Ngerupic languages
| Ngerupic | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: | Akulanen, Soltenna and Ekuosia |
| Linguistic classification: | One of Sahar's primary language families |
| Proto-language: | Wa Ñi |
| CWS code | – |
The Ngerupic languages are a language family comprising about 100 languages of southwestern Miraria, primarily the Akulanen and Soltenna regions, which are all descended from Wa Ñi. They are spoken by about 500 million people in total. The official languages of Amerhan, Awarahl, Cerman, Kadya, Karduv, Lutya, Magali, Shohai, Utol, Quaxin Xun, Qonklaks, Yachiro, and Zaizung are Ngerupic, while Ngerupic languages are spoken by substantial populations in Barradiwa, Riyana, and Bosato.
Since Wa Ñi was spoken around 5000 years ago, the present-day languages have diverged substantially. Magali is the area of greatest diversity, with more than half the Ngerupic languages spoken there. Due to the expansion of Yatååkåå within Magali, the regions of greatest diversity are the relatively inaccessible mountainous central and northwest regions of Magali. Other regions with many smaller Ngerupic languages include Shohai and Awarahl.
The most-spoken Ngerupic languages on Sahar are Terminian, Awatese, Yatååkåå, Karduvic and Kwang, each with more than 10 million speakers. In contrast, many Ngerupic languages of Awarahl, northwestern Amerhan and rural Magali are highly endangered, with less than a hundred thousand speakers each.
Languages
| Language | Classification | Number of native speakers | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminian | Termic | 160,000,000 | Cerman, Amerhan, amongst others |
| Kwang | Quoncic | 95,000,000 (dialect chain) | Qonklaks, Karduv, Zaizung, Quaxin Xun amongst others |
| Karduvic | Quoncic | 36,000,000 | Karduv, Qonklaks (Northeast) |
| Awatese | Mañic: Awato-Manean | 22,677,500 | Awating |
| Manean | Mañic: Awato-Manean | 22,500,000 | Manea |
| Zaizung | Mañic | 18,000,000 | Zaizung |
| Yachiroese | Mañic | 17,000,000 (could be wrong -log) | Yachiro |
| Hlung | Mañic | 15,200,000 | Quaxin Xun (Southeast) |
| Yatååkåå | Ounyu | 15,000,000 | Magali (Northeast), Shohai (Northwest) |
| Ngkayanyawaanya | Umic | 14,000,000 | Magali (Southwest) |
| Utoyyi | Termic: South Terminian | 10~15,000,000 (dialect chain) | Utol |
| Ndxiixun | Mañic: Tuŋñi | 13,500,000 | Quaxin Xun (Central) |
| Maypaw | Mañic | 9,300,000 | Quaxin Xun (Northwest) |
| Sąñàwa | Mañic | 9,000,000 | Kadya (South), Seret |
| Lutyan | Ghonoid | 8,400,000 | Lutya |
| Amerhani | Termic | 4~6,000,000 (dialect chain) | Amerhan |
| Baridus | Termic | 4,300,000 | Barradiwa (Baridia) |
| Nichoh | Mañic: Tuŋñi | 3,600,000 | Quaxin Xun (West-central) |
| Yashuhay | Ounyu: Shohue | 2,000,000 | Shohai (Northwest) |
| Yako'e | Ounyu: Shohue | 1,000,000 | Shohai (Central-south) |
| Ndawá | Mañic | 825,000 | Magali (North), Awating (Far northwest) |
| Yachanooli | Mañic | 300,000 | Shohai (Northeast) |
| Ekerukoi | Ounyu: Shohue | 100,000 | Shohai (Southwest) |
| Waľavaľwa | Ounyu | 95,000 | Quaxin Xun (Insular) |
| Ngigu | Umic | 65,000 | Awating (South) |
| Erushka | Ghonoid: Erushkaic | 30,000 | Amerhan (West) |
| Kyathros | Ounyu: Shohue | 15,000 | Amerhan (Northeast) |
| Bilemã | Termic | 4,000 | Awating (Central-south) |
Taxonomy
The first-order daughters of Wa Ñi seem to have formed a dialect continuum, with subsequent diversification especially in northwest and central Magali. The most commonly agreed-upon taxonomy of Ngerupic languages runs as follows, with primary branches from north to south:
- Proto-Kwang: (Kwangic languages)
- Mañi: (Mañic languages)
- Wu Eendehen
- Wanyima-Wanyuu: (Ounyu languages)
- Uemaua: (Umic languages)
- Ghoni (Ghonoid languages)
- Old Terminian (Termic languages)
Typology
Ngerupic languages are extremely diverse in typology, but some common characteristics are:
- small phonemic inventories, with little phonation contrast
- many sonorants, especially laterals and rhotics
- tone
- nasalized vowels
- simple syllable structure
- noun classes with distinct singular and plural classes
- subject and possibly object prefixes on verbs
- compounding as main form of derivation
- head-initial
- marked mood on verb
Comparison
IPA comparison of *pray reflexes
IPA comparison of the numeral 'ten' (*cexoco)
