Mada language

Language of Nigeria
Mada
Native toNigeria
RegionNasarawa State, Kaduna State
Native speakers
(100,000, not counting Nunku cited 1993)[1]
Language family
Language codes
ISO 639-3mda
Glottologmada1282

Mada is a regionally important language spoken in Nasarawa and southern Kaduna States of Middle Belt, Nigeria, with many dialects. It is a highly tonal language. A translation of the New Testament into the language was finished in 1999.[2] The Nunku dialect has been identified to be a dialect of Mada rather than of Gbantu.

The Mada people are the second most populated tribe in Nasarawa state, mostly populating Akwanga and Kokona local governments. Possible archaeological history suggests that they may be descendants of the Nok civilization. They are closely related to the Ninzo people, as well as to the Gbantu people. Their languages are believed to be descended from the Proto-Plateau language.

References

  1. ^ Mada at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Blench, Roger. "A brief history of Mada literacy, and the creation of a Mada dictionary".
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JukunoidKainji
Kambari
Basa
Kamuku
Shiroro
Northwest
Lakes
East
Northern
Kauru
Shammo
Other
Plateau
Tarokoid
South
Alumic
Ninzic
East
Central
Beromic
Yukubenic
Ndunic
others


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