Adamawa Languages

The Adamawa languages are a putative family of 80–90 languages scattered across the Adamawa Plateau in central Africa, in Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Chad, spoken altogether by only one and a half million people (as of 1996). Joseph Greenberg classified them as one branch of the Adamawa–Ubangi family of Niger–Congo languages. They are among the least studied languages in Africa, and include many endangered languages; by far the largest is Mumuye, with 400,000 speakers. A couple of unclassified languages—notably Laal and Jalaa—are found along the fringes of the Adamawa area.

Greenberg postulated the group as part of Adamawa–Ubangian (then called Adamawa–Eastern), and divided them into 14 numbered groups. Group G3, Daka (or Dakoid), is now known to be a branch of Benue–Congo. The relationships of the other branches has undergone considerable revision. Boyd (1989) added the Day language and classified them as follows:

• Leko–Nimbari (or Chamba–Mumuye)
  • Duru: G4
  • Leko: G2
  • Mumuye–Yendang: G5
  • Nimbari: G12
• Mbum–Day
  • Bua: G13
  • Kim: G14
  • Mbum: G6
  • Day
• Waja–Jen
  • Bikwin–Jen (or Jen): G9
  • Tula–Wiyaa (or Waja): G1
  • Bəna–Mboi (or Yungur): G7
  • Baa (AKA, confusingly, Kwa)
  • Longuda: G10
• Nyimwom (or Kam: G8)

The Fali languages (G11) were excluded.

Kleinewillinghöfer (1996) modified Waja–Jen by splitting Bikwin–Jen into two branches and moving Baa up as a primary branch of Adamawa. He was agnostic about the inclusion of Fali.