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Bariba language

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Bariba
Baatɔnum
Native toBenin, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger
RegionBorgu
EthnicityBariba people
Native speakers
(1.1 million cited 1995–2021)[1]
Latin
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
Language codes
ISO 639-3bba
Glottologbaat1238
Bariba
PersonBaatɔnu
PeopleBaatɔmbu
LanguageBaatɔnum

Bariba, also known as Baatonum, is the language of the Bariba people and was the language of the state of Borgu. The native speakers are called Baatombu (singular Baatonu),[2] Barba, Baruba, Berba and a number of various other names and spellings.

It is primarily spoken in Benin, but also across the border in adjacent Kwara State and Niger State, Nigeria, and some Bariba are in Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger. Welmers (1952) reported the Bariba language as spoken in the cities of Nikki, Parakou, Kandi, and Natitingou.[3]

Names

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The language can be known by different names:

Other names include Barba or Berba.

One person who speaks Bariba is called Baatɔnu and two or more persons or speakers are called Baatɔmbu and the language of the Baatɔmbu/Borgawa people is called Baatɔnum.

Geographic distribution

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In Nigeria, Bariba is spoken mainly in Borgu LGA of Niger State and in Baruten LGA of Kwara state. A number of Bariba have migrated to other parts of Nigeria, including Abuja. The Bariba people are referred to as Borgawa in Hausa.

In Benin, Bariba is spoken mainly in Alibori, Donga, Atakora and Borgou departments. A number of Bariba have migrated to other parts of Benin, including Cotonou.

In Togo, Bariba is spoken in the Centrale Region.

In Burkina Faso, Bariba is spoken in Kompienga Province.

There are also some Bariba in Niger in Tillabéri Region and Dosso Region.

Classification

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Bariba is usually classed as an independent member of the Savanna languages, but some consider it and a number of other languages, such as Miyobe, as a Gur language. However, other than Bariba, there are other unclassified Gur languages, including Miyobe, Koromfe, Viemo, and Natyoro.

Alphabet

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There are 23 letters of Batonou alphabet.[4]

Phonology

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Consonants

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Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Labio-
velar
Glottal
Nasal m n
Plosive voiceless p t k k͡p
voiced b d ɡ ɡ͡b
Fricative voiceless f s h
voiced z
Rhotic ɾ
Lateral l
Approximant j w
  • /ɾ/ may be heard as a lateralized [ɺ] when preceding front vowels.
  • /s, z/ may be heard as [ʃ, ʒ] when preceding front vowels.[3]

Vowels

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Front Central Back
Close i ĩ u ũ
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ɛ̃ ɔ ɔ̃
Open a ã

Tone

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Bariba is a tonal language.[5] Tonal patterns in Bariba have been claimed to present a challenge[clarification needed] to the Two-Feature Model of tonal phonology.[6]

Nouns

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Bariba has 7 noun classes:

  • 1. y-class
  • 2. t-class
  • 3. g-class
  • 4. w-class
  • 5. m-class
  • 6. s-class
  • 7. n-class

The data was collected by William E. Welmers in August and September 1949 at Nikki, Benin.[3]

y-class

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The y-class is the largest noun class. y-class singular nouns usually in -a.

banana àgɛ̀dɛ̀ (no pl.)
palm tree bãã
large calabash bàka
stick bɔ̀ra
mosquito bũ̀ɛ̃̀yã
character dàà (no pl.)
tree, wood dã̀ã̀ (pl.?)
fallen branch dã̀kàmā
branch on a tree dã̀kàsā
root of a tree dã̀kpinā
habit dēn̄dī (pl.?)
mirror digí (pl.?)
guinea corn dobi (pl.?)
gun dɔ̃̀bɔ̀ra
well dɔ̀kɔ̀ (pl.?)
male dua
horse duma
bag fɔ̀rɔ̀tɔ̀, -bá
name of a month gã̀ã̀ní (no pl.)
village gate gàm̀bò, -bà
wall gana
word, matter gari (pl.?)
termite gɛ́ma
driver ant gɛ̃́ya
gazelle gina
money gobi (pl.?)
guinea fowl gònā
death gɔɔ (no pl.)
rain, storm gúra
chicken guwā, guwē
axe gbãã
calabash gbàká
lion gbèsùnɔ̄, gbèsìnansu
grain of millet gbɛyā
spirit hùindè (pl.?)
papaya kàràbósì, -bà
motor kɛ̀kɛ, -bà
animal horn kɔbā
wildcat konā
bamboo stalk kɔ̃sā
antelope kpása
stew kpee (no pl.)
star; hippopotamus kpera
corn cake másà, -bà
rice sprout mɔ́ra
cow naā
house spider nára
scorpion nía
female nia
mouth nɔɔ (pl.?)
hand nɔbū, nɔma
peanut sãã
offering sàrâ
bridge sàsarā
comb séḿbù, -ba
hair serā
covering sèsèbìa
pestle sobiā
edible seeds sonki (pl.?)
road, path súa
fish sũ̀ã
bean suìā
bracelet sumā
judgment tààrɛ (pl.?)
tobacco tába
ant tànā
mud brick tèǹdɔ́ka
self tīī
bee tĩya
inheritance túbí (pl.?)
snake waā
rope wɛ̃ya
straw wĩ́ya, wĩĩ
law wodà
small gray monkey wonkéra
gold wúra (no pl.)
face wurusuā, -ɛ̄
animal, meat yaa
needle yabúra
cloth, robe yasa
spear yàsa/yɛ̀sa
pepper yɛ̃̀ɛ̃̀kú (no pl.)
evil spirit zínì

t-class

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All forms end in -ru for t-class nouns.

cutlass àdaru
dysentery bàǹdúbàǹdū
sickness baràrū
tension drum bàraru
doorway bàràrū
shoe bàràrū (only pl.)
cloth bekùrū
basket bíréru
back biru
salt bɔ̀rū
river daaru
loincloth dɛmbɛru
house dìrū
tooth dondu
stalk gãnã̀rū
arm gã̀sèrū
rat gɔnɔru
large wild rat gɔ̀nɔ̀ǹguru
egg goòsĩã̀rū
mountain guru
rain cloud gúrúwiru
(musical) horn guùrū
crow gbãgbã̀rū
field, farm gbèrū
pot gbɛ̃́ru
gourd kaaru
bush cow kɛ̀tɛ̀gbèèkìrū
male (of some animals) kìnèrū
bread kìràrū
love kĩ́ru
stool kìtàrū
box kpàkoruru
stone kpèrū
bed kpenyeru
bone kukuru
a swelling mɔsìrū
odor nubùrū
rabbit satàbūr̄ū
pitfall sɛ̃̀rū
brass, copper sigàǹdū
grave sìkìrū
tail siru
stinkbug sísíkènèrū
pounded yam sɔ̀kùrū
work sɔ̀mbùrū
clay for pots sɔǹdū
mortar soru
porridge sòrū
toad suréru
leg taaru
garden hill takàrū
bow tendu
panther túǹdū
nose wɛ̃ru
head wiru
neck wĩ́yìrū
knife wobùrū
pot wókeru
night, darkness wɔ̃̀kùrū
baboon wompɔkɔru
red monkey wónsũ̀ã̄rū
coldness wóòrū
sheep yã̀ã̀rū
market yàburu
sacrifice yãkùrū
place yanyeeru
open space yeeru
broom yiìrū
name yísìrū
frog yɔ̃ɔ̃ru

g-class

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Forms usually end in back vowels for g-class nouns.

chameleon àgāmānàkí, -bà
onion àlùmásà, -nu
goat boo, bonu
water pot bòo, -nu
dog bɔ̃ɔ̃, bɔ̃nu
owl booro, -su
lizard bɔ̀su, -nu
infestation of lice gã́ã́ní (pl.?)
louse gã́ã́núkú, -nù
airplane gogùnɔ̀, -su
robe gɔ̃kɔ, -su
drum gɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀, gã̀ã̀su
vehicle gòo, -su
canoe gòoninkū, -nu
bird gùnɔ̄, -su
cricket gbɔɔ̄, -nu
sandfly kòtókámbu, -munu
spoon kààtó, -nù
cat kòkónyambu, -munu
doorway kɔ́ǹdɔ, -su
mat kɔ̃ɔ̄, -su
pig kúrúsɔ̄, -su
partridge kusu, -nu
leopard, cat músúkú, -nù
antelope nemū, neǹnu
eye nɔnu, nɔni
bush hog sàkɔ̄, -nu
trap sɛ́kpɛ̀ǹkú, -nù
arrow sɛ̃ũ̄, sɛ̃ɛ̃̀nu
pot sirū, -su
fly sɔnu, -su
ear so / soa, -su
elephant sùùnū, -su
ring tààbu, -nu
small black ant tàm̀bu, -munu
army ant tàsonu, -su
hoe tebo, -nu
shadow tíro, -nu
parrot titimokò, -nu
year wɔ̃̄ɔ̃̄n, wɔ̃̄su
monkey womu, wonnu
wind woo, -nu
hole wɔrū, -su
town wuu, -su
rabbit wùkū, -nu
leaf wurū, -su
tongue yara, -nu
vulture yèbèrèkú, -nù
household yɛnu, -su
hartebeest yiiku, -nu

w-class

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father bàa
Bariba person or language bàtɔ̀nù
older brother, friend bɛɛrɛ̄
child bìī
ulcer bòō
hunter bɔso
fire dɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀
mother’s brother dùàni
rich man gobigi
person goo
pregnant woman guràgi
God gúsūnɔ̄
guard kɔ̃so
mother merō
older brother mɔɔ̄
paramount chief sènàboko
sister sesu
sun, day sɔ̃ɔ̃
chief sùnɔ̄, sìnambu
moon, month surú
person tɔ̀nū, tɔ̀m̀bu
younger brother wɔ́nɔ̄
guardian spirit yãrō
slave yòō
enemy yíbɛ̀rɛ̀

m-class

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m-class nouns often end in -m.

language bàrūm̄
milk bom
strength dam
oil gum
raised garden row kɔ̀rɔ̄m̄
water nim
liquor tam
ground, dirt tem
medicine tìm̄
honey tim
soap werem
air wom
space, room yam
sand yànīm̄
blood yem

s-class

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The s-class is a small noun class. Most forms are collectives and end in -su.

one (yam) tan (teèsū)
foot naàsu
silver sigeèsū
iron sísú
cotton wɛ̃su
grass, the bush yàkàsu

n-class

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The n-class is a small noun class. Most forms are collectives and end in -nu.

one teènū
greens àfonu
thing gáánu
necklace goònū
corn gbèrɛnu
cucumber gbɛ̀zɛnu
okra yàbonu

Verbs

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Aspects

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There are 7 primary verb aspects in Bariba:[3]

  • consecutive
  • habitual
  • continuative
  • frequentative
  • imperative
  • past
  • past negative

There are 5 verb classes, which are grouped according to the formation of the past aspect.

List of verbs

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Consecutive verb forms are given below. S denotes stative forms.

get sick bārā
split bɛ̄rā
push bɔ̄rīā
dawn, whiten būrūrā, S burīrī
taste dēn̄dā
pass by dōōnā
sell dɔ̄ɔ̄rā
sleep dūīā, S dò
come in dūmā
pull gāwā
chase gīrā
beseech kānā
break (rope) kārā
shatter kɔ̄ɔ̄rā
loosen kūsīā
lie down kpūnā, S kpī̃
receive mūā
burn mūārā
fight sān̄nā
become clean sā̃rā
name, call sīā
pick up sūā
wash tīā
become black tī̃ī̃rā, S tĩĩrī
arrive tūnūmā
fall wɔ̄rūmā
fill yībīā
meet yīn̄nā
stop yɔ̃̄rā
leave dērī
eat dī (Cont. di)
forget dūārī
hurt by burning mɛ̄nī
help sōmī
increase sōsī
tether sɔ̄rī
take a long time tɛ̄
hand over wɛ̃̄
blow (air) wūrī
throw away yārī
lay down
become hard bɔbiā, S bɔ̄(bū)
become fat bɔriā, S bɔ̄rū
become much dabiā, S dabī
catch up with deèmā
become long dẽɛ̃̀nyā, S dɛ̄ū̄
become deep dukiā, S dúku
learn giā
turn over gɔsìā
turn around gɔsìrā
gather gurā
become high, tall guriā, S gúru
open kɛnīā
get down sarā
become difficult sɛ̃sīā, S sɛ̃̄
sit down sinā, S sɔ̃̀
become bitter sosiā, S sō(sū)
become red sũɛ̃rā, S sũɛ̃rī
become tough taàyā, S tāū
become wide yasiā, S yasū
become cold, damp yemiā, S yēm̄
fire (a gun) suē
touch babā
go around besirā
break in two buā
cut in two burā
do become sweet dorā, S
catch gabā
become dry gberā
tear gĩā̃
scratch gɔ̃rā
want kĩã̄, S kĩ́
cut up murā
jump, drop surā
draw up takā
bring tamā
become good wɛ̃rā, S wã
believe wurā
come back wúràmā
pierce yabā
remember yayā
play duē
become clean dɛ́ɛ́rā
become big kpɛ̃́yā, S kpã́
become hot sṹyā, S sum̄
become clear déérē
look for kásū
show sɔ̃́nɔ̃́sĩ̄
warm oneself wɔ̃́sū
cover wukírī
peel kɛ̄ɛ̄rī
chew, eat tēm̄
plant dūūrē
separate gɔsi
dig gbe
wait ma, maru
study mɛɛri
fall (of rain)
leave, walk
call soku
be enough, arrive turi
see wa
answer wisi
measure yĩre
hear nɔ̂
fix up sɔmɛ̀, sɔm̀
dye black wɔ̃kù
dance
enter, hurt
flow kōkū
stand up sē, S yɔ̃̀
climb yɔ̄
shine baàlì
count garì
rot kɔ̃sì
give birth to mâ, marù
swell mɔsì
rejoice yɛ̃ɛ̃rì
buy dūē
give kɛ̃̄
build bānī
steal gbɛ̄nī
prick sɔ̄kū
tell sɔ̃
put on the head sɔbe, sɔ
fry sɔmɛ, sɔm
? su
fly yɔ̃
tie up bɔ̄kē
sew yīnɛ̄
speak, say gere
close kɛnɛ̀
hide kukè
frighten narè
cook yikè
write yɔ̃rì
do, make kō, S mɔ̀
kill
throw down kɔ̃̂
finish kpê
hit

Adjectives

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Invariable adjectives:[3]

male dɔ, dua
raw goma
high gbãrã
white kaà
a little bit pikó
narrow tereré
difficult sɛ̃sɔ

Adjectives with a class of their own, which remains the same after all nouns; singular and plural forms are like those of nouns:

t-class adjectives:

some, a few (pl. only) binu
much, many dabīrū
dead gorū
male (of certain animals) kìnèrū
old tɔ̀kɔ̄rū
short, small (also g-class) kpirìrū

g-class adjectives:

small yã̀kàbū
small píbu
short, small (also t-class) kpirìbū

Attributive adjectives with alternants for each noun class:

big baka-
fresh bèku-
hard bɔɔ̀bɔā-
fat bɔrùbɔrū-
good bùra-
strong dangi-
long dɛǹdɛn̄-
good ge-
dry gbebu-
new kpaà-
white kpikī-
female ni-
thick sìnùǹgi-
bitter soòsuā-
red sũ̀ã̄-
hot súm-
tough taàtaā-
black wɔ̃kū-
cold yĩ́re-

Numerals

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1 tiā
2 yìru
3 yìta
4 ǹnɛ
5 nɔ̄ɔ̄bù
6 nɔ̄ɔ̄bâ tiā
7 nɔ̄ɔ̄bá yìru
8 nɔ̄ɔ̄bá yìta
9 nɔ̄ɔ̄bá ǹnɛ
10 ɔkuru
20 yɛndu
30 tɛ̀nā

References

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  1. ^ Bariba at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Abdu, Hussaini (January 2019). Partitioned Borgu: State, Society and Politics in a West African Border Region (HB). United Kingdom: Adonis and Abbey publishers. ISBN 978-1-906704-216.
  3. ^ a b c d e Welmers, William E. 1952. Notes on Bariba. Language 28: 82-103.
  4. ^ "Bariba language and alphabet". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  5. ^ N.L. Haddock (1959) The tones of Bariba Phonetica 3:90-94
  6. ^ Clements, Michaud, and Patin, Do we need tone features? In Tones and features: phonetic and phonological perspectives, Goldsmith, Hume, and Whetzels, editors
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