Bariba, also known as Baatonum, is the language of the Bariba people and was the language of the state of Borgu. The native speakers are called Baatombu (singular Baatonu), Barba, Baruba, Berba and a number of various other names and spellings.
It is primarily spoken in Benin, but also across the border in adjacent Kwara State and Niger State, a percentage of speakers are also found in Saki West local government area of Oyo State Nigeria, and some Bariba are in Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger. Welmers (1952) reported the Bariba language as spoken in the cities of Nikki, Parakou, Kandi, gwanara, Bankubu, Boriya, Ilesha Baruba and Natitingou.
Names The language can be known by different names: the Bariba people call their language Baatɔnum; the Yoruba people call the language Baruba; the Hausa people refer to the language as Borganci (also spelled Borganchi) after Borgu where it is spoken; the names in the Busa language and the Boko language are Borgu and Borgunya. Other names include Barba or Berba.
One person who speaks Bariba is called Baatɔnu and two or more persons or speakers are called Baatɔmbu and the language of the Baatɔmbu/Borgawa people is called Baatɔnum.
Geographic distribution In Nigeria, Bariba is spoken mainly in Borgu LGA of Niger State, Saki West LGA and in Baruten LGA of Kwara state. A number of Bariba have migrated to other parts of Nigeria, including Abuja. The Bariba people are referred to as Borgawa in Hausa.
In Benin, Bariba is spoken mainly in Alibori, Donga, Atakora and Borgou departments. A number of Bariba have migrated to other parts of Benin, including Cotonou.
In Togo, Bariba is spoken in the Centrale Region.
In Burkina Faso, Bariba is spoken in Kompienga Province.
There are also some Bariba in Niger in Tillabéri Region and Dosso Region.
Classification Bariba is usually classed as an independent member of the Savanna languages, but some consider it and a number of other languages, such as Miyobe, as a Gur language. However, other than Bariba, there are other unclassified Gur languages, including Miyobe, Koromfe, Viemo, and Natyoro.
Alphabet
There are 23 letters of Batonou alphabet: Alphabet Upper case A B D E Ɛ F G GB I K KP L M N O Ɔ P R S T U W Y Lower case a b d e ɛ f g gb i k kp l m n o ɔ p r s t u w y
Phonology Consonants LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarLabio-velarGlottalNasalPlosivevoicelessvoicedFricativevoicelessvoicedRhoticLateralApproximant
/ɾ/ may be heard as a lateralized [ɺ] when preceding front vowels. /s, z/ may be heard as [ʃ, ʒ] when preceding front vowels.
Vowels FrontCentralBackClose Close-midOpen-mid Open
Tone Bariba is a tonal language.N.L. Haddock (1959) The tones of Bariba Phonetica 3:90-94 Tonal patterns in Bariba have been claimed to present a challenge to the Two-Feature Model of tonal phonology.Clements, Michaud, and Patin, Do we need tone features? In Tones and features: phonetic and phonological perspectives, Goldsmith, Hume, and Whetzels, editors
Nouns Bariba has 7 noun classes:
y-class t-class g-class w-class m-class s-class n-class
The data was collected by William E. Welmers in August and September 1949 at Nikki, Benin.Welmers, William E. 1952. Notes on Bariba. Language 28: 82-103.
y-class The y-class is the largest noun class. y-class singular nouns usually in -a.
banana àgɛ̀dɛ̀ (no pl.) palm tree bãã large calabash bàka stick bɔ̀ra mosquito bũ̀ɛ̃̀yã character dàà (no pl.) tree, wood dã̀ã̀ (pl.?) fallen branch dã̀kàmā branch on a tree dã̀kàsā root of a tree dã̀kpinā habit dēn̄dī (pl.?) mirror digí (pl.?) guinea corn dobi (pl.?) gun dɔ̃̀bɔ̀ra well dɔ̀kɔ̀ (pl.?) male dua horse duma bag fɔ̀rɔ̀tɔ̀, -bá name of a month gã̀ã̀ní (no pl.) village gate gàm̀bò, -bà wall gana word, matter gari (pl.?) termite gɛ́ma driver ant gɛ̃́ya gazelle gina money gobi (pl.?) guinea fowl gònā death gɔɔ (no pl.) rain, storm gúra chicken guwā, guwē axe gbãã calabash gbàká lion gbèsùnɔ̄, gbèsìnansu grain of millet gbɛyā spirit hùindè (pl.?) papaya kàràbósì, -bà motor kɛ̀kɛ, -bà animal horn kɔbā wildcat konā bamboo stalk kɔ̃sā antelope kpása stew kpee (no pl.) star; hippopotamus kpera corn cake másà, -bà rice sprout mɔ́ra cow naā house spider nára scorpion nía female nia mouth nɔɔ (pl.?) hand nɔbū, nɔma peanut sãã offering sàrâ bridge sàsarā comb séḿbù, -ba hair serā covering sèsèbìa pestle sobiā edible seeds sonki (pl.?) road, path súa fish sũ̀ã bean suìā bracelet sumā judgment tààrɛ (pl.?) tobacco tába ant tànā mud brick tèǹdɔ́ka self tīī bee tĩya inheritance túbí (pl.?) snake waā rope wɛ̃ya straw wĩ́ya, wĩĩ law wodà small gray monkey wonkéra gold wúra (no pl.) face wurusuā, -ɛ̄ animal, meat yaa needle yabúra cloth, robe yasa spear yàsa/yɛ̀sa pepper yɛ̃̀ɛ̃̀kú (no pl.) evil spirit zínì
t-class All forms end in -ru for t-class nouns.
cutlass àdaru dysentery bàǹdúbàǹdū sickness baràrū tension drum bàraru doorway bàràrū shoe bàràrū (only pl.) cloth bekùrū basket bíréru back biru salt bɔ̀rū river daaru loincloth dɛmbɛru house dìrū tooth dondu stalk gãnã̀rū arm gã̀sèrū rat gɔnɔru large wild rat gɔ̀nɔ̀ǹguru egg goòsĩã̀rū mountain guru rain cloud gúrúwiru (musical) horn guùrū crow gbãgbã̀rū field, farm gbèrū pot gbɛ̃́ru gourd kaaru bush cow kɛ̀tɛ̀gbèèkìrū male (of some animals) kìnèrū bread kìràrū love kĩ́ru stool kìtàrū box kpàkoruru stone kpèrū bed kpenyeru bone kukuru a swelling mɔsìrū odor nubùrū rabbit satàbūr̄ū pitfall sɛ̃̀rū brass, copper sigàǹdū grave sìkìrū tail siru stinkbug sísíkènèrū pounded yam sɔ̀kùrū work sɔ̀mbùrū clay for pots sɔǹdū mortar soru porridge sòrū toad suréru leg taaru garden hill takàrū bow tendu panther túǹdū nose wɛ̃ru head wiru neck wĩ́yìrū knife wobùrū pot wókeru night, darkness wɔ̃̀kùrū baboon wompɔkɔru red monkey wónsũ̀ã̄rū coldness wóòrū sheep yã̀ã̀rū market yàburu sacrifice yãkùrū place yanyeeru open space yeeru broom yiìrū name yísìrū frog yɔ̃ɔ̃ru
g-class Forms usually end in back vowels for g-class nouns.
chameleon àgāmānàkí, -bà onion àlùmásà, -nu goat boo, bonu water pot bòo, -nu dog bɔ̃ɔ̃, bɔ̃nu owl booro, -su lizard bɔ̀su, -nu infestation of lice gã́ã́ní (pl.?) louse gã́ã́núkú, -nù airplane gogùnɔ̀, -su robe gɔ̃kɔ, -su drum gɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀, gã̀ã̀su vehicle gòo, -su canoe gòoninkū, -nu bird gùnɔ̄, -su cricket gbɔɔ̄, -nu sandfly kòtókámbu, -munu spoon kààtó, -nù cat kòkónyambu, -munu doorway kɔ́ǹdɔ, -su mat kɔ̃ɔ̄, -su pig kúrúsɔ̄, -su partridge kusu, -nu leopard, cat músúkú, -nù antelope nemū, neǹnu eye nɔnu, nɔni bush hog sàkɔ̄, -nu trap sɛ́kpɛ̀ǹkú, -nù arrow sɛ̃ũ̄, sɛ̃ɛ̃̀nu pot sirū, -su fly sɔnu, -su ear so / soa, -su elephant sùùnū, -su ring tààbu, -nu small black ant tàm̀bu, -munu army ant tàsonu, -su hoe tebo, -nu shadow tíro, -nu parrot titimokò, -nu year wɔ̃̄ɔ̃̄n, wɔ̃̄su monkey womu, wonnu wind woo, -nu hole wɔrū, -su town wuu, -su rabbit wùkū, -nu leaf wurū, -su tongue yara, -nu vulture yèbèrèkú, -nù household yɛnu, -su hartebeest yiiku, -nu
w-class father bàa Bariba person or language bàtɔ̀nù older brother, friend bɛɛrɛ̄ child bìī ulcer bòō hunter bɔso fire dɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀ mother's brother dùàni rich man gobigi person goo pregnant woman guràgi God gúsūnɔ̄ guard kɔ̃so mother merō older brother mɔɔ̄ paramount chief sènàboko sister sesu sun, day sɔ̃ɔ̃ chief sùnɔ̄, sìnambu moon, month surú person tɔ̀nū, tɔ̀m̀bu younger brother wɔ́nɔ̄ guardian spirit yãrō slave yòō enemy yíbɛ̀rɛ̀
m-class m-class nouns often end in -m.
language bàrūm̄ milk bom strength dam oil gum raised garden row kɔ̀rɔ̄m̄ water nim liquor tam ground, dirt tem medicine tìm̄ honey tim soap werem air wom space, room yam sand yànīm̄ blood yem
s-class The s-class is a small noun class. Most forms are collectives and end in -su.
one (yam) tan (teèsū) foot naàsu silver sigeèsū iron sísú cotton wɛ̃su grass, the bush yàkàsu
n-class The n-class is a small noun class. Most forms are collectives and end in -nu.
one teènū greens àfonu thing gáánu necklace goònū corn gbèrɛnu cucumber gbɛ̀zɛnu okra yàbonu
Verbs Aspects There are 7 primary verb aspects in Bariba:
consecutive habitual continuative frequentative imperative past past negative
There are 5 verb classes, which are grouped according to the formation of the past aspect.
List of verbs Consecutive verb forms are given below. S denotes stative forms.
get sick bārā split bɛ̄rā push bɔ̄rīā dawn, whiten būrūrā, S burīrī taste dēn̄dā pass by dōōnā sell dɔ̄ɔ̄rā sleep dūīā, S dò come in dūmā pull gāwā chase gīrā beseech kānā break (rope) kārā shatter kɔ̄ɔ̄rā loosen kūsīā lie down kpūnā, S kpī̃ receive mūā burn mūārā fight sān̄nā become clean sā̃rā name, call sīā pick up sūā wash tīā become black tī̃ī̃rā, S tĩĩrī arrive tūnūmā fall wɔ̄rūmā fill yībīā meet yīn̄nā stop yɔ̃̄rā leave dērī eat dī (Cont. di) forget dūārī hurt by burning mɛ̄nī help sōmī increase sōsī tether sɔ̄rī take a long time tɛ̄ hand over wɛ̃̄ blow (air) wūrī throw away yārī lay down yī become hard bɔbiā, S bɔ̄(bū) become fat bɔriā, S bɔ̄rū become much dabiā, S dabī catch up with deèmā become long dẽɛ̃̀nyā, S dɛ̄ū̄ become deep dukiā, S dúku learn giā turn over gɔsìā turn around gɔsìrā gather gurā become high, tall guriā, S gúru open kɛnīā get down sarā become difficult sɛ̃sīā, S sɛ̃̄ sit down sinā, S sɔ̃̀ become bitter sosiā, S sō(sū) become red sũɛ̃rā, S sũɛ̃rī become tough taàyā, S tāū become wide yasiā, S yasū become cold, damp yemiā, S yēm̄ fire (a gun) suē touch babā go around besirā break in two buā cut in two burā do become sweet dorā, S catch gabā become dry gberā tear gĩā̃ scratch gɔ̃rā want kĩã̄, S kĩ́ cut up murā jump, drop surā draw up takā bring tamā become good wɛ̃rā, S wã believe wurā come back wúràmā pierce yabā remember yayā play duē become clean dɛ́ɛ́rā become big kpɛ̃́yā, S kpã́ become hot sṹyā, S sum̄ become clear déérē look for kásū show sɔ̃́nɔ̃́sĩ̄ warm oneself wɔ̃́sū cover wukírī peel kɛ̄ɛ̄rī chew, eat tēm̄ plant dūūrē separate gɔsi dig gbe wait ma, maru study mɛɛri fall (of rain) nɛ leave, walk sĩ call soku be enough, arrive turi see wa answer wisi measure yĩre hear nɔ̂ fix up sɔmɛ̀, sɔm̀ dye black wɔ̃kù dance yâ enter, hurt dū flow kōkū stand up sē, S yɔ̃̀ climb yɔ̄ shine baàlì count garì rot kɔ̃sì give birth to mâ, marù swell mɔsì rejoice yɛ̃ɛ̃rì buy dūē give kɛ̃̄ build bānī steal gbɛ̄nī prick sɔ̄kū tell sɔ̃ put on the head sɔbe, sɔ fry sɔmɛ, sɔm ? su fly yɔ̃ tie up bɔ̄kē sew yīnɛ̄ speak, say gere close kɛnɛ̀ hide kukè frighten narè cook yikè write yɔ̃rì do, make kō, S mɔ̀ kill gô throw down kɔ̃̂ finish kpê hit sô
Adjectives Invariable adjectives:
male dɔ, dua raw goma high gbãrã white kaà a little bit pikó narrow tereré difficult sɛ̃sɔ
Adjectives with a class of their own, which remains the same after all nouns; singular and plural forms are like those of nouns:
t-class adjectives: some, a few (pl. only) binu much, many dabīrū dead gorū male (of certain animals) kìnèrū old tɔ̀kɔ̄rū short, small (also g-class) kpirìrū
g-class adjectives: small yã̀kàbū small píbu short, small (also t-class) kpirìbū
Attributive adjectives with alternants for each noun class: big baka- fresh bèku- hard bɔɔ̀bɔā- fat bɔrùbɔrū- good bùra- strong dangi- long dɛǹdɛn̄- good ge- dry gbebu- new kpaà- white kpikī- female ni- thick sìnùǹgi- bitter soòsuā- red sũ̀ã̄- hot súm- tough taàtaā- black wɔ̃kū- cold yĩ́re-
Numerals