Yiwom language

Chadic (Afro-Asiatic) language

Yiwom
Gerka
Pronunciation	[jʷom]
Native to	Nigeria
Region	Plateau State
Native speakers	14,000 (2000)^[1]
Language family	Afro-Asiatic Chadic West Chadic Bole–Angas Yiwom
Language codes
ISO 639-3	`gek`
Glottolog	`yiwo1237`

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

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:

ɓ			ɗ
p b			t d		c ɟ	k ɡ	kp ɡb	ɢ	ʔ
	f v	θ	s z	ʃ ʒ	ʃʲ	ɣ			h
m			n		ɲ	ŋ
	ʙ̪		l r
				j			w

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

References

^ Yiwom at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
^ ^a ^b ^c Blench, Roger. 2017. Current research on the A3 West Chadic languages.
^ ^a ^b Blench, Roger. 2013. However did Ywom become so strange?.

External links

Blench, Roger. 2013. However did Ywom become so strange?.
Paradisec has an open access collection of Roger Blench’s materials that includes Yiwom language materials

Languages of Nigeria

Official languages

English

National languages

Recognised languages

Indigenous languages

Indigenous languages (grouped by Nigerian state)

Adamawa	Baa Bacama Bali Bata Boga Bura Chamba Leko Daba Daka Dong Fali of Mubi Ga'anda Gaa Gude Gudu Holma Huba Hwana Hya Kamwe Kanakuru Kirya-Konzəl Kofa Koma Kpasam Kugama Kumba Lamang Longuda Margi Margi South Mumuye Ngwaba Nyong Nzanyi Psikyɛ Sukur Taram Teme Tso Vere Waja Wom Yendang Zizilivakan
Akwa Ibom	Ibibio
Bauchi	Ɓeele Bole Bure Ciwogai Dass Dazawa Deno Dikaka Dulbu Galambu Gera Geruma Giiwo Guruntum Jalaa Jarawa Jimi Karekare Kariya Kir-Balar Kubi Kushi Kusur–Myet Kutto Kwaami Labir Longuda Mangas Mawa Mburku Miya Pa'a Piya Polci Shiki Siri Tso Warji Zangwal Zumbun
Bayelsa	Izon Epie Urhobo-Isoko Southeast Ijo
Benue	Eggon Igede
Borno	Afade Bura Cibak Cineni Dghwede Glavda Gude Guduf-Gava Gvoko Jara Jilbe Kamwe Kanakuru Lamang Maaka Mafa Margi Margi South Nggwahyi Putai Tera Wandala Yedina
Cross River	Abanyom Efik Mbe Mbembe
Delta	Urhobo-Isoko Ika Izon Isoko Ukwuani Uhrobo
Edo	Afenmai Ishan Bini
Gombe	Awak Bangwinji Bole Dadiya Jara Kamo Ngamo Pero Tangale Tera Tula Waja
Jigawa	Bade Teshenawa
Kaduna	Adara Atsam Cori Gbiri-Niragu Hyam Jju Kulu Nghan Tikurmi Tivori Tyap Wachi
Kano	Ɗuwai Hausa Tikurmi
Kebbi	Cipu Damakawa Hun-Saare
Kogi	Basa-Benue Bassa Nge Igala Nupe Oworo
Kwara	Kakanda Kupa Nupe
Nasarawa	Ake Alumu Basa-Benue Duhwa Eggon Hasha Jili Toro
Niger	Asu Bariba Cipu Gbagyi Gwandara Jijili Kakanda Nupe Pongu
Ondo	Itsekiri Izon Ukaan
Plateau	Barkul Boghom Bole Cakfem-Mushere Dass Fyam Fyer Goemai Horom Jorto Koenoem Kofyar Kulere Miship Montol Mundat Mwaghavul Ngas Pe Pyapun Ron Sha Sur Tal Tambas Tarok Yankam Yiwom
Rivers	Abua Baan Biseni Defaka Degema Ekpeye Eleme Engenni Gokana Ijaw Ikwerre Kalabari Khana Kugbo Nkoroo O’chi’chi Obolo Obulom Odual Ogba Ogbogolo Ogbronuagum Ogoni Okodia Oruma Tee Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni
Taraba	Baissa Fali Bete Buru Dadiya Donga Kholok Kpati Laka Lufu Mumuye Nyam Nyingwom Pangseng Rang Tarok Waja Waka Yendang Yoti
Yobe	Bade Bole Ɗuwai Karekare Ngamo Ngizim

Sign languages

Immigrant languages

Scripts

West Chadic languages

Hausa–Gwandara (A.1)

Bole–Tangale (A.2)

Bole	Ɓeele Bole Bure Daza Deno Galambu Gera Geruma Giiwo Karai-karai Kubi Ngamo Maaka Pali
Tangale	Dera Kholok Kushi Kutto Kwaami Nyam Pero Piya-Kwonci Kulung Tangale