# South Bauchi languages

The South Bauchi languages (also called the B.3 West Chadic or Barawa languages) are a branch of West Chadic languages that are spoken in Bauchi State and Plateau State, Nigeria.
An extensive lexical survey of the South Bauchi languages had been carried out by Kiyoshi Shimizu from 1974 to 1975. Another early survey was that of Gowers (1907), which included 42 languages of Bauchi.

## Languages

The South Bauchi languages include:

### South Bauchi languages

* Zaar group: Dass; Geji, Polci (Polchi), Saya, Zari, Zeem
* Guruntum group: Guruntum-Mbaaru, Ju, Tala, Zangwal
* Boghom group: Jimi, Jum; Boghom, Kir-Balar, Mangas
Roger Blench (2020) counted around 38 South Bauchi languages.

## Internal classification
### Shimizu (1978)

Shimizu (1978) classifies the South Bauchi languages as follows. Individual languages are highlighted in italics.
* South Bauchi
** East branch
*** Boghom subgroup
**** Bòghòm (Burrum)
**** Kir cluster
***** Kiir (Kir); Laàr (Balàr)
***** Mánsi (Mangas)
*** Guruntum subgroup
**** Guruntum cluster
***** Mbaarù
***** Gùrùntùm
**** Tala cluster
***** Sòòr (Zaŋwal); Zaŋwal of Zungur
***** Lungu (Tala)
***** Shò (Jù); Jimi
** West branch
*** Barawa subgroup
**** North Barawa
***** Geji cluster
****** Mɨ̀gang (Booluu), Pelu; Gyaanzi (Gèèjì)
****** Buu (Zàràndaa)
***** Polci cluster
****** Zùl; Barang (Baram), Dììr (Baram Dutse)
****** Bɨ̀lɨ̀ (Bùlì); Nyámzàx (Laŋas), Lundur; Posɨ (Polci)
**** South Barawa
***** Zeem cluster
****** Zeem; Tule (Tulai); Chaari
****** Dokshì (Lushi)
***** Dass cluster
****** Dɨkshi (Bàraza?); Bàndas (Dur)
****** Boòdlɨ (Zumbul); Wangdày (Wanɗì); Zòdì (Dwàt)
***** Saya cluster
****** Zàksɨ̀ (Zàkshì); Bòòt (Boto); Zaarɨ (Zari); Sigidi
****** Zaar of Kàl; Zaar of Gàmbar Lèère; Zaar of Lùsa

### Blench (2021)

Roger Blench (2021) classifies the South Bauchi languages as follows.
* South Bauchi
** Jimi
** Boghom cluster: Mantsi, Boghom, Kir-Balar
** Gurdung cluster: Gurdung, Mbaaru, Ju, Tala, Zangwal
** Zaar branch
*** Das cluster: Diksyhi, Dur, Zumbul, Dot, Wangdi
*** Polci cluster: Zul, Mbaram, Diir, Buli, Nyamzax, Polci, Luri (†)
*** Zeem cluster: Zeem (†), Tuli (†), Caari, Dyarim, Dokshi
*** Geji cluster: Megang, Pelu, Geji, Buu

## Names and locations

Below is a comprehensive list of South Bauchi language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
| Language | Branch | Cluster | Dialects | Alternate spellings | Own name for language | Endonym(s) | Other names (location-based) | Other names for language | Exonym(s) | Speakers | Location(s) | Notes |
| Aja (extinct) | Zaar | North Bauchi | | Ajanci | | | | | | Extinct: formerly spoken at Kworko, Bauchi State | | no data |
| Das cluster | Zaar | Das | | | | | | | Ɓarawa | 8,830 (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Toro and Dass LGAs | |
| Lukshi | Zaar | Das | | | Dәkshi | | | | | 1,130 (LA 1971) | | |
| Durr–Baraza | Zaar | Das | | | Bandas | | | | | 4,700 (LA 1971); 30–40,000 (Caron 2005) | Bauchi State, Das LGA, Durr and Baraza villages | |
| Zumbul | Zaar | Das | | Boodlә | | | | | Zumbulawa, Dumbulawa | See Wandi | Bauchi State, Das LGA, Zumbul town | |
| Wandi | Zaar | Das | | Wangday | | | | | | 700 (including Zumbul) (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Das LGA, Wandi town | |
| Dot | Zaar | Das | | Dwat | Zoɗi | shérә́m zoɗi | Dott | | | 2,300 (LA 1971); a single large village. 37,582 (local census 2003). 7 wards (out of 11) speak Zoɗi | South of Bauchi on the Dass road | |
| Geji cluster | Zaar | Geji | | | | | Kayauri, Kaiyorawa | | Ɓarawa | | Bauchi State, Toro LGA | |
| Mәgang | Zaar | Geji | | Bolu, Buli | Mәg̣ àŋ | | | | | 1,250 (LA 1971), 'a few hundred' (Caron 2005) | | |
| Pyaalu | Zaar | Geji | | Pelu, Belu | Pyààlù | | | | | | | |
| Geji | Zaar | Geji | | | Gyaazә | | Bagba | | Gezawa, Gaejawa | 650 (LA 1971), 1000 (Caron 2005). 20 villages (2007) | Toro, Bauchi LGAs, Bauchi State | |
| Buu | Zaar | Geji | | Zaranda | Bùù | | | | | 750 (LA 1971), 'a few hundred' (Caron 2002) | | |
| Guus | Zaar | Guus | | | | | | Ɓarawa | Sayanci | 50,000 (1971 Schneeberg); 50,000 (1973 SIL) | Bauchi State, Tafawa Balewa LGA. West of Tafawa Balewa town. | |
| Guus | Zaar | Guus | | | mur gúús (one person); Gùùs (people) | vìì kә gúús (mouth of Guus) | Sigidi, Sugudi, Sigdi, Segiddi | | | 775 (1950 HDG). 17 villages (Caron 2002) | | |
| Polci cluster | Zaar | Polci | | | | | | | Ɓarawa, Palsawa | 6,150 or more (1971) | Bauchi State, Bauchi and Toro LGAs | |
| Zul | Zaar | Polci | Zul is mutually comprehensible with Mbaram | | Bi Zule | Nya Zule pl. Man Zule | | Mbarmi, Barma | Zulawa | 2,400 (LA 1971). 15 villages (2007) | Bauchi State, Bauchi and Toro LGAs | |
| Mbaram | Zaar | Polci | | Barang, Mbaram | | | | | | 250 CAPRO (1995a). One settlement only | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA | |
| Dir | Zaar | Polci | | Diir | | | | | | 'a few hundred' (Caron 2005) | | |
| Buli | Zaar | Polci | | Bәlә | | | | | | 600 (LA 1971), 4000 (CAPRO 1995a), 'a few hundred' (Caron 2005) | | |
| Langas | Zaar | Polci | | | Nyamzax | | Lundur | | | 200 (LA 1971), 'a few hundred' (Caron 2005) | | |
| Luri | Zaar | Polci | | Lúr | | | | | | 30 (1973 SIL), 2 (Caron 2002) | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA | |
| Polci | Zaar | Polci | | Posә, Polshi, Palci, Pәlci | | | | | | 2,950 (LA 1971); 70,000 (Caron 2005) | | |
| Zaar | Zaar | | Kal, Gambar Leere, Lusa | Zaʼr, Zar | Vìk Zaar, Vigzar | Zaar pl. Zàrsɛ̀ | | Sáyánci | Bàsáyè pl. Sáyáːwá, Saya, Seya, Seiyara [Saya terms are now considered derogatory] | 50,000 (1971 Schneeberg); 50,000 (1973 SIL) | Bauchi State, Tafawa Balewa LGA. West of Tafawa Balewa town. | |
| Zari cluster | Zaar | Zari | | | | | | | Ɓarawa | | Bauchi State, Toro and Tafawa Balewa LGAs; Plateau State, Jos LGA | |
| Zakshi | Zaar | Zari | | Zaksә | | | | | | 2,950 (1950 HDG) | | |
| Boto | Zaar | Zari | | Boot | | | | | Bibot | 1,000 (1950 HDG) | | |
| Zari | Zaar | Zari | | | | | Kopti, Kwapm | | | | | |
| Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim cluster | Zaar | Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim | | | | | | | Ɓarawa | | Bauchi State, Toro LGA | |
| Zeem (extinct) | Zaar | Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim | | | | | | | | Extinct (Caron 2005) | | |
| Tule (extinct) | Zaar | Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim | | | | | | | Tulai | Extinct (Caron 2005) | | |
| Danshe | Zaar | Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim | | | | | | | | Extinct (Caron 2005) | | |
| Chaari | Zaar | Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim | | | | | | | Tulai | a 'few hundred' speakers (Caron 2005) | | |
| Dyarim | Zaar | Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim | | | one person Mәn Dyarim, people Dyarim | Ndyarim Tә | Kaiwari | | | About 2000 ethnic Dyarim with about 100 fluent speakers (Blench 2005 est.) | Their main settlement is about 7 km south of Toro town in Toro LGA (N10˚ 02, E 9˚ 04). | |
| Lushi? | Zaar | Zeem-Caari-Danshe-Dyarim | | Lukshi | Dokshi | | | | | | | |
| Jimi | Zaar | | | | | | | | | 250 (LA 1971); 400 (1973 SIL) | Bauchi State, Darazo LGA | |
| Kir–Balar cluster | Boghom | Kir–Balar | | | | | | | | 360 (LA 1971) (Kir only) | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA | no data |
| Kir | Boghom | Kir–Balar | | | | | | | | | | no data |
| Balar | Boghom | Kir–Balar | | | | | | | Larbawa | 50 CAPRO (1995a) | | no data |
| Boghom | Boghom | | | Burom, Burrum, Burma, Borrom, Boghorom, Bogghom, Bohom, Bokiyim | | | | | Burumawa | 9,500 (1952 W&B), 50,000 (1973 SIL) | Plateau State, Kanam LGA | |
| Mangas | Boghom | | | Maás | | | | | | 180 (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA | no data |
| Guruntum–Mbaaru | Guruntum | | By settlements Dookà, Gàr, Gayàr, Kàràkara, Kuukù, and Mbaarù | Gurutum | Gùrduŋ | | | | | 10,000 (1988 Jaggar) | Bauchi State, Bauchi and Alkaleri LGAs | |
| Ju | Guruntum | | | | | | | | | 150 (LA 1971) | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA | |
| Tala | Guruntum | | | | | | | | | | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA, Zungur district | |
| Zangwal | Guruntum | | | | | | | | | | Bauchi State, Bauchi LGA | no data |

## Phonology
### Consonants

Like the other West Chadic languages, South Bauchi languages have a rich consonant inventory. They also generally have the lateral fricatives /ɬ, ɮ/, whereas the West Chadic A languages have not preserved such consonants.
| | Labial | Alveolar | Alveolo-palatal | Velar | Glottal |
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |
| Stop | p b | t d | | k g | ʔ |
| Implosive | ɓ | ɗ | | | |
| Fricative | f v | s z | (ʃ) (ʒ) | ɣ | (h) |
| Tap | | ɾ | | | |
| Approximant | w | | j | | |
| Lateral approximant | | l | | | |
| Lateral fricative | | ɬ ɮ | | | |

### Vowels

Blench (2020) proposes that Proto-South Bauchi had a 6-vowel system consisting of /i, ɨ, u, ɛ, ɔ, a/, with length contrast.

### Tones

South Bauchi languages have 2-3 tone levels, with Proto-South Bauchi likely having three tones like the nearby A3 West Chadic languages. Some languages also have contour tones (falling or rising).

## Morphology

Like the neighbouring A3 West Chadic languages but unlike Hausa, South Bauchi languages do not usually have plural nouns, although certain words for persons such as ‘woman’, ‘child’, and sometimes ‘man/person’ have suppletive nominal forms. Blench (2021) hypothesises that this may be due to contact with Adamawa languages.
Stop consonants at the ends of morphemes are underlyingly voiceless.