The twelve Mambiloid languages are languages spoken by the Mambila and related peoples mostly in eastern Nigeria and in Cameroon. In Nigeria the largest group is Mambila (there is also a small Mambila population in Cameroon). In Cameroon the largest group is Vute.
Languages The following classification follows Blench (2011). Languages with (?) are not listed in that source, but close to other languages according to Ethnologue. Ndoro–Fam may be a separate branch of Benue–Congo.
Mambiloid Ndoola (Ndoro) Mambiloid proper Nizaa (Suga) Mambila–Konja Konja: Kwanja, ?Twendi Mambila–Vute Mambila–Kamkam Magu–Kamkam–Kila: Mbongno, Mvanip (Mvano), ?Somyev, ?Ndunda Mambila Tep–Vute Tep Vute: Vute, Wawa
Ethnologue also lists Njerep, which most likely lies somewhere in the Mambila–Kamkam branch. The extinct Yeni and Luo (Kasabe) languages were apparently Mambiloid, close to Njerep.
Fam is sometimes classified with Ndoro, but appears to be more divergent.
The unclassified language Bung shows its strongest resemblance to be with the Ndung dialect of Kwanja. It also has words in common with other Mambiloid languages such as Tep, Somyev and Vute, while a number of words' origins remain unclear (possibly Adamawan).Bruce Connell, 1997: Moribund Languages of the Nigeria-Cameroon Borderland
Names and locations (Nigeria) Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations (in Nigeria only) from Blench (2019).
Language Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Mbɔŋnɔ Bungnu Mbọngnọ Mbọngnọ Kamkam Kakaba, Bunu 800 (1952 W&B); 3000 est. Blench and Connell (1999) Taraba State, Sardauna LGA, Kakara town Ndoola At least 2 dialects Ndoro Ndoola Ndoola Njoyamɛ (in Cameroon) 1169 (1952 W&B); 10,000 total, 1,300 in Cameroon (1982 SIL); estimated more than 15,000 (1999) Taraba State, Sardauna and Gashaka LGAs; and in Cameroon (1 village only) Vute At least 6 dialects Bute, Mbute, Wute, Voute Mbutere 1,000 or less in Nigeria; 30,000 in Cameroon (1985 EELC) Taraba State, Sardauna LGA; northeast Mambila Plateau, but mainly in Cameroon Tep A single village and associated hamlets. <4000 Taraba State. Mambila Plateau Mambila Almost every village has a separate dialect forming a dialect chain. Dialect centres are: Bang, Dorofi, Gembu, Hainari, Kabri, Mayo Ndaga, Mbamnga, Tamien, Warwar. At least 4 dialects in Cameroon. Ju Nɔri Nɔr Mambila, Mambilla, Mambere 18,000 (1952); 60,000 (1973 SIL); 10,000 in Cameroon Taraba State, Sardauna LGA. Mambila Plateau. Cameroon. Mvanɨp Mvanɔ Magu 100 (Blench 1999) Taraba State, Sardauna LGA. A single quarter of Zongo Ajiya town in the northwest of the Mambila Plateau. Ndunda 400 (Blench 1999) Taraba State, Sardauna LGA. In northwest Mambila Plateau. Somyɛv Kila, Zuzun 4 speakers (2006) Taraba State, Sardauna LGA, (Blacksmiths’ dialect). Kila Yang village, 10 km. west of Mayo Ndaga. Also formerly spoken in Cameroon Fam Fam Fam Kɔŋa, Konga Fewer than 1,000 (1984); <500 (2016) Taraba State, Bali LGA, 17km east of Kungana
References
Blench, Roger, 2011. 'The membership and internal structure of Bantoid and the border with Bantu'. Bantu IV, Humboldt University, Berlin.
External links Marieke Martin, 2011. "The Erosion of Noun Classes in Mambiloid".