Idun language

Not to be confused with Idon language.
Idun
Dũya
Idṹ
Native toNigeria
RegionKaduna State
Native speakers
78,000 (2012)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3ldb
Glottologidun1241
Dṹ[2]
PersonUdṹ
PeopleAdṹ
LanguageIdṹ

Idun (Idũ), or Dũya (Dunya, Adong, Lungu, Ungu), is a poorly attested Plateau language of Nigeria. Its classification is uncertain, but it may be closest to Ashe.

Villages

Speakers live in Ramindop B, Ùndofã̀, Udou, Táymɛ̀̃, Adar, Igbà, Mɛ̀mdɔr, Hùrtɔ̀̃, Àgbàŋànɔr, Ùmbùmbàŋ, Jàja, Ǹdam, Kùkaŋ, Ùkare, Ùnwĩĩ, Igbayinɔr, Ìdɛ̀zìnì, and Ugɛrɛ villages of Kaduna State. Hausa village names are Shinkafa, Yèlwa, Jabe Panda, and Gunduma.[3]

Phonology

Consonants

[4]
  Bilabial Labiodental Alveolar Post-alveolar Retroflex Palatal Labial-palatal Velar Labial-velar Glottal
Stop p b t d c ɟ k ɡ k͡p ɡ͡b
Nasal m n ŋ
Tap ɾ ɽ
Trill r
Fricative f v s z ʃ ʒ x ɣ h
Affricate p̪͡f b̪͡v t͡s d͡z
Approximant j ɥ w
Lateral (l)1

1. Only in recent loanwords, mostly from Hausa

Vowels

[5]
  Front Central Back
Close i u
Near-Close ɪ ʊ
Close-Mid e o
Open-Mid ɛ ɔ
Open a

All vowels except the near-close vowels /ɪ/ and /ʊ/ can appear long, nasalised or both; the vowels /ɪ/ and /ʊ/ are being lost for young speakers.[6]

Tone

There are three level tones in Idun, as well as a rising tone and falling tone arising from adjacent level tones.

References

  1. ^ Idun at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  3. ^ Blench, Roger. 2010. The Idũ language of Central Nigeria: Phonology, wordlist and suggestions for orthography changes.
  4. ^ Roger Blench, The Idũ language of Central Nigeria: Phonology, wordlist and suggestions for orthography changes. (2010:6).
  5. ^ Roger Blench (2010:1-2).
  6. ^ Roger Blench (2010:1)

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