Gerka_language

Yiwom language

Yiwom language

Chadic (Afro-Asiatic) language

Yiwom (Ywom), also known as Gerka or Gerkawa by the Hausa,[2] is a Chadic (Afro-Asiatic) language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria.

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Sociolinguistic background

Ywom was formerly much more widespread, with Ywom toponyms found in southern Tarok-speaking areas.[2] Roger Blench (2013)[3] reports that Ywom is spoken in Hyel Ywom town and nearby hamlets. Many Ywom speak Jukun and Tarok as additional languages.[3] Due to influence from Plateau languages, Ywom has various phonological features that are considered unusual for a West Chadic language, such as labiovelar consonants.[2]

Phonology

Tones are at least high and low. Mid tone may be allophonic. Rising and falling tones are probably restricted to sequences.

Vowels are /i e a ɨ ə u o/. There may also be an ?/ɯ/. Three vowels are long, /aa ee ɨɨ/.

Consonants are:

ɓɗ
p bt dc ɟk ɡkp ɡbɢʔ
f vθs zʃ ʒʃʲɣh
mnɲŋ
ʙ̪l r
jw

Syllable-initial consonant clusters are Cw, Cj, Cr and Cl. NC also occurs; the N takes its own tone.


References

  1. [1]
    Yiwom at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. [2]
    Blench, Roger. 2017. Current research on the A3 West Chadic languages.
  3. [3]
    Blench, Roger. 2013. However did Ywom become so strange?.


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