The Yukubenic languages (or Oohum languages; formerly South Jukunoid) are a branch of the Benue–Congo languages. It has also been classified as a subgroup of either the Jukunoid family or the Plateau family spoken in southeastern Nigeria. Glottolog places Yukubenic in the Plateau family. Ethnologue, however, places Yukubenic in the Jukunoid family, based on Shimizu (1980). Blench (2026) proposes that Yukubenic is not a branch of Jukunoid or Plateau, but rather an independent branch of Benue–Congo. Similarities with Plateau are due to contact rather than genetic affiliation.Blench, Roger. 2026. Rethinking the classification of ‘South Jukunoid’. Third Conference on Bantoid Languages and Linguistics (Bantoid 3), University at Buffalo, May 20–21, 2026.
Classification The Yukubenic languages are:
Bete, Lufu Kapya Afudu Akum, Beezen–Baazem Yukuben (Uuhum Gigi)
Yukubenic has considerable internal lexical diversity. However, Blench (2026) does not consider Kuteb and Kapya to Yukubenic languages. Rather, Kuteb–Kapya is an independent branch of Benue–Congo in the classification of Blench (2026).
Names and locations Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
Language Branch Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Kapya Yukuben–Kutep Taraba State, Takum LGA, at Kapya Kuteb Yukuben–Kutep Lissam, Fikyu, Jenuwa, Rufu, Kentin: Fikyu has sub–dialects Kutev, Kutep Ati (Administrative name in Cameroon) Mbarike, Zumper (Jompre) (not recommended) 15,592 (1952 W&B);Westermann, Diedrich & M.A. Bryan, 1952. Languages of West Africa. London: International African Institute. 30,000 (1986 UBS); 1400 in Cameroon (1976) Taraba State, Takum LGA and in Cameroon, Furu Awa subdivision Yukuben Yukuben–Kutep Nyikuben, Nyikobe, Ayikiben, Yikuben Oohum, Uuhum Boritsu, Balaabe Uuhum-Gigi in Cameroon 10,000 (1971 Welmers);Welmers, William Everrett 1971. Checklist of African Language and Dialect Names. In: Current Trends in Linguistics, Vol. 7, T.A. Sebeok 759-900, The Hague, Mouton. 1,000 in Cameroon (1976) Taraba State, Takum LGA; and in Furu-Awa subdivision, Cameroon
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