Yiwom | |
---|---|
Gerka | |
Pronunciation | [jʷom] |
Native to | Nigeria |
Region | Plateau State |
Native speakers | 14,000 (2000) [1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 |
gek |
Glottolog |
yiwo1237 |
Yiwom (Ywom), also known as Gerka or Gerkawa by the Hausa, [2] is a Chadic ( Afro-Asiatic) language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria.
Ywom was formerly much more widespread, with Ywom toponyms found in southern Tarok-speaking areas. [2] Roger Blench (2013) [3] reports that Ywom is spoken in Hyel Ywom town and nearby hamlets. Many Ywom speak Jukun and Tarok as additional languages. [3] Due to influence from Plateau languages, Ywom has various phonological features that are considered unusual for a West Chadic language, such as labiovelar consonants. [2]
Tones are at least high and low. Mid tone may be allophonic. Rising and falling tones are probably restricted to sequences.
Vowels are /i e a ɨ ə u o/. There may also be an ?/ɯ/. Three vowels are long, /aa ee ɨɨ/.
Consonants are:
ɓ | ɗ | ||||||||
p b | t d | c ɟ | k ɡ | kp ɡb | ɢ | ʔ | |||
f v | θ | s z | ʃ ʒ | ʃʲ | ɣ | h | |||
m | n | ɲ | ŋ | ||||||
ʙ̪ | l r | ||||||||
j | w |
Syllable-initial consonant clusters are Cw, Cj, Cr and Cl. NC also occurs; the N takes its own tone.