Geji
RegionBauchi State
Native speakers
8,000 (2019)[1]
Dialects
  • Fyalu
  • Mugan
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
gyz  Geji (Gyazi)
zbu  Buu
Glottologgeji1246
ELPGeji
 Buu (Nigeria)[2]

Geji (Gezawa) is a minor Chadic dialect cluster of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The three varieties are Buu, Gyaazi and Mәgang. The latter two are quite similar or alike.[3]

Varieties

Blench (2020) lists:[3]

  • Buu
  • Gyaazi, Mәgang

Zaranda, an exonym for Bu, endonym Bùù, is a Chadic language spoken in the South of Bauchi State, in Nigeria, belonging to the South-Bauchi West group of Chadic languages (Shimizu 1978). Although generally associated with Bolu, Pelu and Geji, Buu stands apart from these other lects with which there is no intercomprehension. Most of the Buu population has migrated from the original location of the Zaranda village (Zaranda Habe, longitude 9,57; latitude 10,28) to the present Zaranda (longitude 9,52; latitude 10,23) where they have abandoned their language for Hausa and Fulfulde. The few that have retained their language live in Zaranda Habe, in houses scattered in the hills, gathering around the chief once a year for the traditional religious festivities. It is believed to be clearly distinct and probably a separate language.[4]

Gezawa, Gaejawa are exonyms for Geji, endonym Gyaazә. Bagba is a loconym.

Mәgang ('Mugan') is spoken by about 3,000-4,000 speakers in the following 8 villages of Bauchi LGA, Bauchi State (all located just to the south of Bauchi city).[3]

Megang locations
Village nameIPANotes
Byerubʲèrúp
Haɗobilangháɗòbíla᷄ŋ
Baking Kurabàkíŋ kúráHausa name
Pakimipákìmī
Beddarebéddárè
Ballabāllā
Bәm Mәgangbә̄m mә̀ga᷄ŋ
MakyeramàkʲéráHausa name

Belu and Pelu are variant spellings of Byeru, also spelled Pyaalu (Pyààlù) or Fyalu.

Numerals

The Mәgang numerals are:[3]

NumeralMәgang
oneɗéɗә᷄m
twoɗélóp
threeɗèmèkáŋ
fourɗu᷄psí
fiveɗènàntә́ŋ
sixɗә́màkā
sevenɗèníŋgī
eightɗíwsә́psı᷄
ninenētʷópsī
tenɗēkúɬ

References


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