Upper Cross River languages


The Upper Cross River languages form a branch of the Cross River languages of Cross River State, Nigeria. The most populous languages are Loko and Mbembe, with 100,000 speakers.

Languages

The internal structure per Cornell, reproduced in Williamson and Blench, is as follows:

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench.
LanguageBranchClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonymOther names Other names for languageExonymSpeakersLocation
AgọiAgoiWaGọiIbamiRo BambamiWa Bambami3,650 ; estimated 12,000 Cross River State, Obubra LGA, Agoi–Ekpo, Ekom–Agoi, Agoi–Ibami and Itu–Agoi towns
KiọngAkoiyang, Äkäyöñ, Okoyong, OkonyongSpoken only by old people, younger generation speak EfikCross River State, Odukpani and Akamkpa LGAs
KọrọpDurop, KuropKòṛ óp̣Ododop12,500 total Cross River State, Odukpani and Akamkpa LGAs; and in Cameroon
LegboEast–WestGboLegboAgboItigidiIgbo Imaban18,500 ; 30,000 Cross River State, Obubra LGA; Abia State, Afikpo LGA
LenyimaEast–WestAnyimaInyimaCross River State, Obubra LGA
LeyighaEast–WestAyiga, YighaAsiga3,150 Cross River State, Obubra LGA
LokәәEast–WestUgep, NkpamLokә, LoköYakạ, Yakә, Yakurr, YaköUgep38,200 ; 100,000 Cross River State, Obubra LGA
LubilaEast–WestKabilaOjor, Kabila, Kaibre, KabireCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, at Ojo Nkomba, and Ojo Akangba
MbembeEast–WestAdun, Okom , Osopong, Ofombonga, Ofonokpan, Okorogbana, Ekama in Ikom LGA, Oferikpe in Abakaliki LGAOkam, Oderiga, Wakande, Ifunubwa, Ekokoma, Ofunobwan 35,600 ; 100,000 Cross River State, Obubra and Ikom LGAs; Anambra State, Abakaliki LGA
NkukoliEast–WestNkokolleLokukoliEkuri17,831 ; 10,000 Cross River State, Ikom, Obubra and Akamkpa LGAs, Iko Ekperem Development Area
Olulumọ–Ikọm clusterEast–WestOlulumọ–IkọmÒkúní9,250 Cross River State, Ikom LGA
OlulumọEast–WestOlulumọ–IkọmÒlúlùmọ1,730 ; 5,000
IkọmEast–WestOlulumọ–Ikọm7,520 ; 25,000
BakpinkaEast–WestIyongiyong, IyoniyongUwetBegbungbaCross River State, Akamkpa LGA
Doko–UyangaEast–WestDọsangaBasangaIkoSeveral townsCross River State, Akamkpa LGA
Ukpet–Ehom clusterEast–WestUkpet–EhomAkpet–EhomCross River State, Akamkpa LGA
UkpetEast–WestUkpet–EhomAkpet
EhomEast–WestUkpet–EhomUbetengEbeteng
KukeleNorth–South4 dialects in north, 3 in south, Ugbala, Mtezi and Mtezi–Iteeji in Anambra State, Abakaliki LGAUkele, UkelleKukeleBakele31,700 ; 40,000 Cross River State, Ogoja LGA; Anambra State, Abakaliki LGA; Benue State, Okpokwu and Oju LGAs; and in Cameroon
Ubaghara clusterNorth–SouthUbaghara30,000 Cross River State, Akamkpa LGA
BiakpanNorth–SouthUbagharaUbaghara Development Area
IkunNorth–SouthUbagharaUbaghara Development Area
EtonoNorth–SouthUbagharaUbaghara Development Area
UgbemNorth–SouthUbagharaEgup–Ita Development Area
UtumaNorth–SouthUbagharaUmon Development Area
KohumonoNorth–SouthKohumonoKoHumonoBaHumono, sg. ÒhúmónòEdiba Ekumuru, Ìkúmúrú, Ìkúmóró ; Àtàm 11,870 Cross River State, Obubra LGA
KOIN North–SouthKohumonoKalaḅarị, Kịrịkẹ, Ịḅanị dialects and the isolated lect Nkọrọ Kokura, belonging to the Tera clusterRivers State, Asari–Toru, Degema, Bonny, Okrika, and Port Harcourt LGAs
Oring clusterNorth–SouthOringOrriKoringat least 25,000 ; 75,000 Benue State, Okpokwu LGA; Anambra State, Ishielu LGA
UfiaNorth–SouthOringUtonkon12,300 Benue State, Okpokwu LGA
UfiomNorth–SouthOringEffium3,000 Benue State, Okpokwu LGA; Anambra State, Ishielu LGA
OkpotoNorth–SouthOring6,350 Anambra State, Ishielu LGA
UmonNorth–SouthAmon25 villagesCross River State, Akamkpa LGA
UzekweNorth–SouthEzekwe5,000 Cross River State, Ogoja LGA
Agwagwune clusterNorth–SouthAgwagwuneAgwa–Gwunɛ20,000 Cross River State, Akamkpa LGA
AgwagwuneNorth–SouthAgwagwuneGwuneAgwagwuneAkunakuna, Akurakura Cross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area
EreiNorth–SouthAgwagwuneEzeiEnnaCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Erei Development Area
AbiniNorth–SouthAgwagwuneBini, AbiriObiniCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area
AdimNorth–SouthAgwagwuneArәm, DimOdimOrumCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area
AbayongoNorth–SouthAgwagwuneBayono, BayinoCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Egup–Ipa Development Area
Etono IINorth–SouthAgwagwuneEtunoCross River State, Akamkpa LGA, Ubaghara Development Area

Reconstruction

A reconstruction of Proto-Upper Cross River has been proposed by Gerrit Dimmendaal.