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Nyingwom | |
---|---|
Kam | |
Àngwɔ̀m | |
Pronunciation | [ɲí ŋwɔ̀m] |
Region | eastern Nigeria |
Native speakers | (5,000 cited 1993)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | kdx |
Glottolog | kamm1249 |
Nyí ŋwɔ̀m | |
---|---|
Person | nyí ŋwɔ̀m |
Country | àbìbì nyí ŋwɔ̀m |
The Nyingwom or Kam language is a Niger-Congo language spoken in eastern Nigeria. Blench (2019) lists speakers residing in the main villages of Mayo Kam and Kamajim in Bali LGA, Taraba State.[2] Lesage reports that Kam is spoken in 27 villages of Bali LGA. [3]
Nyingwom was labeled as branch "G8" in Joseph Greenberg's Adamawa language family proposal. The precise classification of Kam is a matter of current research.
Speakers refer to themselves and their language as Nyí ŋwɔ̀m. Kamajim (Kam: àngwɔ́g ɲí 'house of the people') is the traditional capital of the Kam at the western foothills of a mountain range situated to the north of the Kam River. The Kam have historically been in extensive contact with the Kororofa Jukun.[3]
Kam or Nyingwom is spoken by approximately fewer than 5,000 speakers in the settlements of:[4]
However, Jakob Lesage estimates 20,000-25,000 speakers in 27 villages in May 2017.[3]
Unlike many other Niger-Congo languages, Kam does not have a noun class system.
Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Labiovelar | Glottal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plosive | p b | t d | tʃ dʒ | k g | kp gb | |
Fricative | f v | s z | ʃ | h | ||
Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | ||
Approximant | w | r, l |
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
High | i ĩ | ɨ | u |
Mid-high | e ẽ | o õ | |
Mid-low | ɛ | ɔ | |
Low | a ã |
Additionally, Nyingwom has six tones;[5] high, mid, low, rising, falling, and high-falling.