Editing Niger–Congo languages (section)

== Major branches ==
The following is an overview of the language groups usually included in Niger–Congo. The genetic relationship of some branches is not universally accepted, and the cladistic connection between those who are accepted as related may also be unclear.

The core phylum of the Niger–Congo group are the Atlantic–Congo languages. The non-Atlantic–Congo languages within Niger–Congo are grouped as [[Dogon languages|Dogon]], [[Mande languages|Mande]], [[Ijaw languages|Ijo]] (sometimes with [[Defaka language|Defaka]] as [[Ijoid languages|Ijoid]]), [[Katla languages|Katla]], and [[Rashad languages|Rashad]].

===Atlantic–Congo===
{{see|Atlantic–Congo languages|Languages of Nigeria}}Atlantic–Congo combines the [[Atlantic languages]], which do not form one branch, and [[Volta–Congo languages|Volta–Congo]]. It comprises more than 80% of the Niger–Congo speaking population, or close to 600 million people (2015).

The proposed [[Savannas languages|Savannas group]] combines [[Adamawa languages|Adamawa]], [[Ubangian languages|Ubangian]] and [[Gur languages|Gur]]. Outside of the Savannas group, Volta–Congo comprises [[Kru languages|Kru]], [[Kwa languages|Kwa]] (or "West Kwa"), [[Volta–Niger languages|Volta–Niger]] (also "East Kwa" or "West Benue–Congo"), and [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]] (or "East Benue–Congo"). Volta–Niger includes the two largest [[languages of Nigeria]], [[Yoruba language|Yoruba]], and [[Igbo language|Igbo]]. Benue–Congo includes the [[Southern Bantoid languages|Southern Bantoid]] group, which is dominated by the [[Bantu languages]], which account for 350 million people (2015), or half the total Niger–Congo speaking population.

The strict genetic unity of any of these subgroups may themselves be under dispute. For example, [[Roger Blench]] (2012) argued that [[Adamawa languages|Adamawa]], [[Ubangian languages|Ubangian]], [[Kwa languages|Kwa]], [[Bantoid languages|Bantoid]], and [[Bantu languages|Bantu]] are not coherent groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/General/Niger-Congo%20an%20alternative%20view.pdf|title=Niger-Congo: an alternative view|publisher=Rogerblench.info|access-date=2012-12-29}} {{cite web|url=http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/General/NCgenOP.htm|title=Roger Blench: Niger-Congo reconstruction|publisher=Rogerblench.info|access-date=2012-12-29}}</ref>

Although the Kordofanian branch is generally included in the Niger–Congo languages, some researchers do not agree with its inclusion. ''[[Glottolog]]'' 3.4 (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://glottolog.org/glottolog/family|title=Glottolog 3.4 -|website=glottolog.org}}</ref> does not accept that the [[Kordofanian languages|Kordofanian]] branches ([[Lafofa languages|Lafofa]], [[Talodi languages|Talodi]] and [[Heiban languages|Heiban]]) or the difficult-to-classify [[Laal language]] have been demonstrated to be Atlantic–Congo languages. It otherwise accepts the family but not its inclusion within a broader Niger–Congo. Glottolog also considers [[Ijoid languages|Ijoid]], [[Mande languages|Mande]], and [[Dogon languages|Dogon]] to be independent language phyla that have not been demonstrated to be related to each other.

The Atlantic–Congo group is characterised by the [[noun class]] systems of its languages. Atlantic–Congo largely corresponds to Mukarovsky's "Western Nigritic" phylum.<ref>Hans G. Mukarovsky, ''A Study of Western Nigritic'', 2 vols. (1976–1977). Blench (2004): "Almost simultaneously [with Greenberg (1963)], Mukarovsky (1976–7) published his analysis of 'Western Nigritic'. Mukarovsky's basic theme was the relationship between the reconstructions of Bantu of Guthrie and other writers and the languages of West Africa. Mukarovsky excluded Kordofanian, Mande, Ijo, Dogon, Adamawa-Ubangian and most Bantoid languages for unknown reasons, thus reconstructing an idiosyncratic grouping. Nonetheless, he buttressed his argument with an extremely valuable compilation of data, establishing the case for Bantu/Niger-Congo genetic link beyond reasonable doubt."</ref>

;'''[[Atlantic languages|Atlantic]]'''

The [[polyphyletic]] Atlantic group accounts for about 35 million speakers as of 2016, mostly accounted for by [[Fula language|Fula]] and [[Wolof language|Wolof]] speakers. Atlantic is not considered to constitute a valid group.
*[[Senegambian languages]]: includes [[Wolof language|Wolof]], spoken in [[Senegal]], and [[Fula language|Fula]], spoken across the [[Sahel]]. <!--30M as of 2006, essentially Fula+Wolof, with non-Fula, non-Wolof probably less than 1M -->
*[[Bak languages]], sometimes grouped with Senegambian <!--1.7M as of 2006-->
*[[Mel languages]]<!--about 3M as of 2016, mostly Temne+Kissi-->
*[[Limba language]]<!--340k as of 1989-->
*[[Gola language]] <!-- 110k in 1990-->

;'''[[Volta–Congo]]'''
*'''North-Volta'''
**'''[[Kru languages|Kru]]''': languages of the [[Kru people]] in [[West Africa]]; includes [[Bété language|Bété]], [[Nyabwa language|Nyabwa]], and [[Dida language|Dida]].<!--about 1M to 1.5M? (mostly Bété+Dida, about 600k in 1990)-->
**[[Adamawa–Ubangi languages|Adamawa-Ubangi]]:
***'''[[Adamawa languages|Adamawa]]''': close to 100 languages and dialects scattered across the [[Adamawa Plateau]], spoken by an estimated total of 1.6 million as of 1996; the largest is [[Mumuye language|Mumuye]], accounting for about a quarter of Adamawa speakers.
***'''[[Ubangian languages|Ubangian]]''': a group of minor languages spoken in the [[Central African Republic]]. May be an independent family or grouped with Adamawa as "[[Adamawa–Ubangi languages|Adamawa-Ubangi]]".<!--1.5M in 1987 -- about 3M as of 2016? [Ethnologue]-->
**'''[[Gur languages|Gur]]''': about 70 languages spoken in the Sahel and Savanna regions of West Africa, accounting for some 20 million speakers (2010). The largest language of this group is [[Mooré language|Mooré)]], with over 12 million speakers. Gur and Adamawa-Ubangi have also been grouped as [[Savannas languages]].
**'''[[Senufo languages|Senufo]]''': languages of the [[Senufo people]] (about 3 million speakers as of 2010), spoken in [[Ivory Coast]] and [[Mali]], with a geographical outlier in [[Ghana]]; includes [[Senari language|Senari]] and [[Supyire language|Supyire]]. Senufo has been placed traditionally within Gur but is now usually considered an early offshoot from Atlantic–Congo.
*'''South-Volta'''
**'''[[Kwa languages|Kwa]]''': a divergent [[linkage (linguistics)|linkage]]<ref name="Blench2012"/> of languages of uncertain genetic unity, spoken along the Ivory Coast, across southern Ghana and in central Togo, with a total of some 40 million speakers (2010s). The largest language in this group is [[Akan language|Akan]], spoken in [[Ghana]], with about 22 million speakers as of 2014, including [[Twi]] (9 million in 2015).
**'''[[Volta–Niger languages|Volta–Niger]]''' (also known as "West Benue–Congo" or "East Kwa"): a large [[linkage (linguistics)|linkage]]<ref name="Blench2012"/> of West African languages, accounting for roughly 110–120 million speakers (late 2010s).
***[[Gbe languages|Gbe]]: spoken in [[Ghana]], [[Togo]], [[Benin]] and [[Nigeria]], of which [[Ewe language|Ewe]] (7 million speakers in 2017) is the largest and best known.
***"{{Sc|[[YEAI]]}}": a large group of languages centred on Nigeria, accounting for about 100 million speakers (late 2010s)
****[[Yoruboid]]: 50 million speakers (2010s), including [[Yoruba language|Yoruba]] (c. 40 million 2017)
****[[Edoid]]: including [[Edo language|Edo]] (24 million 2010s)<!--8–10M total-->
****[[Akoko language|Akoko]] <!-- <1M-->
****[[Igboid]]: including [[Igbo language|Igbo]] (24 million 2011) <!--plus c. 3M Igbo dialects, about 30M total (2016)-->
***"{{Sc|NOI}}":
****[[Nupoid]]: c. 3 million ({{circa|1990}} estimates)<!--presumably close to 6–7M in 2016-->
****[[Oko language|Oko]]: a minor dialect continuum spoken in [[Kogi State]]<!-- <100k-->
****[[Idomoid]]: group of languages of central Nigeria, including [[Idoma language|Idoma]] with 1 to 2 million speakers (2010s)
***[[Ayere–Ahan languages|Ayere-Ahan]] (moribund or extinct)
**'''[[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]]''' [[linkage (linguistics)|linkage]]<ref name="Blench2012">Blench, Roger. 2012. [http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/General/Niger-Congo%20an%20alternative%20view.pdf Niger-Congo: an alternative view].</ref> (East Benue–Congo)
***Bantoid-Cross:
****[[Cross River languages|Cross River]]
****[[Northern Bantoid languages|Northern Bantoid]]:
*****[[Dakoid languages|Dakoid]]?
*****[[Fam language|Fam]]?
*****[[Tikar language|Tikar]]?<!--110k 2005-->
*****[[Mambiloid languages|Mambiloid]]
****[[Bendi languages|Bendi]]
****[[Southern Bantoid languages|Southern Bantoid]]: includes the far-flung [[Bantu languages]] spread across Sub-Saharan Africa in the [[Bantu expansion]] from {{Circa|1000 BCE}} to 500 CE.
*****Tivoid-Beboid: a large range of languages of southwestern Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria: [[Tivoid languages|Tivoid]],<!--2M 1990s--> [[Esimbi language|Esimbi]], [[East Beboid languages|East Beboid]], [[West Beboid languages|West Beboid]]?, [[Momo languages|Momo]]?, [[Furu languages|Furu]]?, [[Buru language (Nigeria)|Buru]]?, [[Menchum language|Menchum]]?
*****[[Ekoid languages|Ekoid]]-[[Mbe language|Mbe]]<!-- <1M-->
*****[[Mamfe languages|Mamfe]]
*****[[Grassfields languages|Grassfields]]
*****[[Jarawan languages|Jarawan]]-[[Mbam languages|Mbam]]
*****'''[[Bantu languages|Bantu]]''': divided into [[Guthrie classification of Bantu languages|Guthrie zones A–S]], for a total of between 250 and 550 named languages.
***Central Nigerian (Platoid): [[Jukunoid languages|Jukunoid]]<!--310k (1990s)-->, [[Kainji languages|Kainji]]<!--roughly 2 million (2000s)? review needed-->, [[Plateau languages|Plateau]]<!--c. 4M (2010s)-->
***other languages unclassified within Benue–Congo: [[Ukaan language|Ukaan]], [[Fali of Baissa]], [[Tita language|Tita]].

===Other===
<!--roughly 90 million in the non-Atlantic-Congo groups as of 2016, mostly Mande (70M in 2016) plus Ijaw (14M in 2011)-->
The putative Niger–Congo languages outside of the Atlantic–Congo family are centred in the upper [[Senegal River|Senegal]] and [[Niger River|Niger]] river basins, south and west of [[Timbuktu]] ([[Mande languages|Mande]], [[Dogon languages|Dogon]]), the [[Niger Delta]] ([[Ijoid languages|Ijoid]]), and far to the east in south-central Sudan, around the [[Nuba Mountains]] (the [[Kordofanian languages|Kordofanian]] families). They account for a total population of about 100 million (2015), mostly [[Mandé peoples|Mandé]] and [[Ijaw people|Ijaw]].
*[[Dogon languages|Dogon]]: languages of the [[Dogon people]] of [[Mali]], estimated at 1.6 million as of 2013. May have a noun-class system related to the Atlantic–Congo languages.
*[[Ijoid languages|Ijoid]]: [[Ijaw languages|Ijaw]], the languages of the [[Ijaw people]] (3 million as of 2011), plus the moribund [[Defaka language]].
*[[Mande languages|Mande]]: languages of the [[Mandé peoples]], estimated at 70 million as of 2016
*[[Bangime language|Bangime]], spoken in Dogon country but seemingly unrelated to Dogon.
*[[Siamou language|Siamou]], once classified as Kru.

=== "Kordofanian" ===
The various [[Kordofanian languages]] are spoken in south-central Sudan, around the [[Nuba Mountains]]. "Kordofanian" is a geographic grouping, not a genetic one, named for the [[Kordofan]] region. These are minor languages, spoken by a total of about 100,000 people according to 1980s estimates. Katla and Rashad languages show isoglosses with Benue–Congo that the other families lack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199935345.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199935345-e-3|title=Niger-Congo: A brief state of the art |last1=Dimmendaal|first1=Gerrit J.|last2=Storch|first2=Anne|date=2016-02-11|website=Oxford Handbooks Online|language=en|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199935345.013.3|isbn=978-0-19-993534-5 |access-date=2020-03-26}}</ref><!--REALLY outdated figure, but even with 3% p.a. growth, there would be less than 300,000 speakers in this group as of 2020-->

* [[Talodi languages]] <!--6,000 (1980s) w Heiban-->
* [[Heiban languages]]
* [[Lafofa languages]] <!--5,000 (1980s)-->
* [[Rashad languages]] <!--50,000 (1980s)-->
* [[Katla languages]] <!--30,000 (1980s)-->

The endangered or extinct [[Laal language|Laal]], [[Mpre language|Mpre]] and [[Jalaa language|Jalaa]] languages are often assigned to Niger–Congo.

<gallery>
File:Niger-Congo map.png| Overview map
File:Nigeria Benin Cameroon languages.png|Overview map of Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon
File:Niger-Congo speakers.png| Table of demographic estimates in the same color code as the maps (est. 400 million speakers as of 2007)
</gallery>