternate spellings | Own name for language | Endonym(s) | Other names (location-based) | Other names for language | Exonym(s) | Speakers | Location(s) |
| Daza | | | Daza | | | | | | a few villages (Note: No data available) | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA |
| Bole | | Bara, Fika (Fiyankayen, Anpika) | | Bòò Pìkkà, Bopika | Am Pìkkà, Ampika | Fika, Piika | Bolanci | Anika, Bolewa | 32,000 (1952 W&B); est. >100,000 (1990) | Bauchi State, Dukku, Alkaleri, and Darazo LGAs; Borno State, Fika LGA |
| Bure | | | | BuBure | Bure | | Bure | | A single village southeast of Darazo town | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA |
| Ɓeele | | | Bele | Àɓéelé | bòhé áɓéelé sg., Àɓéelé pl. | | Bellawa | | 120 (Temple 1922); a few villages | Bauchi State |
| Deno | | | | | | | | | 9,900 (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA; 45 km northeast of Bauchi town |
| Galambu | | | Galembi, Galambe | Galambu | Galambu | | | | 8505 (Temple 1922); 2020 (Meek 1925); 1000 (SIL) | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA, at least 15 villages |
| Dera | | Shani, Shellen and Gasi | | Bo Dera | na Dera sg., Dera pl. | Kanakuru | | | 11,300 (W&B) | Adamawa State, Shellen LGA; Borno State, Shani LGA |
| Fyandigeri | | | | Fyandigere | sg. laa Fyandigeri, pl. Fyandigeri | | | Gerawa, Gere, Gera | 13,300 (LA 1971); at least 30 villages. Many Gera villages no longer speak the language. A 2018 survey suggested there are only 4 villages where the language is being passed on to children. | Bauchi State, Bauchi and Darazo LGAs |
| Geruma | | Sum, Duurum, possibly Gamsawa/Gamshi (Temple) | Gerema, Germa | Geerum (Duurum dialect); Gyeermu (Sum dialect) | Geerum (Duurum dialect); sg. na Gyeermu, pl. Gyeermu (Sum dial.) | | | | 4,700 (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Toro and Darazo LGAs. At least 10 villages |
| Giiwo | | | Kirifi | Bu Giiwo | sg. Ba Giiwo, pl. Ma Giiwo | | | | 3,620 (1922 Temple); 14,000 (SIL) | Bauchi State, Alkaleri, Bauchi and Darazo LGAs, 24 villages |
| Karekare | | Western Jalalum, northern Pakaro and eastern Ngwajum | Kәrekәre, Kerekere, Karaikarai, Kerikeri | | | | | | 39,000 (1952 W&B) | Bauchi State, Gamawa and Misau LGAs; Yobe State, Fika LGA |
| Kholok | | | | | | Kode, Koode, Kwoode,Widala, Pia, Wurkum, Pitiko | | | 2,500 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin) | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, near Didango |
| Kubi | | | Kuba | | | | | | 1,090 (1922 Temple); 500 (1973 SIL) | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, 40 km. N.E. of Bauchi town |
| Kulung (Chadic) | | | | Kulung (speakers consider themselves Kulung i.e. Jarawan Bantu, although their language is Chadic and related to Piya) | | Wurkum | | | 2000? | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA |
| Kutto | | | Kupto | Kúttò | Kúttò | | | | Two villages. 3000 (1990 est.) | Bauchi State, Bajoga LGA, Yobe State, Gujba LGA |
| Maaka | | Two dialects; Maaka (at Gulani) and Maha (at Vara) | Magha, Maga, Maha | | | | | | More than 4,000 (1990) | Yobe State, Gujba LGA. Gulani and Bara towns and associated hamlets. Northeast of Dadin Kowa Reservoir. |
| Ngamo | | | Gamo | | | | | | 17,800 (1952 W&B) | Borno State, Fika LGA; Bauchi State, Darazo LGA, Darazo district and Dukku LGA, Nafada district |
| Pero | | Dialects associated with three major settlements | Walo | Péerò | sg. Péerò, pl. Pìpéerò | Filiya [town name] | | | 6,664 (1925 Meek); 20,000 (1973 SIL) | Gombe State, Shongom LGA, around Filiya. 3 main villages: Gwandum, Gundale and Filiya. |
| Piya–Kwonci cluster | Piya–Kwonci | | Pia | | | Wurkum, Pitiko | | | 2,500 (1977 Voegelin & Voegelin) | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, near Didango |
| Piya | Piya–Kwonci | | Pia | | | Wurkum | | | | |
| Kwonci | Piya–Kwonci | Kunshenu | | | | | | | More than 4000 (1990) | |
| Goji | | | | Fo Goji | Nya Goji pl. Memme Goji | Kushe, Kushi | Chong'e | | 4000 (1973 SIL); 5000 (1990). ca. 20 villages (2007) | Gombe State, Shongom LGA |
| Kwaami | | Kafarati, Ɗolli | Kwami, Kwom | Kwáámì | Kwáámì | Komawa | | | 10,000 (1990) | Bauchi State, Kwami LGA |
| Nyam | | | | | Nyambolo | | | | A single village | Taraba State, Karim Lamido LGA, at Andami village |
| Tangale | | Ture, Kaltungo, Shongom, Billiri | Tangle | Táŋlɛ̀ | | Billiri | | | 36,000 (1952 W&B); 100,000 (1973 SIL) | Gombe State, Kaltungo, Alkaleri and Akko LGAs |