Bariba
Baatɔnum
Native toBenin, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso
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 (also Baatombu, Baatonu, Barba, Baruba, Berba and a number of various other names and spellings), is the language of the Bariba people of Benin and Nigeria and was the language of the state of Borgu.

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 and Burkina Faso. Welmers (1952) reported the Bariba language as spoken in the cities of Nikki, Parakou, Kandi, and Natitingou.[2]

Names

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

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 Savanes Region.

In Burkina Faso, Bariba is spoken in Kompienga Province.

Classification

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.

Phonology

Bariba is a tonal language.[3] Tonal patterns in Bariba have been claimed to present a challenge to the Two-Feature Model of tonal phonology.[4]

Nouns

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.[2]

y-class

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

bananaàgɛ̀dɛ̀ (no pl.)
palm treebãã
large calabashbàka
stickbɔ̀ra
mosquitobũ̀ɛ̃̀yã
characterdàà (no pl.)
tree, wooddã̀ã̀ (pl.?)
fallen branchdã̀kàmā
branch on a treedã̀kàsā
root of a treedã̀kpinā
habitdēn̄dī (pl.?)
mirrordigí (pl.?)
guinea corndobi (pl.?)
gundɔ̃̀bɔ̀ra
welldɔ̀kɔ̀ (pl.?)
maledua
horseduma
bagfɔ̀rɔ̀tɔ̀, -bá
name of a monthgã̀ã̀ní (no pl.)
village gategàm̀bò, -bà
wallgana
word, mattergari (pl.?)
termitegɛ́ma
driver antgɛ̃́ya
gazellegina
moneygobi (pl.?)
guinea fowlgònā
deathgɔɔ (no pl.)
rain, stormgúra
chickenguwā, guwē
axegbãã
calabashgbàká
liongbèsùnɔ̄, gbèsìnansu
grain of milletgbɛyā
spirithùindè (pl.?)
papayakàràbósì, -bà
motorkɛ̀kɛ, -bà
animal hornkɔbā
wildcatkonā
bamboo stalkkɔ̃sā
antelopekpása
stewkpee (no pl.)
star; hippopotamuskpera
corn cakemásà, -bà
rice sproutmɔ́ra
cownaā
house spidernára
scorpionnía
femalenia
mouthnɔɔ (pl.?)
handnɔbū, nɔma
peanutsãã
offeringsàrâ
bridgesàsarā
combséḿbù, -ba
hairserā
coveringsèsèbìa
pestlesobiā
edible seedssonki (pl.?)
road, pathsúa
fishsũ̀ã
beansuìā
braceletsumā
judgmenttààrɛ (pl.?)
tobaccotába
anttànā
mud bricktèǹdɔ́ka
selftīī
beetĩya
inheritancetúbí (pl.?)
snakewaā
ropewɛ̃ya
strawwĩ́ya, wĩĩ
lawwodà
small gray monkeywonkéra
goldwúra (no pl.)
facewurusuā, -ɛ̄
animal, meatyaa
needleyabúra
cloth, robeyasa
spearyàsa/yɛ̀sa
pepperyɛ̃̀ɛ̃̀kú (no pl.)
evil spiritzínì

t-class

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

cutlassàdaru
dysenterybàǹdúbàǹdū
sicknessbaràrū
tension drumbàraru
doorwaybàràrū
shoebàràrū (only pl.)
clothbekùrū
basketbíréru
backbiru
saltbɔ̀rū
riverdaaru
loinclothdɛmbɛru
housedìrū
toothdondu
stalkgãnã̀rū
armgã̀sèrū
ratgɔnɔru
large wild ratgɔ̀nɔ̀ǹguru
egggoòsĩã̀rū
mountainguru
rain cloudgúrúwiru
(musical) hornguùrū
crowgbãgbã̀rū
field, farmgbèrū
potgbɛ̃́ru
gourdkaaru
bush cowkɛ̀tɛ̀gbèèkìrū
male (of some animals)kìnèrū
breadkìràrū
lovekĩ́ru
stoolkìtàrū
boxkpàkoruru
stonekpèrū
bedkpenyeru
bonekukuru
a swellingmɔsìrū
odornubùrū
rabbitsatàbūr̄ū
pitfallsɛ̃̀rū
brass, coppersigàǹdū
gravesìkìrū
tailsiru
stinkbugsísíkènèrū
pounded yamsɔ̀kùrū
worksɔ̀mbùrū
clay for potssɔǹdū
mortarsoru
porridgesòrū
toadsuréru
legtaaru
garden hilltakàrū
bowtendu
panthertúǹdū
nosewɛ̃ru
headwiru
neckwĩ́yìrū
knifewobùrū
potwókeru
night, darknesswɔ̃̀kùrū
baboonwompɔkɔru
red monkeywónsũ̀ã̄rū
coldnesswóòrū
sheepyã̀ã̀rū
marketyàburu
sacrificeyãkùrū
placeyanyeeru
open spaceyeeru
broomyiìrū
nameyísìrū
frogyɔ̃ɔ̃ru

g-class

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

chameleonàgāmānàkí, -bà
onionàlùmásà, -nu
goatboo, bonu
water potbòo, -nu
dogbɔ̃ɔ̃, bɔ̃nu
owlbooro, -su
lizardbɔ̀su, -nu
infestation of licegã́ã́ní (pl.?)
lousegã́ã́núkú, -nù
airplanegogùnɔ̀, -su
robegɔ̃kɔ, -su
drumgɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀, gã̀ã̀su
vehiclegòo, -su
canoegòoninkū, -nu
birdgùnɔ̄, -su
cricketgbɔɔ̄, -nu
sandflykòtókámbu, -munu
spoonkààtó, -nù
catkòkónyambu, -munu
doorwaykɔ́ǹdɔ, -su
matkɔ̃ɔ̄, -su
pigkúrúsɔ̄, -su
partridgekusu, -nu
leopard, catmúsúkú, -nù
antelopenemū, neǹnu
eyenɔnu, nɔni
bush hogsàkɔ̄, -nu
trapsɛ́kpɛ̀ǹkú, -nù
arrowsɛ̃ũ̄, sɛ̃ɛ̃̀nu
potsirū, -su
flysɔnu, -su
earso / soa, -su
elephantsùùnū, -su
ringtààbu, -nu
small black anttàm̀bu, -munu
army anttàsonu, -su
hoetebo, -nu
shadowtíro, -nu
parrottitimokò, -nu
yearwɔ̃̄ɔ̃̄n, wɔ̃̄su
monkeywomu, wonnu
windwoo, -nu
holewɔrū, -su
townwuu, -su
rabbitwùkū, -nu
leafwurū, -su
tongueyara, -nu
vultureyèbèrèkú, -nù
householdyɛnu, -su
hartebeestyiiku, -nu

w-class

fatherbàa
Bariba person or languagebàtɔ̀nù
older brother, friendbɛɛrɛ̄
childbìī
ulcerbòō
hunterbɔso
firedɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀
mother’s brotherdùàni
rich mangobigi
persongoo
pregnant womanguràgi
Godgúsūnɔ̄
guardkɔ̃so
mothermerō
older brothermɔɔ̄
paramount chiefsènàboko
sistersesu
sun, daysɔ̃ɔ̃
chiefsùnɔ̄, sìnambu
moon, monthsurú
persontɔ̀nū, tɔ̀m̀bu
younger brotherwɔ́nɔ̄
guardian spirityãrō
slaveyòō
enemyyíbɛ̀rɛ̀

m-class

m-class nouns often end in -m.

languagebàrūm̄
milkbom
strengthdam
oilgum
raised garden rowkɔ̀rɔ̄m̄
waternim
liquortam
ground, dirttem
medicinetìm̄
honeytim
soapwerem
airwom
space, roomyam
sandyànīm̄
bloodyem

s-class

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

one (yam)tan (teèsū)
footnaàsu
silversigeèsū
ironsísú
cottonwɛ̃su
grass, the bushyàkàsu

n-class

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

oneteènū
greensàfonu
thinggáánu
necklacegoònū
corngbèrɛnu
cucumbergbɛ̀zɛnu
okrayàbonu

Verbs

Aspects

There are 7 primary verb aspects in Bariba:[2]

  • 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

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

get sickbārā
splitbɛ̄rā
pushbɔ̄rīā
dawn, whitenbūrūrā, S burīrī
tastedēn̄dā
pass bydōōnā
selldɔ̄ɔ̄rā
sleepdūīā, S dò
come indūmā
pullgāwā
chasegīrā
beseechkānā
break (rope)kārā
shatterkɔ̄ɔ̄rā
loosenkūsīā
lie downkpūnā, S kpī̃
receivemūā
burnmūārā
fightsān̄nā
become cleansā̃rā
name, callsīā
pick upsūā
washtīā
become blacktī̃ī̃rā, S tĩĩrī
arrivetūnūmā
fallwɔ̄rūmā
fillyībīā
meetyīn̄nā
stopyɔ̃̄rā
leavedērī
eatdī (Cont. di)
forgetdūārī
hurt by burningmɛ̄nī
helpsōmī
increasesōsī
tethersɔ̄rī
take a long timetɛ̄
hand overwɛ̃̄
blow (air)wūrī
throw awayyārī
lay down
become hardbɔbiā, S bɔ̄(bū)
become fatbɔriā, S bɔ̄rū
become muchdabiā, S dabī
catch up withdeèmā
become longdẽɛ̃̀nyā, S dɛ̄ū̄
become deepdukiā, S dúku
learngiā
turn overgɔsìā
turn aroundgɔsìrā
gathergurā
become high, tallguriā, S gúru
openkɛnīā
get downsarā
become difficultsɛ̃sīā, S sɛ̃̄
sit downsinā, S sɔ̃̀
become bittersosiā, S sō(sū)
become redsũɛ̃rā, S sũɛ̃rī
become toughtaàyā, S tāū
become wideyasiā, S yasū
become cold, dampyemiā, S yēm̄
fire (a gun)suē
touchbabā
go aroundbesirā
break in twobuā
cut in twoburā
do become sweetdorā, S
catchgabā
become drygberā
teargĩā̃
scratchgɔ̃rā
wantkĩã̄, S kĩ́
cut upmurā
jump, dropsurā
draw uptakā
bringtamā
become goodwɛ̃rā, S wã
believewurā
come backwúràmā
pierceyabā
rememberyayā
playduē
become cleandɛ́ɛ́rā
become bigkpɛ̃́yā, S kpã́
become hotsṹyā, S sum̄
become cleardéérē
look forkásū
showsɔ̃́nɔ̃́sĩ̄
warm oneselfwɔ̃́sū
coverwukírī
peelkɛ̄ɛ̄rī
chew, eattēm̄
plantdūūrē
separategɔsi
diggbe
waitma, maru
studymɛɛri
fall (of rain)
leave, walk
callsoku
be enough, arriveturi
seewa
answerwisi
measureyĩre
hearnɔ̂
fix upsɔmɛ̀, sɔm̀
dye blackwɔ̃kù
dance
enter, hurt
flowkōkū
stand upsē, S yɔ̃̀
climbyɔ̄
shinebaàlì
countgarì
rotkɔ̃sì
give birth tomâ, marù
swellmɔsì
rejoiceyɛ̃ɛ̃rì
buydūē
givekɛ̃̄
buildbānī
stealgbɛ̄nī
pricksɔ̄kū
tellsɔ̃
put on the headsɔbe, sɔ
frysɔmɛ, sɔm
 ?su
flyyɔ̃
tie upbɔ̄kē
sewyīnɛ̄
speak, saygere
closekɛnɛ̀
hidekukè
frightennarè
cookyikè
writeyɔ̃rì
do, makekō, S mɔ̀
kill
throw downkɔ̃̂
finishkpê
hit

Adjectives

Invariable adjectives:[2]

maledɔ, dua
rawgoma
highgbãrã
whitekaà
a little bitpikó
narrowtereré
difficultsɛ̃sɔ

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, manydabīrū
deadgorū
male (of certain animals)kìnèrū
oldtɔ̀kɔ̄rū
short, small (also g-class)kpirìrū

g-class adjectives:

smallyã̀kàbū
smallpíbu
short, small (also t-class)kpirìbū

Attributive adjectives with alternants for each noun class:

bigbaka-
freshbèku-
hardbɔɔ̀bɔā-
fatbɔrùbɔrū-
goodbùra-
strongdangi-
longdɛǹdɛn̄-
goodge-
drygbebu-
newkpaà-
whitekpikī-
femaleni-
thicksìnùǹgi-
bittersoòsuā-
redsũ̀ã̄-
hotsúm-
toughtaàtaā-
blackwɔ̃kū-
coldyĩ́re-

Numerals

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

References

  1. Bariba at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023) Closed access icon
  2. 1 2 3 4 Welmers, William E. 1952. Notes on Bariba. Language 28: 82-103.
  3. N.L. Haddock (1959) The tones of Bariba Phonetica 3:90-94
  4. 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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