Gur languages facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Gur
Central Gur Mabia
Geographic distribution:	Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Togo, Nigeria
Linguistic classification:	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Volta–Congo Savannas Gur
Subdivisions:	Northern Southern
1. Koromfé 2. Oti–Volta 3. Bwamu 4. Gurunsi 5. Kirma–Lobi 6. Dogoso–Khe 7. ? Doghose–Gan

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The Gur languages, also called Central Gur or Mabia, are a group of languages from the Niger–Congo languages family. People speak these languages in the Sahel and savanna parts of West Africa. This includes most of Burkina Faso, south-central Mali, and northern Ghana and Togo. You'll also find speakers in northeastern Ivory Coast, northwestern Benin, and southwestern Niger. A few Gur languages are even spoken in Nigeria.

One Gur language, Baatonum, is spoken in Benin and a small part of Nigeria. Other Gur languages like Tusya, Vyemo, and Tiefo are found in Burkina Faso. Miyobe is another Gur language spoken in Benin and Togo. Some languages like Kulango, Loma, and Lorhon are spoken in Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. You might also find Mossi speakers in Senegal and Dagaare language speakers in Cameroon. The Samu languages in Burkina Faso are also part of the Gur family.

What Makes Gur Languages Special?
How We Study Gur Languages
How Gur Languages are Grouped
- Bodomo's Classification (2017)
Words We Can Compare

What Makes Gur Languages Special?

Like many Niger–Congo languages, the very first Gur language probably had a "noun class" system. This is like how some languages have different endings for words depending on if they are male or female. Many Gur languages today have simpler versions of this system, or no system at all.

A common feature in Gur languages is how they show the "aspect" of a verb. This means they show if an action is ongoing, completed, or habitual. Most Gur languages use tones to change the meaning of words. This is like how saying "hello" with a rising tone can mean it's a question. Koromfé is one of the few Gur languages that doesn't use tones.

How We Study Gur Languages

Sigismund Wilhelm Koelle was the first to write about Gur languages in 1854. He listed twelve languages in his book Polyglotta Africana. Ten of these are still considered Gur languages today. He was very smart because he correctly saw that these languages were related. His group, 'North-Eastern High Sudan', is what we now call Gur. <mapframe latitude="10.271681" longitude="-1.351318" zoom="7" width="526" height="460" text="Map showing the Mabia Languages that are currently under study." align="right">

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The Gur language family used to be called Voltaic. This name came from the French (langues) Voltaïques, named after the Volta River. In the past, this group was thought to be much larger. It included the Senufo languages and other smaller, separate languages. However, many language experts, like Tony Naden, now say that Senufo languages are not part of Gur. Instead, they are a separate branch of Atlantic–Congo languages. Other non-Central Gur languages are seen as being somewhat closer, but still separate branches within the Savannas group.

A researcher named Kleinewillinghöfer (2014) thinks that the closest relatives of Gur languages might be from the old Adamawa languages family. He suggests that early Gur-Adamawa speakers grew guinea corn and millet in grassy, wooded areas.

How Gur Languages are Grouped

The map shows where Central Gur languages are spoken. The list below explains how these languages are related to each other and their closest relatives.

? Greater Gur (or Gur–Adamawa)
- Central Gur (or Mabia)
  - Northern Gur

* (1.) Oti–Volta (28 languages, including Mooré, Mamprusi, Dagbani, and Gurma) * (2.) Bwa (also called Bwamu, Bomu, Bobo-Wule)

- - - (3.) Koromfé (or Koromfe)
  - Southern Gur

* (4.) East Mabia ** Gurunsi (or Grũsi) (20 languages, including Kabiye) * (5.) Kirma–Lobi ** Kirma–Tyurama (Cerma, Turka) ** Lobi–Dyan (Lobi, Dyan)

- - - (6.) Doghose–Gan (Dogosé, Kaansa, Khisa)
    - (7.) ? Dogoso–Khe (Dogoso, Khe)
- ? Waja–Kam
- ? Leko–Nimbari
- ? (possibly other languages from the old Adamawa languages group)

The exact place of Dogoso–Khe within Southern Gur is not fully clear. It doesn't seem to be very closely related to the other languages in that group.

Bodomo's Classification (2017)

Bodomo (2017) calls the entire Central Gur group Mabia. The name Mabia is a mix of two words: ma- meaning 'mother' and bia meaning 'child'.

Here is how Bodomo (2017) organizes the Mabia (or Central Gur) languages:

Mabia
- East (or Gurunsi, Grũsi)
  - Kasem
  - Sisaala
  - Kabiye
- West (or Gurma)
  - Bassari
  - Konkomba
  - Moba
- Central
  - Dagaare
    - Dagaare
    - Wali
    - Birifor
    - Safaliba
  - North
    - Moore
  - Mid-Central
    - Mabiene
    - Frafra (Nankanè)
    - Nabit
  - South
    - Dagbani
    - Mampruli
    - Nanuni (a dialect of Dagbani)
  - Kusaal
    - Kusaal (Kusasi)
    - Talni
  - Buli–Konni
    - Buli
    - Konni
  - Hanga–Kamara
    - Hanga
    - Kamara

Naden (2021) also uses the name Mabia instead of Gur. He lists languages like Dagbani, Hanga, Kantoosi, Kamara, Kusaal, Mampruli, Nabit, Nanun/Nanuni, and Talni as part of the Southern/Eastern Mabia group.

Words We Can Compare

Here are some basic words from different Gur languages. This helps us see how they are similar.

Note: If you see a slash (/) in a cell, the first word is singular (for one thing). The word after the slash is plural (for more than one thing).

Language (Village)	eye	ear	nose	tooth	tongue	mouth	blood	bone	tree	water	eat	name
Proto-Central Gur			*me (Oti-Volta, Gurunsi)	*ye (Gurunsi, Kurumfe)			ñam, ñim (Oti-Volta, Kurumfe)	ʔob, ʔo	*tɪ (Oti-Volta, Gurunsi)	ni, ne; *nã (Oti-Volta, Gurunsi)	*di	yɪɗ, yɪd (Oti-Volta, Gurunsi)
Kirma	yifelle / yifiŋa	tuŋu / tunni	mɛlle / miẽŋa	nyilaŋu / nyiene	dyumelle / dyumiẽŋa	nuŋu / nunni	tammã	kogwoŋu / kogonne	tibiu / tibinni	humma	w	yere
Tyurama	yisiri / yinya	twõgo / tõnya	meare / miaga	nyirogu / nyiranya	nambene / namblaga	nogu / nõnya	toama	kukugogu / kukunya	tibikugu / tibinyinya	huma	owu	yiri / yiga
Proto-Gurunsi	*s₁l	*di₂/e/o(l/n)	*mi₁/e/o		*de/u₂(l)	*no₂/i₁	*ca		*ti₂/e	le/a/o; ni₂/a/o	*di₁	*yi₂(l/d)
Lyélé	yir / yira	zyẽ / zyã	myél / myéla	yéél / yéla	médyolo / médyaalé	nyi / nya	gyal	ku / kur	kyoo / kyémé	nẽẽ	gyu	yil / yila
Proto-Oti–Volta	ni / nun	*tʊ	*me	n / n	lɪm / lam; *z₂ɪ (?)	*noː	*z₁ɪm	kob; kpab	yi / tiː	*ɲa	*dɪ	yi / yʊ
Dagbani	nini	tiba (pl.)	nyee	nyini	zinli	noli	ʒim	kɔbili	tia	kom	di	yuli
Gourmanchéma (Fada N’Gourma)	numbu / nuni/nini	tubli / tuba	miali / miana	nyenli / nyena	lambu / landi	nyoabu / nyoane	soama	kpabli / kpaba	tibu / tidi	nyima	di	yeli / yela
Mossi [Moore]	nifu / nini	tubre / tuba	nyõre / nyüya	nyende / nyena	zilemde / zilma	nore / nwɛya	zim	kõbre / kõaba	tiɣa / tise	kom	di	yure / yuya
Frafra	nifo / nini	tʊbre / tʊba	yõore / yõa	yẽnnɛ / yẽna	zɪlɪŋa / zɪlɪsɪ	nõorɛ / nõa	zɪɪm	kõbrɛ / kõba	tɪa / tɪɪsɪ	ko'om	di	yʊ'ʊrɛ / yʊ'ʊra
Dagaare [Dagara, Dagari]	mimir / mimie	tour / tubl	nyoboɣr / nyobogɛ	nyim / nyimɛ	zel / zelɛ	nwor / nɛ̃	zĩ	kobr / kobɛ	tiɛ / tir	kõwõ/kwõõ	di	yur / ye
Proto-Eastern Oti–Volta	*nuan-	*tuo-	*wuan-	*nin-	*dian-	*nua-	*yia-	*kuan-	*tie-	*nia-	*di-	*yi-
Bariba	nɔnu, nɔni	so ~ soa, -su	wɛ̃ru	dondu	yara, -nu	nɔɔ (pl.?)	yem	kukuru	dã̀ã̀ (pl.?)	nim	tēm̄	yísìrū
Natioro (Timba)	ɲǎːpéjá	ɲàŋwà	mṹnṹpwã́	ɲĩ́nã́ŋɟɛ̄	nɛ̃́mɛ̃́sáː	pɛ́lːɛ̄	sjã́ːmĩ́	kàːkwà	súmwà	lwā	àʔɔ́lɪ̄	ɲĩ́nã́
Natioro (Niansogoni)	ɲĩ́kúpjé	jɪ̀pã̌	mṹnũ̀kũ̌	ɲínːáː	lámːjáː	nã́	tə́mǎ	nã́ŋkwáː	ʃjɛ̂	nṹmṹː	ìwɔ́nːã́	ínːã́
Natioro (Faniagara)	ɲã́pʊ̀ːnã́	ífwã̀nã́	ʔṹnṹfã̀nã́	ĩ́ndáːnã̀	nĩ́ŋsáːnã̄	nã́ːnã̀	tímĩ́nĩ́	kʊ́kánã̄	síːkénã́	nĩ́mĩ́nĩ̀	ɛ̀wòlòjɛ́	ínã́ːnã̄
Moyobe	mɛnɪ́bɛ̀ / ɪ̀nɪ́bɛ̀	kùtù / àtù	tíŋwáyí / áŋwáyí	tìní, kùní / aní	tìlénbí / àlénbí	ńnɔ́ɔ̀ / ínɔ́ɔ̀	ményɛ́ / ányɛ́	kúkɔ́hɔ́ / ákɔ́hɔ́	kùléé / àléé	mɪ́nɪ̀	li / lè	tìnyírì / ànyírì
Kulango (Bouna)	piege / piewu	tengu / tenu	saŋa / sãum	kaɣangbo / kaɣam	delengbo / delemu	nɔɔɣɔ / nuom	tuɔm	zukukpo / zukum	diɛkɔ / diɛnu	yɔkɔ	dɪ	yukɔ / yum
Tiefo	éjú	ēnɑ̃́tō	ēmɛ́ʔɛ́	kɔ̃́ʔɔ̃́	mʲɔ̃̄	ēnwɔ̃́ʔɔ̃́	ɟɑ̄lɑ̄, tɾɔ̃̄	kɑ̄ūʔù	ʃɪ̃́ʔɪ́			éjɛ́
Viemo (Diosso)	gĩ́ːɾɔ̀	cũ̄ljɔ̀	mūmúɾō	kɑ̃́ːdɔ̄	lɑ̃́ːtīɾɔ̄	ŋɑ̃́	kjíːmō	fūfūɾɔ́	sóbò	númōɔ	nũ̄ɔ̃	índō
Viemo (Soumaguina)	ɟĩ́ɾɔ̄	tuĩ́jɔ̄	mūmṹɾɔ̄	kɑ̃̄ːnɔ̄	lɑ̃́tīɾɔ̄	ɲɑ̄	tíɛ̄mɔ̄	fúfūɾɔ̄	sóbɔ̀	númɔ̄	jṹnũ̄ɔ̃̄kɛ̀	ĩ́dɔ̄
Samo, Maka (Toma)	jǐ	to	ɲɛ̃	sɔ	lɛwɔ	lɛ	mɑ̀	wɛ	mú	dɑ	ɑ̀mɑ́mbíː
Samo, Matya (Kouy)	jɛrːɛ	toro	jiːni	sɔ̃ːnɛ	nɛnɛ	lɛ	mɪjɑ̀	jɛrɛ	mú	dɑ́	ɑnebɑ́rè
Samo, Maya (Bounou)	ɲoːnì; jɛrɛ	toro	ɲinijɛrɛ	so	leːnè	lɛ	mɑ̌	jɑre	mu	dɑ	ɑfɑ́bjèrè
Téén	hinbiye / hinbu	tenike / tenu	mɪtɪyaka / mɪtɪyɔ	kamaka / kaamʊ	delenge / delemu	nʊfɪya / nʊfɪyɔ	tɔbɔ (pl)	kpoloko / kpolowo	dɪyaa / dɪwɔ	ɔkɔ / ɔwɔ	dɪ	yɪraa / yɪrɔ
Toussian, South [Win]	nyi / nyɛ	nigi / ni	mene / menenã	nyin / nyinɛ	nampar / namparnã	ṽiãʔ-lɛ / ṽiɛ-nɛ̃	tõ	kəgbeke / kəgbal	sesuo-lɛ / sesar-lɛ	nĩ	nyõ	nyin
Toussian, North (Guéna-Kourinion)	nyi / nyɔ	ni/nãn / ninã/nœnnã	mle / mlənã	nyen / nyennã	nenpüœra	via/ṽiã / wẽy	tiõ/tõ	kəble / kəblenâ	sepwel / sepyi
Siamou [Sɛmɛ]	nya/nyábí/nyábi	tà-syẽ̀ / tàsyẽ̀	már	nyèn / nyěn	dɛ / dɛ́	kõ̀ / kẽ	tṍ	kpár / kpar	timõ / timẽ	nũ	di	ỹi
Mambar	nyíí / nyíî	nyuweŋ / nyuwɛyɛ	munna / munnaʔa	gã / gãʔa	nyire / nyiree	nyu / nyüyi	ʃiʃi	katyiɣe / katyiye	ʃiɣe / ʃire	loeʔoe	di	mbaɣe / mbɛyɛ
Senar (Kankalaba)	nyini / nyinyẽy	nupaɣa / nupay	funan / funãge	gẽ/gan / gãgẽ	nyini / nyirke	nyuɣu / nyuy	sisyẽkɛ	kayige / katyiye	tiɣe / tĩyi/tĩr	Dogo	di	mɛɣɛ
Tenyer	yɛde/yade / yɛgyɛ/yagyɛ	dyigi / dyii	mənɛ / məligɛ	nkan / nhagal	nyinkan / nyẽhegal	nye / nyey	tuno	kyilige / kyileri	katyigi / katyir	lɔgɔ	di	migɛ / mii

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