The Bendi languages are a small group of languages spoken in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. Bokyi is one of the Bendi languages having some speakers in Cameroon. Once counted among the Cross River languages, they may be a branch of Southern Bantoid, with observed similarities especially with the Ekoid languages.
Very little research has been conducted on the Bendi languages, and the modern work that does exist often remains either unpublished or inaccessible. The group is notable for having one language (Ubang) that has male and female forms.
Languages The Obudu-Obanlikwu-Eastern Boki languages are: Alege, Obanliku, Bekwarra, Bete-Bendi, Bokyi, Bumaji, Utugwang, Ubang, Ukpe-Bayobiri. The data is too poorly covered to allow for detailed internal classification of these languages.
Names and locations Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
Language Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Bekwarra Bekwara, Bekworra Yakoro 27,500 (1953), 34,000 (1963), 60,000 (1985 SIL) Cross River State, Ogoja LGA Obanliku Basang (Bàsáu), Bebi, Bishiri, Bisu (Gayi), Busi Abanliku 19,800 (1963); estimated 65,000 (Faraclas 1989) Cross River State, Obudu LGA Obe cluster Obe Mbube Eastern (a geographical name); Ogberia Mbe Afal (by the Mbe) 16,341 (1963) Cross River State, Obudu LGA. 6 villages: Nkim, Ogboria Ogang, Ogboria Uchuruo, Ojerim (Ojirim), Árágbán, and Òbósó. Mgbenege Obe Cross River State, Obudu LGA Utugwang Obe Otugwang Cross River State, Obudu LGA Okwọrọgung Obe Okorogung Cross River State, Obudu LGA Ukwortung Obe Okorotung, Okwọrọtung Cross River State, Obudu LGA Ubang Ùbâŋ Cross River State, Obudu LGA Ukpe–Bayobiri cluster Ukpe–Bayobiri 12,000 (1973 SIL) Cross River State, Obudu and Ikom LGAs Ukpe Ukpe–Bayobiri Bayobiri Ukpe–Bayobiri Alege Cross River State, Obudu LGA Bete–Bendi Bete, Bendi Bette–Bendi Dama 17,250 (1952), 36,800 (1963) Cross River State, Obudu LGA Bumaji Bumaji umuji Bumaji Cross River State, Obudu LGA Afrike-Irungene cluster Afrike-Irungene Cross River State, Ogoja LGA Afrike Afrike-Irungene Aferikpe 3,500 (1953) Cross River State, Ogoja LGA Irungene Afrike-Irungene Cross River State, Ogoja LGA Bokyi By clans: Abo, Bashua, Boje, East Boki, Irruan, Osokum, Basua/Ɓashua, Wula: Báswó, Okúndi, Kecwan Boki Nki, Okii, Uki Nfua 43,000 (1963); 50,000 in Nigeria (1987 UBS), 3,700 in Cameroon (SIL) Cross River State, Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu LGAs; and in Cameroon
Numerals Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
Language 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bekwarra kìn -hà -cià -nè -dyaŋ -dyaàkìn (5 + 1) -dièhà (5 + 2) -diècià (5 + 3) -diènè (5 + 4) irifo Bete-Bendi (Bə̀ttə́) (1) ìkèn ìfè ìkíé ìnè ìdíɔ́ŋ ìdíɔ́ŋ ìkèn (5 + 1) ìdíɔ́ŋ ìfè (5 + 2) ìdíɔ́ŋ ìkíé (5 + 3) ìdíɔ́ŋ ìnè (5 + 4) lèhʷó Bete-Bendi (Bette) (2) iken ifee ikʲe inde idʲoŋ idʲoŋ-iken (5 + 1) idʲoŋ-ifee (5 + 2) idʲoŋ-ikʲe (5 + 3) idʲoŋ-inde (5 + 4) lihʷo Bokyi kìbɒ́ŋɛ̀ bìfɛ̀ː bìt͡ʃât bìɲìː bìtáŋɛ̀ ɲât͡ʃât (lit: "add three") kát͡ʃákáɲì (lit: 3 plus 4) ɲíríɲì (lit: 4 plus 4) kátáŋɛ̀káɲì (lit: 5 plus 4) děːk͡púː
See also Bendi word lists (Wiktionary)
References
External links ComparaLex, database with Bendi word lists