Goemai language

Goemai (also Ankwe) is an Afro-Asiatic (Chadic, West Chadic A) language spoken in the Great Muri Plains region of Plateau State in central Nigeria, between the Jos Plateau and Benue River. Goemai is also the name of the ethnic group of speakers of the Goemai language. The name 'Ankwe' has been used to refer to the people, especially in older literature and to outsiders.: 1  As of 2020, it is estimated that there are around 380,000 Goemai speakers.

Goemai
Gamai
Pronunciation[gə̀mâi]
Native toNigeria
RegionGreat Muri Plains, Plateau State
EthnicityGoemai people
Native speakers
380,000 (2020)
Dialects
  • Duut
  • East Ankwe
  • Dorok
  • K'wo
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3ank
Glottologgoem1240

PUR:purpose SG:singular DEF:definite ADVZ:adverbializer S:subject (intransitive and transitive) pronoun IDEOPH:ideophone O:object pronoun CONS:consequence clause PAST.REM:remote past DIM:diminutive GEN:genitive INSIDE:inside

Goemai is a predominantly isolating language with the subject–verb–object constituent order.

The language is considered threatened, which means that its adoption is declining, especially among children.: 6  Many are learning Hausa as a first language instead, which is used extensively in official and educational settings.: 6 

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