EKOID: BANTOID LANGUAGES OF THE NIGERIA-CAMEROUN BORDERLAND

Roger Blench

DRAFT ONLY NOT TO BE QUOTED WITHOUT PERMISSION Roger Blench Kay Williamson Educational Foundation 8, Guest Road Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/ Fax. 0044-(0)1223-560687 Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804 E-mail R.Blench@odi.org.uk http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. The Ekoid-Mbe languages: Overview ....................................................................................................... 1 2. Classification................................................................................................................................................ 3 2.1 External.................................................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Internal................................................................................................................................................... 3 3. Phonology..................................................................................................................................................... 5 4. Morphology.................................................................................................................................................. 6 5. Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 7 References ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 Appendix I. Comparative Mbe-Ekoid wordlist............................................................................................ 9 TABLES Table 1. Innovative roots in Ekoid-Mbe ........................................................................................................... 3 Table 2: Lexical similarity within Ekoid including words with regular sound changes ................................... 4 Table 3. Proto-Ekoid consonant phonemes....................................................................................................... 5 Table 4. Ekoid correspondences for alveolars and velars ................................................................................. 5 Table 5. Mbe consonants................................................................................................................................... 5 Table 6. Ejagham noun classes ......................................................................................................................... 6

FIGURES Figure 1. Genetic classification of Ekoid-Mbe languages ................................................................................ 4

MAPS Map 1. The Ekoid languages............................................................................................................................. 2

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft 1. The Ekoid-Mbe languages: Overview The Ekoid-Mbe languages are spoken principally in SE Nigeria and in adjacent regions of Cameroun. Mbe [Mb] is a single language spoken in seven villages in Ogoja LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria. The Ekoid languages consist of around closely-related 19 lects, the majority of which are spoken in Nigeria (Crabb 1969). Ekoid speakers have been known by a number of terms in the literature (including Keaka and Ekoi, which covers a variety of languages in this region, some of quite different affiliation). Ekoid languages in Cameroun are known as Ejagham, which is a cover term for a variety of lects which vary from village to village. Ethnologue (2009) says; Western Ejagham includes Bendeghe Etung (Bindege, Dindiga, Mbuma), Northern Etung, Southern Etung, Ekwe, Akamkpa-Ejagham. Eastern Ejagham includes Keaka (Keaqa, Kejaka, Edjagam), Obang (Eeafeng). These are surveyed in Edmondson & Edmondson (1971) but no complete wordlists have been published and this material is clearly in a highly preliminary transcription. Yoder et al. (2009) have recently surveyed the Bakor languages in Nigeria and have provided wordlists of previously unknown lects/ Map 1 shows the situation of the main Ekoid languages in Nigeria, with indications of the location of Mbe and Ejagham, partly in Cameroun. Historically speaking, Ekoid looks like a recent westward expansion into the territory of the Upper Cross languages, hence the presence of isolated languages such as Ikom within Ekoid territory. East of Ekoid are the Bendi languages, also forming a closely-related set of lects; linguistic geography suggests that they were originally bordering on the Upper Cross languages and the expansion of Ekoid forced the two groups apart. The first publication of Ekoid material is in Clarke (1848) where five dialects are listed and a short wordlist of each is given. Other significant early publications are Koelle (1854), Goldie (1862), Mansfeld (1908), Thomas (1914, 1927), Johnston (1919-1922), Jeffreys (1950) and Bystrm (1954). Crabb (1969) remains the major monograph on these languages, although regrettably, Part II, which was to contain grammatical analyses, was never published. The monograph also reviews the literature on Ekoid up to the date of publication. Crabb (1969) lists fourteen lects and Watters (1978a) refers to some 4-5 dialects of Ejagham across the border in Cameroun. Nonetheless, some of these are very close to one another and the most recent Ethnologue (2009) boils them down to some eight languages. In recent years, some speakers of nine Ekoid lects have resolved to unite under the umbrella term Bakor. The Bakor people speak Nkim, Nkum, Ekajuk, Nnam, Abanyom, Nde, Nta, Nselle1 and Efutop. The term Bakor [bak ] is derived from the two words, ba come and k take. It was chosen because the expression ba k is the same in all nine lects. All the Bakor peoples are within Ikom and Ogoja Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Cross River State, Nigeria. The Bakor languages have been surveyed in greater detail by Yoder et al. (2009)2. Orthography development in Ekoid consists of Ekajuk, where a New Testament was published in 1971 and other orthography materials exist and Ejagham in Cameroun where there has been a New Testament since 1997. There are also radio and television broadcasts in Ejagham. Mbe [=Mbube] has been developed by the Roman Catholic church and there is a catechism dating from 1962. Work by Lutheran Bible translators produced an initial orthography (1983) and a revised version (Pohlig 2006). St. Johns Gospel appeared in 2001 and a liturgy in 2007.

This follows the common practice of writing their name with two ls (e.g. on village signs). The 15th edition of the Ethnologue uses only one l (Nsele) because it is not a long consonant ( [s l] not [s l ]). 2 Thanks to Mike Rueck and Zachariah Yoder for making their unpublished material available.
1

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft Map 1. The Ekoid languages

Source: Yoder et al. (2009) 2

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft The Mbe area and the people are known to the administration as Mbube, a designation which includes the Mbe and the Upper Mbe, who speak a different language. There may be as many as 20-30,000 speakers although no recent census data are available. There said to be three dialects, Idum, Ikumtale and Odaje, but no evidence for this has been published. An Mbe list appears in Koelle (1854) and is analysed in Ankermann (1927). Mbe has been described by Bamgbo e (1965, 1966, 1967) and more recently an unpublished phonology and orthography statement (Pohlig 2006) and a dictionary (Pohlig n.d.) have been circulated3. 2. Classification 2.1 External The Ekoid languages have long been associated with Bantu, without their status being precisely defined. Although Koelle (1854) grouped his languages in the same area, Cust (1883) linked them together and place them in a group co-ordinate with Bantu but not within it. Thomas (1927) correctly pointed to the Bantu status of Ekoid, but the much later Westermann & Bryan (1952) repeat an older, less accurate classification, grouping the Nyang languages with Ekoid. Guthrie (1967-1971) had difficulties with the notion that Ekoid formed part of Bantu. His first improbable explanation was that its Bantuisms resulted from speakers of a Bantu language being absorbed by those who spoke a Western Sudanic language, in other words, the apparent parallels, were simply a massive corpus of loanwords. This was later modified into Ekoid languages may to some extent share an origin with some of the A zone languages, but they seem to have undergone considerable perturbations (Guthrie 1971, II:15). Williamson (1971), in an influential classification of Benue-Congo, assigned Ekoid to Wide Bantu i.e. Bantoid. Williamson (1971) still lists Mbe as a branch of Bantu distinct from Ekoid but all subsequent classifications have put these languages together. All modern classifications of Ekoid are based on the data from Crabb (1969) and when Watters (1978a,b) came to explore the proto-phonology of Ekoid, he used this source, rather than his own field material from the Ejagham dialects in Cameroun. Crabb fails to distinguish clearly phonetic from phonemic transcriptions thus multiplying vowels and diacritics unnecessarily. Fresh work on Ejagham in both Nigeria and Cameroun has extended our knowledge of individual dialects of Ekoid (Edmondson, E. (1966), Edmondson, T. (1966), Edmondson & Bendor-Samuel (1966), Edmondson & Edmondson (1971, 1977), Kleiner & Kleiner (1976), Watters (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2001), Asinya (1987) and Sibomana (1986, 1988, 1989). In 2009, a new survey of part of Ekoid in Nigeria that presently has adopted the name Bakor for the cluster has made possible a re-assessment of the status of some of the languages. A perhaps more pertinent question is whether Ekoid has any clear innovations that would distinguish it from A Group Bantu. Table 1 shows some suggested Ekoid innovations or retentions not attested elsewhere inside Bantu; Table 1. Innovative roots in Ekoid-Mbe Efutop Mbe PB Gloss sg. pl. eye mr mr ll yc head s s bc t hair -mu r -mu r mmu c k tooth -m n -m n l-k yn tongue lb lb le-l m d m water -l b b l b 2.2 Internal Watters (1978a) is a comparative phonology and classification of Ekoid which presents the internal classification is shown in Figure 1. The Mbe and Ejagham languages have been added has been added and

Thanks to John Watters for the file of Crabbs lexical material, to Paul Schroeder and Jim Pohlig for recent unpublished material on Mbe and Pascal Piron for typing up and making accessible the work of Bamgbo e.

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft some lower level subgroups have been collapsed. Nonetheless, since material is now available for a more comprehensive classification, it could be usefully undertaken. Figure 1. Genetic classification of Ekoid-Mbe languages
Proto-Ekoid-Mbe

Mbe Ejagham

Ekparabong

Balep West East Efutop Nde-Nselle -Nta AbanyomNkim-Nkum Nnam N. Etung S. Etung Bendeghe Keaka Obang Ekajuk

Voorhoeve (1980) also takes the view that Nyang shows some similarities to Ekoid-Mbe in terms of the concords for Class 6, *ma/*ga. But this is to ignore the numerous other differences of phonology and morphology. Nyang languages have their own quite distinct characteristics and are probably more remote from Bantu than Ekoid. Gerhardt (1980) has presented tables showing regular correspondences between some Mbe lexemes and proto-Bantu. There is no overall analysis of internal diversity in the Ekoid languages, but Table 2 shows a table of lexical similarity for the lects surveyed in Yoder et al. (2009). Ekoid languages are quite diverse, with lexicostatistical counts going down to ca. 50%. Were Mbe to be included, this would probably drop to below 40%. Table 2: Lexical similarity within Ekoid including words with regular sound changes Efutop 66% Nselle 68% 92% Nde 66% 88% 91% Nta 56% 67% 67% 65% Abanyom 51% 53% 57% 54% 71% Nkim 52% 57% 58% 58% 71% 89% Nkum 53% 61% 60% 58% 72% 65% 67% Nnam 52% 59% 59% 58% 68% 64% 67% 90% Ekajuk Ekagongho 52% 57% 57% 57% 67% 63% 67% 89% 97% Ekajuk Esham 53% 59% 58% 58% 66% 63% 67% 87% 93% 93% Ekajuk Mfom Source: Yoder et al. (2009)

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft 3. Phonology The most comprehensive attempt to explore the comparative phonology and classification of Ekoid is Watters (1978a). This provides an analysis of sound-shifts between the lects recorded in Crabb (1969), but regrettably omits the Ejagham material from Watters own fieldwork. The likely consonant phonemes of proto-Ekoid are shown in Table 3; Table 3. Proto-Ekoid consonant phonemes Bilabial LabioAlveolar dental Plosive p b t d Nasal m n Trill r Fricative f v s z Approximant Lateral Approximant l

Alveop alatal

Palatal

Velar k g

Labialvelar kp gb m w

// and / / are in complementary distribution; / / is always in C1 position and // in C2 position. Watters (1978a:36) notes irregular correspondences with /b/, /t/ and /g/ that suggest proto-Ekoid had some sort of contrast at this level which he notates b1,/b2, t1/t2 and g1/g2. This is suggested by the correspondences shown in Table 4; Table 4. Ekoid correspondences for alveolars and velars Language to find to think tree work snail rr rm k A t t d G t t d t tm k N te t r te n tm k Mbe kp bob b-c butw dw Source: extracted from Watters (1978a:16)

wife plantain mountain mki b kki k m k g m gi kaa g m eg n my l kkwm bkw l

Mbe forms are included for reference though they are not always cognate. On comparative grounds it is relatively easy to establish the nature of the proto-Ekoid consonants. For example, for tree and work /t/ must be reconstructed as this word always has /t/ in external cognates (see Mbe and the entries in BCCW for this word). The question then becomes under what circumstances does tr in some Ekoid lects?. Similarly, the evidence for plantain and mountain points to /k/ as the proto-phoneme, thereby eliminating Watters g2. Mbe phonology is strikingly more elaborate than Ekoid. Pohlig (2006) gives the following consonants (Table 5); Table 5. Mbe consonants Bilabial Vcl. stops p p p Lenis Vdc. stops b b b Fricatives Vcl. affricates Vcd. affricates Nasals Taps Laterals Approximants f f

t d s ts dz n r l

Alveolar t d s ts dz

Alveo-palatal k g

Velar k k k g g

Labio-Velar kp gb

m m

r l r l y 5 y

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft The most striking feature of this is the contrast postulated by Pohlig between fortis and lenis /k /. He gives as an example the following pairs: /k / /k k l/ cut down! bush fowl sp. /k / /k k l/ fall down! pimple

With [k ], the vowel [e] is half-rounded from the fortis labialisation, while the vowel [e] in [k e] is without rounding. Pohlig notes that the younger generation may be losing this distinction. Such a contrast is clearly not widespread in Ekoid-Mbe and may be a result of contact with the neighbouring Upper Cross languages, where such long/short or fortis/lenis contrasts are pervasive (e.g. Sterk 19xx). The two alveopalatal nasal consonants / / and / / correspond to the other alveopalatal consonants, e.g., / / and / /. Some consonants only occur in ideophones, e.g., /f / (as in [f p ] sound of spitting) and /h / (as in [h u:] meow). Ekoid lacks the systematic prosodic contrasts of Mbe, labialisation and palatalisation. It is easily shown on historical grounds that it is Mbe that must have developed these contrasts, as external cognates with Ekoid almost always have plain consonants. Both Ekoid and Mbe are reconstructed with seven vowels (Watters 1978a; Pohlig 2006); i e a Crabb (1969) transcribed vowels phonetically using numerous symbols and diacritics thereby adding confusion to what is essentially a rather simple, Bantu-like vowel system. The dissertation by Asinya (1987) based on fieldwork in Nigeria made an important claim, namely that most Ekoid languages have long/short distinctions in the vowels but this has not been echoed by other fieldworkers. Both Mbe and Ekoid have High, Low, Rising, Falling and Downstep tones and these correspond fairly directly to the tones posited for proto-Bantu. Edmondson & Bendor-Samuel (1966) argue that by positing word-level tone, it is possible to account for the rising and falling tones, leaving only a three-way contrast. As so often, this is largely a matter of diachronic versus synchronic accounts; the five-way contrast exists on the surface synchronically but can be shown to derive from VV sequences that evolve through segment deletion. 4. Morphology The Ekoid noun-class system resembles Bantu and yet the two do not correspond exactly (Watters 1980). Table 6 shows the noun-classes of Ejagham, following Bantu numbering. with the prefix of the singular and the concord consonant. Table 6. Ejagham noun classes Class Prefix Concord 1 Nw, 2 ab 3 Nm 5 y 6 am 8 bib 9 Ny, 14 b 19 if Source: Watters (1981) u o

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft The reason for the absence of various Bantu classes is that these are said to have merged, for example 3/4 and 6/7. However, this would only be true if Ekoid were Bantu, whereas from a Bantoid perspective, these classes are simply absent. 5. Conclusions The present document represents an initial survey of the literature on Ekoid and Mbe and a comparative wordlist as a tool for seeking sound correspondences and noun-class morphology as well as external cognates. The primary tasks ahead are to complete the survey of Ekoid lects, especailly in Cameroun, and to characterise their phonology more completely. In particular, the phonology of Mbe argues that the sound systems of Ekoid may have been under-analysed. References Ankermann, Bernhard 1927. Koelles Mbe-sprache. MSOS, 30: 1-4. Asinya, O.E. 1987. A reconstruction of the Segmental phonology of Bakor (an Ekoid Bantu language). M.A. Linguistics, University of Port Harcourt. Edmondson, Eileen 1966. Nouns of Etung classified by their singular-plural prefix pairs. In Kenneth L. Pike (ed.), Tagmemic and matrix linguistics applied to selected African languages (Appendix VI), 206-226. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Center for Research on Language and Language Behavior. Edmondson, Thomas and Eileen Edmondson 1971. Some dialect shifts in Ejagham. Camelang 3: 19-42 Edmondson, Thomas and Eileen Edmondson 1977. Preliminary notes towards a phonological description of Etung (Ejagham). Language Data, African Series, 10. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics. 58 p. Edmondson, Thomas and John T. Bendor-Samuel 1966. Tone patterns of Etung. Journal of African Languages 5: 1-6. Kleiner, Werner and Renate Kleiner 1976. Preliminary phonological statement, Ekajuk (Nigeria). Language Data, African Series, 6. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics. Sibomana, Leo 1986. An outline of Nkem language. Afrika und bersee, 69: 252-292. Sibomana, Leo 1988. Nkem folktales. Afrika und bersee, 71: 17-55. Sibomana, Leo 1989. The tonal system of Nkem. Afrika und bersee, 72: 255-272. Watters, John R. 1978a. A reconstruction of proto-Ekoid phonology. Unpublished ms. UCLA. Watters, John R. 1978b. Proto-Ekoid and Guthries Bantu. Unpublished ms. UCLA. Watters, John R. 1980. The Ejagham noun class system: Ekoid Bantu revisited. In Larry M. Hyman (ed.), Noun classes in the Grassfields Bantu borderland, 99-137. Southern California Occasional Papers in Linguistics, 8. Los Angeles: University of Southern California. Watters, John R. 1981. A phonology and morphology of Ejagham, with notes on dialect variation. Ph.D. thesis. University of California at Los Angeles. xviii, 549 p. Watters, John R. 1982. Problems in developing an Ejagham orthography. Cahiers du Dpartement des Langues Africaines et Linguistique 2: 37-48. Watters, John R. 1983. The expression of the locative semantic function in (Western) Ejagham. Journal of West African Languages 13(2): 53-70. Watters, John R. 1985. The inclusive/exclusive distinction in Ejagham. Journal of West African Languages 15(2): 75-92. Watters, John R. 1985. The place of morphology in functional grammar: the case of the Ejagham verb system. In A.M. Bolkestein, C. de Groot and J. L. MacKenzie (eds.), Predicates and terms in functional grammar, 85-104. Functional grammar series, 2. Dordrecht: Foris. Watters, John R. 1989. Bantoid overview. In: Bendor-Samuel. The Niger-Congo languages. University Press of America pp 401-429. Watters, John R. 1990. Reduplication and the origin of high tone on noun prefixes in Ejagham. Journal of West African Languages 20(1): 105-17. Watters, John R. 2000. Tone in Western Ejagham (Etung): the case of lexical and postlexical tone on nouns. In H. Ekkehard Wolff and Orin D. Gensler (eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress of African Linguistics Leipzig 1997, 411-424. Kln: Rdiger Kppe Verlag. Watters, John R. 2001. Some phonological characteristics of Ejagham (Etung), an Ekoid Bantu language of Cameroon and Nigeria. In Ngessimo M. Mutaka and Sammy B. Chumbow (eds.), Research mate in 7

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft African linguistics: focus on Cameroon (A fieldworkers tool for deciphering the stories Cameroonian languages have to tell): in honor of Professor Larry N. Hyman, 55-78. Grammatische analysen Afrikanischer Sprachen, 17. Kln: Rdiger Kppe Verlag.

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft Appendix I. Comparative Mbe-Ekoid wordlist This wordlist has been compiled from a number of sources, most importantly the comparative wordlist in Crabb (1969) which was typed up for John Watters in old SIL format and converted by me to Unicode. The Mbe comes from the unpublished Mbe dictionary of Pohlig and the publications of Bamgbo e, typed up by Pascale Piron. The Ejagham comes from the unpublished dictionary of Ejagham by Jonh Watters. My thanks to all who supplied me with original data.
Gloss accident4 add to alligator animal5 ant, house PoS n v n n n Mbe -f n / br Ejagham Ekparabong -fn/bbd - /bn am mfap ki nkb - m/b m m/bm (-fr/b-) -kb/b (-sm/b-) g -b /b -wb/bs ( -d b/b -) -d i bb (b -t m/mn-) -s m/b -bm/b -kp /b m-gm/bif gh yum -ffg/bBalep -fn/bbd -/b -m/b m mg/bm -f f b/b-f b -kb/b ( -rm/b , gb/b -) g -b /b -wb/br l -bn/ -d n~b-[r] bb (b -t m/ -) -d m/b-[r] -bm/b -kpg/b -gm/bb -fg/ wbg gu l (wm) Bendeghe -f n/bkp - b/b -[y] - m/ -f b ( -k /-) -gg/ -t n/bg ~g - / -gbb/s m-b m/-[] -t b -fg/ -j m -m/m-[b], -kp /-gm/bb-f / ym y k b N Etung -f n/bkp ~kp -y b/ - m/ -fb/ f b (-k/-) gg/gg -t n/ g - / -gbb/s m-b m/ [] -t b -fg/ -j m/ -m/m[b] -kp /-gm/b-f / ym y k b S Etung -f n/ ~bkp -kw b/ -.. - m/ -fb/ fb~b (-k /-) -g/ -t n/ g - / -gbb/s m-b m/ [] -t b -fg/ ~b -dz m/ -m/b m, ( tg/ -) -kp /-gm/-f / ym u k b Efutop -f n kpi n -yb/ - m/ -ff/( -kpb/-) -gr gb /grmgb -t n/g -bu /-l gbb/l gbb (l r) -bn/-t b b -fu g/ -z m/(-d g/-) -kp /-gm/-fg /yum yi n ( m) Nde -fn/bkp n -y b/ -, bag/-) - m/ -ffa/-fb/a-g/gamgb -t n/~b g -b / -gbb/-~b sl n -ban/ -t b m n -f g/ -j m/ -bm/b -kp a/-gm/b -f g/ ym w n kb Nselle -fn/b ( kp n -y b/ - / -f fba/-fb/a-g/gamgb -t n/b g -b / -gbb/b -~s n -ban~b/m -t b mm n -f g/ -j m/ -b/b -kp a/-gm/b -f g/ ym w n kb Nta -fn/bkp n -y b/ - / -f fa/-fb/a-gn gb /gamgb -t n/b g -b / -gbb/sl n -ban/m -t b mm n-fog/ -j m/ -b/b -kp a/-g/bo-fg/ Abanyom -fn/b kp l b/ Nkim -fn/bd - b/ - m/ -f b/ -f b/-g/-t n/k -b /-gbb/(lm) -bn/ -t bb -fg/ - m/ -bm/Nkum -fn/bd - b/ - m/ -f b/-k b -f/-g/-t n/k -b /-gbb/(lm ) -bn/ -t b b -fg/ -j m/ -bm/Nnam -fn/kp l b/ Ekajuk -fn/kp l b/ -

b- m /bk mpab

- m/ -f b/ -f b/-gl gb / gmgb -t n/g -b / -gbb/r r, (lm) l -bn/ -t bb l -fg/ -j m/ -bm/b -kpg/-gm/b -fg/ ym gb l kb

- m/ -fb/ -fb/-g/ -tn/g l -b /agb ab/ar ~r b-ban/ma-t b b f og/ -j m/ -bm/kp a /a -gm/ -f g/ wo om j l kb

- m/ -fb/ -fb/-g/ -tn/gl -b /a-gbab/ar l-b n/ma-t b b~b m m lf ug/ -j m/ -bm/kp

ant, tailor antelope

n n

ant-hill arch6 arm, hand armpit arrive arrow ashes ask7 axe back bag8 bark9

n v n n v n n v n n n sb ob

etan sr, go (bent over) obh ogbp s oyege at p fk nd m ebham, ntk ngu

sh r, tu l-bn /b btw bb k -t m /k b-tsm/ bbm, /b okp r kpkp

-kpg/-gm/-f g/ ym g l (tg)

-kpg/-gm/-fg /ym b l (t )

/a-

barren woman bat (house) bat (fruit) bathe bear a child bear10
4 5

n n n v v v

wuku mmmi l -l m /b yub by l

-gm/ b-f g/ wu um j l kb

wb gu i (wm)

ym w n kb

kap

The form in Nde was glossed trouble. The singular of these forms also means meat. 6 1. These forms are used in the sense of arch ones back, 2.#these forms are to be compared with squat, with bow (v.) and with duck#(v.) 7 The forms listed in Nnam and Ekajuk specifically mean to ask the price of something. 8 The first form in S Etung is archaic. 9 These forms refer not only to bark but also to any empty thing, covering, shell.

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss beard beat drum bed11 bee a PoS n v n n Mbe r ku b eb de -kw n / -, kwn / l n tum Ejagham iwe bhem, t m enu nkon Ekparabong -s kb -n /b -[l] -g i/bBalep -y /b (sm, rd) -n /bm-bbe/m-b e l n, g r g r -b /b -gb/b b-l/ -[l] b -n n n/lm -jr/b ( -lm) -n Bendeghe b-y / (sm, k d) -n/b-k n/ y g r - -gb/b -y/b-n n/ ym - /b-~-ti -y N Etung -w / (sm, k d) -n/b-k n/ y g r - -gb/b -y/-n n/ ym - /-ti -y ~y fi~f S Etung -w /(sm, kud) -n /~b -k n/ k n y g r -b / -gb/ -y/-n n/ ym - / - i -y Efutop -zi /kb -n /-ku n/li m li r -b / -gb /-l/-ssu g/g - /-t n -l fn Nde j /b kb -sm/b -k n /ab g r -b m/b -gba/a -n/b -s g/ -sls g g - /a -t n -n Nselle -j /b kb -sm/b -k n /ab g r -b /b gba/a-n/-[l] b -s g/ s s g g - /a -t n -n Nta -j /b kb -tf e/-k n /ab g r -b /b ---n/b-sog/sosog g - a/a -t n -n Abanyom -y r/kb l -n / -, gb/-k n/ l m g r -b / -gb/ -l~b -/ - mf r/lm - g/Nkim -r r/kb -gb/ -k n/-~l m g r -b /-gb/-l m-m n m/-[b] lm - g/Nkum -r r/kb -gb /-k n/ l m g r -b /-gb/-l -rg/Nnam -l /kb -godo/a-k n/ l m gb Ekajuk -l /kb l-n / -

-k n/ l m gb

beg money beg pardon belch12 bell belly13 bird14

v v n n n n

y gor bhe ebhuk oya inn

l n l d -b i/b -gb/b b -l/b-n n n/b lm -jr/b-

gb b le k nn /klw m -shn (a.), fn (v.) otul b lw fwl fw /bkpm

bite black

v n

blacksmith ing blood

n n

ym kp (v.), nyagh (n.) ot i agy f

lm - g/-

-b /gb a/-l/rr og/n[d] t a /-t l al o~lu u f l

l-b / gb a/ b-l/b-r ug/n[r] t a /-t l -l u

( -lm) -n

-tl -l

-tl -l

-tol -l

blow (mouth) blow (wind) bone bottle bottom15 bow bow16 brains break (1)

v v n n

fl

fi

fn

f n

f n

fl

fl

fl

f l

k p kpm

-k k b/b -kp m/b -nd/bb -l g/bt b (b-fg) g

-k b/b -kp mg/b -nd/b b -l g/kbdm (b-p l) g

-k b/ -kp m / -d b/ -[r] -y g/kb -r n w

n n v n v.i. l b f r s

nd p eyek aron wa break open, shatter jgh break into pieces; shatter f a

-k b/kp m / -d b/ -[r] -y g/ k b -r n w

-k b/kpm/ -d b/ -[r] -y g/k -r n u

-k b/-kpu m/-l b/-lg/k m -du n w

-k b/e-kpuma/a-n b/-b n b -ng/akm -r n w

-k b/-kpoma/a-n b/-b -n b -n g/a<---> -r n w~wn

-k b/-kpoma/a-n b/-b -n b o-ng/ak m -r n wn

-kb/ -kpm/-nb/-[l] -l g/g -r n w

-k b/ -tt/-

-kb/-kpm/-

-k b/akpma/n-n b/a -l g/g -l n w

-k b/akpma/n-n b/ -l g/g -l n w

-tl/-l g/k m -r n w

-tl /-lg/km -r n w

break, snap (2)

v.t.

bwn break long

(gu g)

b n

bn

b n

bn

b n

b n

bn

bn

bon

b n

b n

10 11

The forms are used with the meaning of a tree bearing fruit. another form in Efutop is -bbn/-. 12 The forms in languages Bendeghe and N Etung have no singular/plural alternation. 13 The forms in minor sub-group r-s have no singular/plural alternation. 14 The compound in Ebanyom is derived from animal-feathered. 2. The construction in Nkim means junior animal. 15 1. This gloss refers to the part of the body. 2. another form given for Nkim was -kt/-. 16 1. The cognate form in Nselle mean kneel. 2. These forms are to be compared with arch, with squat, and with duck(v.).

10

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss breast breath breathe brush17 bubble buffalo18 bundle burial burn butcher19 buy calabash20 PoS n n v v v.i. n n n v t/i v v n tm (v.) l y k r ntuo, bm, k b , k p r -gb / f r k nyamf l nk pi l rgh bha nam it n, k ek okpi gye aw Mbe object leb l l l or f l t b -dw l/ b Ejagham ebh ey bhk ogh Ekparabong -b i/b -w m/bw m kp l f m-p/b -kn/b -k/br i f n m -tn/bBalep l -b l/bb-w m w m n g, bg f l m-p/b -kn/bl -k/ r f k -t n/b(l -b/m-) -kp/bl -k nd m/b kpb -rr/b -k r /b -k g/b( -kpkp/b -) j b -k m pm/bm Bendeghe - / -y --g fi -f/ -gn/-k/brg~dg n m b-t n/ N Etung - / -y --g fi~f -f/ -gn~ / -k/b~ r g~rg n m -t n/ -ki -kp /y -/gbb -d /-k/S Etung - / -y y g f -f / -gn/ -ku/-~b r g n m -t n/ -ki/ ~b-kp /y u Efutop -bi n/-yu /yu ~y f n, ng f n -f /-gn/-k/ f b g -b r/ -~-k n/ -gb/li ~fn -kndi m/yb -dd/-k /-dn/-g /(san ) -t n/m-mu n/ bu n gb g -zu /sm -s n/Nde n -b n/n -y / y fer f n -f / -gn/n -k/ f b g -b r/ n-kon/ -gba/f n -k nd m/gb -rr/-k /a -kp /-g jb -tn/Nselle m -b n/ n -y /y fer f n -f / -gn/n -k/ f b g -b r/ n-kon/ -gb/f n~n -k nd m/gb b -dd/-k /a -kp /-g /jb -tn/Nta n -b n/n -y /y fer f n -f / -gn/n-k/ f b g -b r/ n-kon -gb/f n -k nd m/gb b -dd/-k /a -kp /-g /jb -tn/Abanyom l -b l/ l -y y fl fl -f/ -gn/l -k/ f b gn -br/ -, tg/l -kl/ -gb/b l -k nd n/gbb -rr/ -k/ -kp g/-g /jb -tl/Nkim -b l/-y /y fl fl -f/-gn/-k/f b gn -tg/Nkum -b l/-y /y fl fl -f/-gn/ -~-k/ f b gn -tg/Nnam b-b l/a -w~ vw fl f l f o/ -gn/g-ku/f b gn -b r/mEkajuk l-b l/a l-w / fl f l -f u/ -gn/l-k /f b gn -b r/m-

egane

camwood canoe care for21 cat

n n v n

( -b) -kp/bl i -/bkpb -ss/b -k s /b-kg/b-

-k /b-kp /y -/gbb -d /-k/-

-kl -gb/l -p /-

-kol -gb/l -k nd n/kpb ,b b -dr/rr -k/-

a-kol gb a/l k nd m/ b b --k k/ kp / -g a/jb n-tol/a-

a-kul gb a/l knd n/b b --k /kp

catch hold caterpillar chameleon

v n n

gbp gh ku

gbb -r/-k/-

gbb ---k/-

k nyng ru

cheek

okk

-kg/-g / j m -tfm~tfm/-tfm m-m n/- n gb g -j /bsm -t/-

-kg/-g / j m -tfm~tfm/tfm m-m n/ n bg g -j /bsm -t/~ -t /

-kg/-g / ---tfm/tfm m-m n/ n gb g -j /-~b sm -t /

-kg/-

-kg/-

/-

chest chew22 chief

n v.i. n

k -kw /kb-tr /b m-mwn /bt b bup o n. k pampn g, ojuulu

nga ny, s ntfm

(-kpkp/b-) j b m-n n/b-[l] m-m n/m-b n gb g -s b/b (k b) - d/b-

(krk/-) jb -tl/-

(-krk/) jb -tl/-

-g a/jb n-tul/a-

child chop civet24 clear bush25 clitoris

n v n v n

mmon , gbe23 ejo esm n. etii

m-m n/m-b n gb g -r b/b (k b) - d/b -

m-m /-b gb g -j /sm -t/b-

m-m /-b gb g -j /b s -t/b

m-m /-b (k ) -j /b s -mi/b-

m-m n/-b n gb g -j /rm -sd/b -

m-m n/ b n (g m,km) -j /(j) -kb/-

m-m n/ b n (g m,km) -j /(j) -kb/-

m-m n/ab n gb g -j /rm -keb/a-

m-m n/ b n gb g -j /rm -kb/a-

17 18

These forms are to be compared with wipe and with erase. The animal referred to is Syncerus nanus, lydekk (cf. Talbot, In the shadow of the bush, p. 468). 19 These forms are to be compared with self. 20 The first form in Ebanyom refers to a calabash for tapping wine, and the second for storing wine. 21 These forms are used in the sense of bring up or take care of (a child). 22 1. The form in Bendeghe is rare. 2. the form in N Etung means hard chewing. 23 cut the body of someone e.g. with blade 24 These forms refer to the African civet, Civetta civetta. 25 compare these forms with the same one for hit in most of the languages.

11

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss cloth26 PoS n Mbe ngb, gb /b kwr yw r , kn (become cold) Ejagham f Ekparabong -f / -rkg/ kg -lg Balep -f /b -r k / -k -ng Bendeghe -f / - d/ -~m-[b] -y g N Etung -f / -, m /m [b] - d/m[b] -y g S Etung -f / -,mb m/-[] - d/m-[b] -yg Efutop m-bu m / -b r/m -lu g Nde m-b / n -b r /m -n g Nselle m-b / n -b r /m -n g Nta m-b / n -b r /m -ng Abanyom m-b m/ -b d/m-lg Nkim -gbg/-b d/m -lg Nkum -b m /-b d /m -lg Nnam mb m /a -b d /m( kk g ) b -o /mlm -vu/ wu k r fl bl f f / -kal/a km Ekajuk m-b m /a -b d /m-l g

cocoyam cold27

n n

mb t egy k

come contamina tion28 cook cotton cough count cover(1)29 cover(2)30 cow crab cut in two

v n v n v v v v n n v

bh

b -b ~b(kg) -w

b l -b /m (kg ) l -w/ k r g f l f l f l m-p /b -kl/b -bb/bb n b-r/ -[d]

bg - ym -w k f n -f / -k /km

g - ym -~-w k f n ~ ~ -f / -k /b~km

g -u ym -/k f n -f / -k /~b k m

b -w lm -w ku r fn bn bn -f /-kn/k -bb~-bb/b n -fu/-

b n-b /m nm n -wu/i k r fn b n b n -f / -kan/k -bb/b n -foa/-

b n -b /m n n -wu/ k r fn b n b n, f -f - -kan/b k b -beb/b n -fo/ -fen s n -bu kp n m n m b b

b n-b n o-wi k r fn b n b n, f -f / -kan/bk -beb/b n -foo/-

b l -b /m lm l -w/ k r fl bl f -f / -kl/b km

b --lm -w/k r fl bl bl -f /- kl/ km

b --lm -w/k r fl bl bl -f /- kl/km

b -b /mlm a- k r f a bl f -f / -kal/akm

lm, ky w -kwl / (n.) pl sued, kub mpel n. gurubi

ugh, ym

oke fan bhi bhi mfo ek

k d f i f i f i m-p /b -ki/b sb

cutting grass31 dance day32 daylight33 defecate descend dew die dip34 disappear, miss s.t. divide35 divine
26 27

n v n

b, kp t ~ kp r, jy ebl bn b-for/ b -, lfor ebur w duom (dive) lm d , gb, bn

se, km

kobho bh n of

-bb/bbn b-r/ -[d]

-b/bn -f/ -fn -fn d - kp t d (tn) kr b

-b/n -f/~ -fn -fn d - kp t d (tn) kr ~b

kb /k b n -f/ -fn -fn/bd - kp t d (tn) kr

-bb/bn -f/-~ -fnt bd -b kp l m lm bg b

-bb/bn -ff/-

-bb/bn -fmf/-

-beb/ab n -f o/a-

-bb/ab n -f u/a-

n v v n v v.i. v v v

efn e abh bh t abh kp tet tn kir bh

-pn b b-b ku lm lm kn b

-pn/b r b b-b ku l m l m kn b

-f n/ s n -w kp l m l m, (tar) ba b

-fen~feen/ sn -bu kp n m n m b b

-fen/b s n -bu kp n m n m b b

-- b d ~bd -b rr kp nm n m, (tn) bg b

-fn/ bo d -brr kp nm nm bg b

-fen b dd -bo kp l m l m b a b

-fn b dt -b kp l m l m b a b

1. These forms refer to cloth as an article of clothing. 2. The second form in S Etung, however refers to kkpe cloth. These forms refer to cold in the sense of cold water. 28 These forms refer to sexual contamination i.e. sleeping with a woman so that the child she is still nursing becomes sick. 29 The root which is cognate throughout these forms is the same as that in roof (q.v.). 30 These forms are used in the sense cover something hollow. 31 The West African cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus. 32 see the section on english glosses, p.50. 33 1. The forms in sub-groups a-b and f-h were all glossed as daylight. 2. within Nkum sub-group m-u, only the form in Nselle was glossed as daylight. 3. the forms in languages Efutop and Ekajuk were explained to mean noon. 4. the form in Nde means daytime or noon to evening. 5. the forms in languages Nta, Nkum, and Nnam mean afternoon. 6. the form in Abanyom means daytime. 34 1. These forms are used in the sense of dive or dip beneath the surface of the water 2. They are to be compared with disappear and with extinguish. 35 These forms are to be compared with those for share.

12

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss do dog PoS v n Mbe py m-py, py/ b - ~ bbeku l bufuro m-b l, k bl f Ejagham yim nj Ekparabong lm -gu /b -kg/b-kgr/b-b /bl Balep l m -gu /b -kg/b -f/bb -b l/m lb Bendeghe ym -j / -kg m-b/-[] b-i -d m/ g , s N Etung ym -j / -kg m-b/ [] - i/m [b] g, s S Etung ym -j / -kg m-b/-[] -/m-[b] g, s Efutop nm -wu /-kg m-bu/ -b ng m/li Nde nm -w / -kg m-b/ b b ngm/m nb Nselle n -w / -kg m-b/ b -b ng/m n Nta n -w / -kg m-b/ b -b ng/m n Abanyom lm -g / -kg m-b/ -b lgm/mlb Nkim lm -g /(kp gb /-) m-b/ -b l/kg Nkum lm m-b / (-kmb/) m-b/ -b l/ kg Nnam lm m-bua/ Ekajuk lm m-b / -k g/m-b/ b-b l/m li ib, k g

domestic pig36 door37 dove38 dress39

n n n v

akk it m ibh gu (male), sobh (female) gw nkam oyum

-k g/m-b/ b-b l/mli ib, k g w -km/ -lm wm bn r m -bmbu -tu /a-d l -j / -j g/ fl kag ra/aa-b

drink drum dry season

v n n

nyw dm, dm odzendz , b-sr /byw m, yn ebb bm otu -gb r , b- / bly l-k /b b-tsw /bk r (wipe off) kr ab

y (-tr/b-) -lm

j ( -kp d /b -) -lm

w -k m/ -ym

w -k m/ -ym

w -k m/ -ym

wu (m-b n/-) -lm

w -k m/ -n m ym bn g -bubu -t / -s ~-sse n -j/ -j g/ sam -k ara/-b

w -k /-nm

w -k /-n-

w -k m/ -lm ym bn g -bb -t/-d l -j / -j g/ r n, dg -kg r/ -b

w -k m/-lm

w -k m/-lm

w -km/ -lm wm bn r m b mb -t /a-d l -j / -j g/ fu ut k ak ra/aa-b

dry, be dry duck40 dust dusty, be ear earth, ground41 eat egg elephant42 erase43 European excrement , shit, dung, manure, faeces extinguish
44

v.i. v.t. v n v.i. n n v n n v n n

kt, ym bhn gy ebh bh ot otop d eji njok bh bhr-n e

wm bn d b-bb

wm bn kdm b -bb -rn/b-t b~bl -k /b -d g/b -[r] t l -kgr/bm-b /b

ym n s m ~s r - b -t/ -s /d -j / -j g/ -k r/-

ym n s r ~ -t/ -s /d -j / -j g/ k r/-

ym n s r - -t/a -s /y -j / -j g/ mkr -

ym bn ---wwu /~-ttu

y bn g -bubu -t / -s n -j/ -j g/ sam -k ara -b

y~yo bn g -bubuu -t /-ss n -j/ -j g/ sam -k ara -b

ym bn r m -bb

ym bn r m -bb

-ri/b -ss, t b~bl -k/b -s g/b sr -kgr/bm-b /b

-t -tu

-t/-dg l -j / -j g/fl -kgr/-b

-t/-dg ~-[r] l -j / -j g/fl -kgr/-b

yi -z/ -z g/f n, n g -k r/-b

v n v

lm ll /b m r, kw

tn ey t am t gbo pl.

l m -ld/m-m d t n,

lm l -m rr/m

tn -yd/-m d gb

tn -y d/md gb

tn -y d/md gb

l m -m r/gbu ~gb

nm n -m r/gb

n m n -m r/gb

n m n -m r/gb

l m l -m r/ gb

nm -m r/gb

nm -m r/gb

l m mm r/agb

l m l-m r/agb

eye45 fall46
36 37

The forms in the languages of sub-group f-h and minor sub-groups m-p and q participate in no singular/plural alternation. 1. The form in N Etung is archaic. 2. Bendeghe also has the form -k r/- with the same meaning. 38 The form in Nde was described as a small wild bird in the pigeon family. 39 In Nkum sub-group f-h the first is used in reference to men and the second to women (i.e. mens apparel and womens apparel). 40 These forms are to be compared with arch with squat, and with bow (v.) 41 1. The variant forms in languages Balep and Nkum refer to heaps of earth. 2. The plural forms in Nkum sub-group f-h refer to loose earth. 42 The forms in languages N and S Etung are most usually expanded into the construction -j g -g n/ -j g -g n (... of the land) to mean elephant, where the first member of the construction means something like giant or monster. 43 These forms are to be compared with wipe and with brush (v.) 44 These forms are to be compared with disappear and dip. 45 There is another singular form in Balep, namely m-m g -r n.

13

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss fan(1) fan(2)47 fat father of...48 father49 feather fifteen find50 finish fire51 firewood fish52 fish smell53 fish-hook fit54 five flog flow fly forehead55 forest PoS v v n n n n nu m v v Mbe mp b ofu b fwm -t -pu /b bw , kp ml (v.i.), mn (v.t.) -mwn / yw n /by n k -l - n Ejagham f k Ekparabong f g f g (b-n i) -s /b -s (mn-db/b[r]) -k t m n Balep f g f g (b-l l) -d /b-[r] -d (-dbg/b[r]) l -k t m n -k r/bb-kn/ -d/b-[r] b-w b -l /-`n~ k n b -r n d fb b m-bg/b -kl/bBendeghe fg fg -f m -s / -s -f d/-~ -k t m n -gn/-kn/ -s/-w ( - -s/-) g -r n~btm (s ) fb m-bg/-[]~ [] -k /N Etung fg fg -f m -s / -s -f d/~ -k t m n -gn/-k/ -s/-w -y b/g -r n tm (s ) f ~f m-bg/ []~-[] -ki/S Etung fg fg -f m -s / -s -f d/ ~-~b-k t m n -gn/-kn/ -s/- -y b/g -r n tm fb f m-bg/ [] -ka/Efutop fi b fi b -fu m -si /<2. > -f r/m-k t mn,mar -g n/-k n/ <---> -w -lu ~-l /l g -d n k r fb fu ( -dn/-[d]) -kn gb /-..yn - i -ku g/-ti m/--Nde f b ---f m -s /b -s n -f r/n ko te (k n) -gn/ -kon/ <---> -w b -n /nfm b -r n m b fb fb~f ( -don/-[r]) -k n o-gb /kun am-gb tantr b -n -k g/ -t m/ -gb a/-kb/ka Nselle f b ---f -s /b -s n -f r~ne-/an -k t (k n) -g~gn/ -kon/ <---> -w b n /nfm b -r n m b fb fb ( -don) o -kon gb /-kon m-gb yn b -n -k g/ -t / -gb a/-kb/ka Nta f b ---f -s /b -s n-f d/n-ko te (k n) -gn/kon/ <---> -w b -n: /nfm b -r n m b fb fb ( -don) -m n gb /-m n m-gb yn b -n -k g/ -t / -gb a/-kb/ka Abanyom f b fg -f m -d /[r]~bn-[d] -s l -f r/ l -k tr ml -gn/ -kn/ -r/-w b -l /-`n~ fm b -r n d fb fb m-bg/ -kl yn b -n -k g/ -t m/ -gbg/, -kb/k Nkim fg fg -f m -d /-[r] - -f r/ -kr tr,(j) ml -gn -kn/ -k b/-w/(-kja/-) lg -r n d fb b g~bg m-bg/ -kl Nkum fog foog -f m -d /-[r] - -f r/ -kr tr,(j) ml -gn/-kn/ -k b /-w/-l /lg -r n d fb bog m-bg/ -kl/ yn -n -k g/-t m/-kpg/Nnam f b f b a-f m -d / -s b-fr/ k-k ti e ml -gon/a-kon/ -s r a-w a l-l /nfo om l-l n~ d fb f mb og/a -kl/gb /-..yn -n -k g/ Ekajuk f g f g a-f m -d /- l-fr/ l-k ti ml -gun/a-kun/- r a-w b-l /nfu um b-l n d fb f m-b ug/a -kl gb /-.., -kul/a yn b-n~ mn -k g/ -t m/gb a /-kb/k

afm s efut ek t man

n n n n n v n v v v n n

ngn okn ns -w yp rn, dn, rn y t, s f bh mbk

m-k d/b -s/bi/ -s/bb-w b -l b/mn-[l] < -k n> b -r n kd fb b m-bg/b -kki

yl, rw gn, fwr (jump)

-k m /b y n -ny b-kw b- /b b -mbr -rn y

-k /-

forget four fowl friend frond56

v nu m n n n

gyin n -kk -tm / -kpk/-kp/k

yd b -n -k g/b -tn/bn-bg/b-

jr b -n -k g/b -tn/bn,( k n/b-) -bgl/b --kn

yn -n -k g/ -t m/ -kpg -kp /-kb/k

yn -n -k g/ -t m/ -kpg/-kb/k

yn -n -k g/ -t m/ -kpg/ -kb/k

yd -n k g~k g/-t m/-kpg -b r -kb/k

-t m/gb ag / -kb/k a

fruit fry
46 47

n v

--kn

( -sm/-) ka

(-r[ m) k

The forms in Ekparabong refers to a person and the second to a fruit on a tree. These forms have the specific meaning of fan vigorously. 48 These forms are used for teknonymy as well as for discussion of general kinship. 49 1. These forms are used in possessive constructions my father, your father, his father, etc. 2.Efutop tt my father 50 1. The form in Balep means find again or retrieve. 2. The second forms in languages Nkim and Nkum mean find something when it has been lost. 51 These forms are identical with those for gun (q.v.) except for the lack of singular-plural alternation in Nkim. 52 1. minor sub-group m-p uses a construction with the meaning animal of the water 2. The plural form in Ekajuk is rare. 53 In N Etung the initial consonant of the root was described as a light w and appears to have a labio-dental articulation. 54 1. These forms are used in the sense of fit, suit, become. 2. The form in Ekparabong is a nominalization because the imperative could not be elicited. 55 The forms in languages Nselle and Nta do not allow of any singular/plural alternation. 56 These forms refer especially to the lower palm frond.

14

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss germinate go out57 goat God58 gourd grasp grave grey hair59 grind groundnut guest60 gun61 hair (head) hair (on body)62 hammer harvest63 hatch64 hate65 head66 headpad hear heart heat67 hide68 hide s.t. hit69 hoe hoe hoe70 hole71 PoS v.i. v n n n v n n v n n n n n v v v v n n v n v.t. v.i. v.t. v n v v.i. n Mbe fwm, m r yb m-p l w k bu py l b-l m p kw jk r b-k n -mwn b- -mw Ejagham fm m-bi / -s -kp f -y m /mp g k if t -jn / gn -ny - t km f k b-c /bllir yw bt m/bbm e j -rw, k rw kb -pw /b , l-p - /b-,nk yk b yt r Ekparabong m i tb m-bi/b -s w -kp d/bdb -y /b--k g -f r mk k n/bm-k d/b-d -w d km f b g j -r/b-k/b wg -td/bs b Balep m t b m-bl/b -s w -kp /bdb -l /bm-bb/b k g -f r -j n/b-k r/b-tt/ -t -u u r/bu r km f b g j -r/b -k/bwg -d n /b-[r] r b Bendeghe m ,(d ) d ,fm m-b /-[] -s w , -s -kp r /f -y m/--g g -fr -j n /-gn-n - d/ km f g j - /b-,-k/ yg~yg -b /-[] sb m sm -y m/ kp (kp ) -r/N Etung m ,(d ) fm m-bi/ [] -s w , s -kp r /f -y m/--g g -f d/ -j n /-gn/-n - d/km f g (yr) - /b,-k/ yg~yg -b / [] sb~fb r ~d~ m sm -y m/ kp (kp ) -r/S Etung m ,(ru) fb m-bi/ [] -s w , s -kp r /f -y m/--g g -f d/ -j n/-gn/- - d/d km fu g j ,(yr) - /-k/ yg -b / [] f r sm -y m/ kp (kp ) -r/Efutop m d m-b n/ -swu --fn -l m/-y/gu g -fr -zi nni /-g n/-~-l/ -[l] -mu r/k m (s m) la z,(l) -s/-k/yu g -tm/f y sm -d/kp n b m -bi/Nde m r m-bn/ -s w --fn -n m/b -~n g -b/g -f r ~f'r -jnn/Nselle m r m-bn/ -sow --f n -n m/b -~n g -b/g -f r ~f'r -j nn /Nta m r m-bn/ -s w --f n n m~n m/n-b/g g -f r -j ran /-gn/n-n/ n -m r/k f na j -s/b-ka/yg n-tee/ f bb Abanyom m r jg m-bl/ -s w / -kp d / fl -l m/ l -b~-b r/ g g -f r -j nn /j nn -gn/l - / l - u r/ km f w j -s/b -, -k/ yg l -tm/ fb b Nkim m r jg m-bl/ - ~- w m-kp d/ fl -l m/ -b/g g - kp -j n -g'n/ - - -u r/km f w <-j > - /-kr/yg -tm/ fb bb Nkum m r jg m-bl/ - m kp d /fl -l m/-b g g - kp -j n -gn/-n- -m r/km --w <-j > - /-kr/yg -tm/nfb bb rm -r/kp (t) -br/m Nnam m l m-bol/ -s w m kp d / fl -l m/b-b/ag g -s kp -j nn /-gon/al-lu/n-[l] - r/km f la ad j -si/ak a /w og t-tem/nfb bi ir Ekajuk m l m-bul/ - w m kp d / bfl -l m/l-b/ag g - kp -j nn /-gun/al-lu/al- r/ km f w, la ad j - /a-~ /ak a /w ug l-tm/nfb bi ir

-gn/n -n/ n -m r/km f nag~na j -s/b -,-ka/y g n-tem/ f bb

-g~-gn/n -n/ n -m r/k f na j -s/b -k/y g n -te/ fb bb

sm -ym / -

sm -l m/b ku (ku ) -bb/b-

m -l m/b f m f m -b b /b -

(k r) -r/b--b m n-bee/-

(k r) -r/b--b m n-be/-

(k r) -r/b--b m n-bee/-

rm -r/b kp bm l -b/

rm -r/kp (t) -br/m

rm -lo/ bkp a b m bbi e/a-

rm -lu/ bkp a b m l-bi /a~m

mfk, ot, bhr

57 58

These forms are used in the sense leave the room. S Etung also has the further form - r kp. 59 The form in Nkum has no singular/plural alternation. 60 a change of tone in the plurals of Nkum sub-group m-p will be discussed in the [never-appeared] next volume. 61 The roots in the above forms are identical with those for fire (q.v.). 62 The form in Ekparabong has no singular. 63 These forms are used specifically in the sense harvest yams, except in minor sub-groups r-s and t-u where they mean harvest groundnuts. 64 compare break (v.tr.) 65 1. In languages Nkim and Nkum the imperative could not be elicited and the forms given mean hatred. 2. The first form in Efutop means abstain. 66 1. of the two plural prefixes given for languages Bendeghe and N Etung the first is used to refer to leaders and the second to skills. 2. of the two plural prefixes for languages Nde and Abanyom the second is used to refer to animal heads. 67 These forms are used especially in the sense of re-heat soup. 68 These forms are used in the sense of hide oneself. 69 The missing cognates in languages n-p can be found under the gloss clear bush. 70 1. another possible gloss for these forms is cultivate (v.). 2. The form in Abanyom also means plant (v.).

15

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss horn hornbill house72 how many73 hunt hunt husband iguana (monitor lizard) iroko tree74 iron75 PoS n n n qua nt n v n n -sw/ - -j/-k et m-enr m m b-lw m Mbe -t /b Ejagham t Ekparabong -u g/b -g n/b -j/b-fg -bm/b (yd) m-nm/blm (-sb/b-) Balep -ta/b-g n/b -j/b-fg -bm/bbm -nm/b-[l] ( -rb/b -) -rn/b -k/b Bendeghe b- /-g n/ -j/-g -m/---dm/-[r] -g/b -sn/-k/N Etung - /~m[b] -g n/ -j/-g -m/---dm/[r] -g/b -sn/-k/, /m [b] -w -m / -j n/bf ,( b) -f g/ yi -r ~r/---t m / gbg -kp/--m y -j /S Etung -t/-, /m-[b] -g n/ -dz/-g -m/b m~ m -nm/-[r] -g/~b -sn/-k/, - /-y -m / -j n/b f ,(bg) -f g/ yi -r/---t m/ gbg -kp/--m y -j /Efutop -t /-gu n/ -z/-bg -bm bm -l m/-b g/(m-bin /-) -ku /Nde -t a/-g n/ -j/b-bg -bm/bm -nm/ -bag/(m-ben/-) -k/Nselle -t a/-g n/ -j/b -beg -b/b -n/ -bag/b (m-ben/-) -k/Nta -t a/-g n/ -j/b-beg -b/b -n/ -bag/b (m-ben/-) -k/Abanyom -t/-g n/ -j/b -, t g/b -bg -bm/bm -nm/-[l] -bg/ -jn/ -k/Nkim -t/-g n/-tb/ -bg -bm/bm -n m/lm (-b /-) (-lk/-) Nkum -t/-g n/-tb/-bg -bm/bm -n m/lm (-bjg/-) Nnam n-t a/-g n/ ~-jo, t g/n-bg -bem/abm n-lom/a-j ag/a -jn/,(mben/a-) k o/ mkp k l -m g j-j n/ f b Ekajuk n-t a/a-g n/-ju, t g/n-b g -bm/abm n-lum~num/a-[l] -j ag/a -jn/k u/ mkpak l /a -m / l-j n/ f b -f /wl -l /aj mm -t m / bgb ag -kpd/k n m , ml w l l- n /-

b, w b-lw m /b -

-sn/-

-sn/b-k/b-

(-lk/-)

-kw

-k/-

-k /-

itch76 joint77 journey78 jump kidney kill knee kneel knife79 knock, clap80 knot knot know81 laugh leaf

n n n v n v n v n v n v v v n le-kwn l-k n fwr m-p / b myw l l-l/b k -s m/ kgw l

-w nkn -jn f , jt f k

-k k g/b -m g/b -k n ( b),f r m-ppg wi -dnd/bd b -bn/m-

-k k g l/bl -m g l/m l -k n/ (b) m-p g/b wl -rnd/b kdm -t m/bgbg -kp/b(r d) m w i l -un/b-

-w -m / -j n/b( n) -f g y -r /--b-t m / gbg -kp/--m y -j /-

m-kpb/ ---zi n fi b,(y b) -d /yn -d /k m -t m/kp g -kp/k n gbi r yu n - n / -

-kk / -mg/n -j n/ f b -f yn -r /b km -t m / gbg -kp/k n m y n n - n/ -

-k k n / -m ge/ n -j n f b -f g/yn -r /b km -t m /gb g -kp/k n m y n n - n/ -

-k k n / -m /n -j n f b -fog/yn -r /b k m -t m /gb g -kp/k n m y n n - n/ -

-k k l/ -m g /l -j n/ f b -f g/yl -r/ -[d] km -tm/ gbg -kp~kp d/kn m y l l - n/

-k k l/ -m g/-j n/ f b -f g~f g/ yl -r /km -t m/ ---kpd/k n y l - n/ -

-k k l / -m g /-j n/ f b -f g /yl -ro/km -t m /---kp d/ko n y l - n/ -

/a /-

p,

-f g / wl -l /aj mm -t m / gb ag -kpd/k n m w l n ~ -

yw ar, r

gbk -kp/m y j/-

gbg -kp/b(s d) m i w i -gugu /b-

ml s , m pm n. yn, bn

71 72

These forms refer to a hole into rather than a hole through. 1. The first form in Nnam is dialectal. 2. The first form in Ekajuk is archaic and dialectal. 73 no common independent nominalization of this stem was elicited. 74 (Milicia excelsa) 75 These refer to both the metal and to articles made from it, including the iron for ironing (clothes). 76 These forms also refer to scabies and craw-craw. 77 These forms refer to joint of the body especially wrist and ankle. 78 These forms have identical roots with those in walk (q.v.). 79 These forms refer to the big knife or matchet. 80 The forms in languages Ekparabong, Balep and Efutop mean clap, and the others mean knock with a stick. 81 These forms are used in the sense know how or know a fact (for know in the sense know a person, see recognize).

16

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss lean lean learn leg82 leopard PoS v.i. v.t. v n n Mbe Ejagham Ekparabong w m w g k i -k /b-k i/b n m -kun u i -y/b(b-r m) -pmpm/b Balep g g g g kl -k /b-k n/b nm l -kun u l -yb (b-r m) -pmpm/b Bendeghe y y kp -kd/m-gb / n -kpn N Etung y y kp -kd/m-gb / n -kpn S Etung y y kp -kd/m-gb / n -kpn Efutop yi y kpn -sn/m-gb / nu -kpn Nde y y ~y kp n -t/m-gb / n n-kpn Nselle y y kp n -t/m-gb / n n-kpn Nta y y kpn -t/m-gb / n n-kpn Abanyom y y g kpl -t/-a m-gb / n l -kpn/m u l -r / -ghd/l -s l/ Nkim y g y g kpl -kpd/m-gb / n -kpn u -r Nkum y y g kpl -kpd/m-gb / n -kpn/m m l -r /-b d/- l Nnam / --y gg kpl -ta/am-gb / gb mgb n kpkpn~ /m a al ---jed/as-s l/ Ekajuk y y gk kpl -kpd /m-gb / n lkpn/m a al ---jd/al- l/ -

yen -kp/b-jkp ll l-yel/b mu r l-br n nt r/b also n nt r k l b-bab l b-kwl /bdzwm

y kp, t kt/m-gb / n -kpn

lie down life light s.t.83 limb (body) 84 liver85 lizard (agama)

v n

v.t. n n n

y/j k / kp, r mb/ k t k kr -r/-

-y /-j/ -k /~b-

-y /j~j / k / r m-b~ b i/- i k d -k i/ k i k r -r / -g m/ -kp/mg -jn/ -t,kp -/m-b g/ [] m-m /

-y / -j / k / r m-b/- k d -ki/ -ku i k r -r / -g m/ -kp/mg -jn/ -t/ -,gb -/m-b g/ [] m-m /

mu n -lu /-mi r/-bu /-

m n -n /-~b -gb r/-bb /a-

m n -n /b -gbr/-b b /a-

m n -n /-~b -gbr~gbd/o-bobo o/a-

l /-

-gd/- l/ -

look at louse love86 maize make fire mangrove (Rhizopho ra spp.) market87 mat88 measure medicine melt money89 mongoose
90

v n v n v n

m n -kkd/bk d (<-nn>) (m-bkp/b-) fg -r /b -f n/b -kp/b k n -gu i/bn b-kpg -ff/bm-p g/b -f/b-

m n -kkr/b-k r (nn) ( -wkp/ -) k r -r /b-~ -[d] l -f n/ -kp/b k n -gun/b-un n b -kpg -ff/bm-p g/b -f/b-

br m-b /-[b] k d -k i~k r -r / -g m/ -kp/mg ~gn -jn/n -t,-kp -/m-b g/-[] m-m /

yr -ban /ku r ( -mkp/[]) ku n -s /-si -kp/gar -tkp/ an -kp /-yy/m-bu g/ m-m ~ m /

b r m-bn/ak r -g/k n -s/-s -kp/b gr -k m/ n -kp /-bb/m-b g/ m-m /

b r m-bn/ak r -g/ak n -s/-s -kp/b gr -k m/ n -kp -bb/m-b g/ m-m /

b r m-bna/ak r e-g/ak n -s/-s -r kp/agr -k m/ n -kp -bb/m-b g/ m-m /

kpr m-bl/ k r,k n, k l ( -gbkp/) k r -r /-r -kp/b gr -t/n -kpg -b rmb/m-b g/ - u /-

br -kp r/<-k r> -kl/ k r -r r /-r -kp/gn -l /n - r -b r mb/ m-b g/ -u r/-

kpr,b r m-bl/ <-k r> -kl/ k r -r nd /-r -kp/gn -kom/n - r -b r mb-/ m-b g/ -m r/-

kpr m-b l/ k r -k l/k n r a /a-r -kp/ bgr -k m/n kp /m-b r/ m b og/ - /-

kpr m-b l/ k r l-k l/ k n -r a /-

n n v n v.t. n n n n

k -s /kb-k /b kn b-kl /b an b

g m /-kp/m g -jn/sr b, t -/-

a-r -kp/ b gr ~ga ar -k m/n -kp /m-b r/ m-b ug/ - /-

monkey moon91

-bg/ wtr-f l, bnyn-m pm (archaic)

m-bk/

82 83

These forms refer to the lower leg (below the knee). These forms are used in the sense kindle a light. 84 These forms refer to limb of the body (arm or leg). 85 The forms given in Nkum sub-group a-b are probably not immediately cognate with forms for heart (q.v.) in the other languages. 86 The forms in angle brackets (Ekparabong, Nkim and Nkum) are nominalizations of the verb since the imperative could not be cited. 87 The forms in sub-group m-u have no singular/plural alternation. 88 These forms refer to floor mats (for sleeping) and not to roofing mats. 89 The singular forms in minor sub-group t-u are used to mean sixpence. 90 see Talbot, in the shadow of the bush, p.466.

17

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss mortar92 mosquito mother93 mould94 mount mountain mushroom nail (body)95 name navel96 near neck97 net night nose98 obtain oil one99 PoS n n n Mbe kpr, rw mn nk p mw kw n b-k l/ b kpkp , k nt -kk l l(e)-ln/ l(e)-lwb/ fr Ejagham fn -b m/ - n/m gy t -gw/b- p -r/m-b/ t /kpt, kprkpr -m/Ekparabong -kk/bm bmbm/b - n/bm (km) ---b b/b -uur/m~b m-p/b -r/bkpdkpd Balep -kk/b ( - m/b -) - n/bm (km) b -kkl/ -b b b/ -b b -ur/b -n /b-[l] l-r/ -[d] kpdkpd Bendeghe - / -[b] -b m/ -[] - n/m yd -g /b-~ - b -r /m-b/-[] -t /kprkpr N Etung -f n/-b m/ [] - n/m ,y m yd -gi/ - b -r /m-b/ [] -g /-, -t/kprkpr S Etung -t m/-b m/ [] - n/m , m yud -gi/ - b - r /m-b/-[] - u ~ -/kprkpr Efutop -f n/m-b/ --m y r -g n/-wu / kpmar/m-b/ -k m t/-..b Nde -fn/bm-bu/ /ba Nselle -fn/b m-bu/ - /ba m ,t y r -g n/b n -w /am-m /am-b/ n -t / kperekpere Nta -fn/bm-bu/ /ba Abanyom -fm/b m-b/ - n/bm yr -w /b -~ -g / - ur/m-b/ l -t/ kpkpd Nkim -fm/m-b/ - n/m yur -g l/-g /-uur/m-b/ -t /kpdkpd Nkum -fm/m-b/ - n m yur -g l/ -b /-m mr/m-b/ -to/kpd kpd -m l/ (-yr/-) -t m-ml/ ---ko r -j Nnam -fom/am-bo/an/bm w r w /a -b/a /m-b/ n -t / kperekpere m-b~-b/ n -t / kperekpere m bi e/-t ~ t/nkpdkpe de -m l/ -rm/a-tu mwol/ab l a-k -j Ekajuk -fum/am-bu/an/bb n m w r -w /a -b /a /m-bi / l-t ~t /nkpdkpd

v v n n n n n adv . n n n n v n nu m

m y r -g n/bn -w /am-ma /a-

m ,t y r -kkn/n -w /a-m ~m-/a-

-m l tf, sh m b-c l(e)-lw l /y l mwr -m

-m i/b -sm/b-

-m l/b -rm/bb-r -ul/bkn b-k jd

-m /-~b-s m/-t m-m/ kn -k jd

-m /~b-s m/-t m-m/ f n -k dz d

-m /~b -s m/- u - /f n -k zz

-mi n/-s m/-t -t m-m n/ bi n -ku -j

-m n/b -s m/-nokon m-m n/ b n -kuu -j

-m n~m /b -s m/ -nokon m-m n b n -ku -j

-m n/b -s /-nok n m-m n/ k -kuu j -r

-m l/b -~ -r m/-lg t m-mul/ b l -k -j -r

-m l/(-yr/-) -t -ul/---kr -j -r

-m l/ -rm/a-t m-wul/ab l a-k

t m-m/ k yt, f t, bht, mt, m t, j t, bh t, y t r m-fn/ -sm/-

b-r -u/bkn b-k yd

open100 order101 owner paddle paddle pain, sickness102

91

v v n n v n

fw, kwbl b- n

r b~d b bb m -f n/b -s m/b f g b -s

r b g bb -f n /b - m/bf ---

d b~r -f n / -s m/ -ym

<f1.> -f n / -s m/ -y m/b-

y -- -f n / -s m/ -ym~ym

zi -- -fu n/ -su m/f -ym /-

j -- -f n /b-s /af -yam/-

jb -- -f n /b-s /af -ya/a-

r -- -f n /b -s /afi -yaa/-

r b bb -f n /b -s /f -ym/-

r b gb -f n~f n/b - m/f -ym/-

r b bb -f n /b - m/f -ym/-

l bb f n /b -s /f -yam/a-

l bb -f n / - /f -yam/a-

fw ym

1. The form given in Nkum sub-group f-h is archaic. 2. The compound construction currently used as the word for moon in Nkum sub-group f-h below which means approximately animal of the heavens. - m -s - m -s - m -s 92 N Etung also has the form - ~- / -[b]. 93 1. In Efutop the word for mother can only be used in possessive constructions and could not be cited in isolation. 2. There is another form in languages n-p which is only used in a construction with personal pronouns. n-n/bann-n/bann-n/ban94 These forms are used especially in the sense mould pots. 95 These forms refer to fingernails, toenails, or the claws or talons of animals and birds. 96 The second form in N Etung means protruding navel. 97 of the two plural prefixes in Ebanyom, the first is appropriate for use with humans and the second with animals. 98 There is no singular/plural alternation for this form in Nselle. 99 As this word shows concord by changing its initial consonant, it is not very useful for comparative wordlists. See Ejagham for the full range of possible forms 100 N Etung r ~d ~d ~d . 101 Order here does not mean command, but rather place an order for something (most often palm wine) in advance. 102 The forms in Ekparabong, Bendeghe, N Etung and Efutop mean pain while the others (n-u) mean sickness.

18

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss palm bud PoS n Mbe Ejagham Ekparabong ( -k k m/b -) m-p/b mm, mm -br m m kpr b-w b lw gl k l m-b -/m m kpm -gt/kr c gm f t p t n mm b m s dz
112

Balep ( - n/b-) m-p/b -p b -b /m (b-rg/ -[d]) k l g -krk/b -b r/b k k l f km,l b -d b/b -[r] -n /b -j g/bkn -klg/b-

Bendeghe m-bm/-[] m-b / -[] m-b -/- m kpm -gd/ - d/ g m f ,f d km,t b -t n / -n / - g/k n,tm -gm /-j / -gm -g m /bgbmgb/~ gbmgb/~ gbmgb/ p/-

N Etung -m,m [b]/m-b / [] m-b -/-m m~m kpm -gd/ - d/ g m f ,f d km,t b -t n / ~-n / - g/k n,tm -gm /-j / -gm g m /bmgb/ -

S Etung -m,m [b]/m-b / [] m-b -/-m m kpm -gd/ - d/ g m f ,f d km,t b,j m -t n/ -n / - g/kun -gm/-h / -gm -g m /mgb/

Efutop m-b m/ m-bn/a -b ~-b -y/-, b nn / -s/m

Nde m-bom/ m-bn/ m-b ~-b -b/-m m k n -g rokk/ -ja/s gn f j m <1.> -n / -s g/tn -gmo/ -fm/-g m /m gbmgb/-

Nselle m-bom/ m-br/ m-b -b/-m m k n gb rok k /a -j/s gn f j mm <1.> -n / -s g/tn -gmo/ -f/-g m /m gbmgb/-

Nta m-boom/ m-bn/a-b -b/-m m k n e-gb rok / -ja/s gn f j mm -s/-n / -s g/tn -gmo/ -f/-g g m /m gb mgb /-

Abanyom m-bm/ m-br/ -b -b/mm,-m m~m m k l -gr~g rkk/ -j/s gl f r jm -r/-n / -s g/tb -gm / -fm/ -j g/ m gbmgb/~ -kp/-

Nkim -b bm/m m-br/ -b -b r/m -mm k l -dgr/-jr/ gl f r j m,km -r/-n / - g/tr -g m/-d /-jj g t/ -kp/ -

Nkum -b bm /m m-br/ m-b -b r/m -m m k l -gr/-jr/ gl f r jm,km -r/a-n / - g/tr -gm /-d /-jj g /-kp /-

palm civet (Nandinia binotata) palm kernel103 palm tree palm wine pare, peel104 parrot part105 pass106 pay peer, stare107 peg108 penis109 person pestle pick up110 pig(bush)
111

Nnam bbom~m/am-br/ m-b a -bo/m-m m k l -gr/-j a/as gl f j mm -r/-n /n-s tb g/a-

Ekajuk l-bum/am-br / m-b a -b /m-m m k l -gr/-j a/a gl f j mm -r/-n /ntb g/a-

n n n v n n v v.i. v v n n n v n n n n

-p b -b /m (b-rg/ -[d]) k i -krk/b -b d/b k k i (k d) t b -sb/bm-n /bm -j g/bkn -kyg/b -fm/b-, kp n/b -k m/b -

ku n ~ku n -kpkpu /-z/s gn fi ~f z mm -s/-ni / -su g/s ,tn -gm / -fm/-gu m /m gb mgb /-

pl.

-n/- k/jp, p, y -gm/-j pl. gwm -gm/b-

bkw l -j/ b-

place plantain113 plate114

kkwm /kr

-fm/b-, kp n/b -k m /b -

go om/ -j/gb j / m gb amg b a/-

gu um/ -d/gbj / m gb amg b a/-

m gbmgb/b-

m gbmgb/b-

play Pound ()115

v n

dm

--p

--p/b-

gh p/-

p n~p

s pu n~p~m p

s m-p

s g m-p

s m-p ~m-p n

sg m-p n/-~m p/-

g -p/ -~p n

g -p/ -

--m-p n/a-

a mp a/a~m-pa-

103 104

a mass noun with no singular/plural alternations. These forms are used especially to refer to the paring (or peeling) of yams. 105 These forms refer to parts (e.g. parts of a yam) which result from cuts made lengthwise so that the parts are long and flat rather than cross-sections. 106 These forms exhibit the same root as that of profit (q.v.) and are almost identical with surpass (q.v.). 107 1. The first form listed in the languages of Nkum sub-group f-h mean peep and the second mean peer inside. 2. The form given for Balep is rare. 3. the form in Ekparabong may well be cognate with the forms in the other languages. 108 These forms have the special meaning of fix sticks in the ground. 109 Nde and Nselle -s~ma s/-b ra s. 110 The second form in Bendeghe and N Etung is used with big, heavy things. 111 Probably the Giant Forest hog 112 Type of pig unknown 113 general name for both plantains and bananas. 114 1. The first form in Ebanyom means pan. 2. The form in Ekajuk means big basin. 115 The inflected forms are rarely used, especially in counting

19

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss powder116 print, spoor, track profit117 pumpkin
118

PoS n n

Mbe

Ejagham -jr/-

Ekparabong m-pg b-s - -kmb /-

Balep m-pg -kpdg/b -s l -kmb /rm rb rg (l) n -bkl m-p b/b rm rn -bl/b-

Bendeghe -f g -j d/ - -kmb sm i kn k g n n --t r -/

N Etung -f g -jr / - ,(rr) kmb /~ --i~si kn ~kn k g n n m-b / [] t r -/-

S Etung -f g -jr]\m - ,(rr. -kn) -kmb sm sui kn k g n n m-b / -[] t r -/-

Efutop -ffi -z / -s <1.>

Nde -ff g n -j / -s n -kmb /wr sn k n kg n -nn m-b / t r m-bln/a-

Nselle -f f g / n -j / -s n -kmb /wr s n kn kg n -nn m-b / tb r m-bln/a

Nta -f f g /n -j ~n-/ -s n -kmb /wr s n kn kg n -nn m-b / t r m-bn/-

Abanyom l -fg l' -j / -s l -kmb / wr,rm rd kn kg n -nl m-b / tb re -bl/-

Nkim -ffg /-jri~j r/ - l~ l -kmb tb rud kn kg n -nl m-b / tb r -bbl/-

Nkum -ffg /-j r/ - l -kmb tbl rdd kn kg n -nl m-b / tr r -bbl/-

Nnam -f f -ta/a-s -k mb w r dd kn k g n -nl --ta ar le e -ble/-

Ekajuk -f f -kpd / -kmb w r dt kn k g n -nl m-b / ta ar li i -bl/-

n n

ts mbw n sm swd121

rr

purge119 put down120 put up122 put(in) rain rainy season rat123 receive recognize redness124

v v v v v n n v v n

sm s kn

sm s b r (l) n -bki m-p b/b rn rn -b/b-

f s n k n k g n -nn m-bi / ta di -bin/-

w m, w m n p bwr yw r ts n p n, pn [be red] tw n [refuse] rwb e, r n rsh n -pm/ b -, mpum (P) fl [= sky] -l/ bb-lw / bpwl

k k n n mb t r [know] [be red]

reject remain repeat resemble return125 rice rinse river

v v v v v.i. n v n

tn refuse, forbid k, k t f k r rs ja -y

(kb) ln bd bg -rs/bjd b-y

r n trg gud bg -rs/b jgr b-y

t n , k d f k r -rs j -y

t n kd f k r -rs~j -y

t n kd f ku r -rs~j -y

ti n fi n ba fu k r -rs fa -y

t n sa bn f kur -ras fa -y

t n s bn f k r -ras fa -y

t n sa bn f kur -ras f -y

t n s bl f kr -rs fr -y

t n jr f kur -r fr -y

t n g jr f ko r -r fr -y

t n s ba al f k r -rs fa ar -y

t n ba al f k -r fa ar -y

roof126 root rope

n n n

-w/r k -dk /-

-b -j/bmn-d g/b-[r] mn-dg/b-[l]

l -bl/m -d g/b-[r] -ng/b-[l]

- /-~bb-y/-dg/-[r] j m

-i/-y / -dg~d g~d g/ -[r] j m

-i/~b -y /-d g/-[r] j m,tm

-bn/-du g/-l /-

n -b n/m -d g/-[r] -ng/-

n -b n/m -d g/-[r] -nege/-

n-bn/m -d g/-[r] -n /-

l -bl/m -d g/-[r] -n g/-[l] b l ,b l tm

-bl/-d g/-[r] n g~n g/ [l] b l tm

-bl /-dog/-[r] -n g /-[l] b l tm

bbl/m -l g/n-l /a-

l-bl/m-l g/n-l /a-

rotten, be rub127
116 117

v v

e (n.) jgh, kk,

f l sm

f l tm~tb

bu n tam

b n tm

b n tm

b n tm

b l ta am

b l ta am

refers to the powder made by insects. These forms exhibit the same root as that of pass (q.v.). 118 Efutop pumpkin fruit -d mmbi , pumpkin leaf - u mbi /-. 119 1. These forms are used in the sense discharge bowels. 2. The second member of the construction in Nkum means intestines 120 These forms are used particularly in the sense put down from head. 121 put into 122 These forms are used in the sense of put on top of. 123 The forms in N Etung and Abanyom are archaic. 124 Nkim also has the variant -bbl/-. 125 These forms are used in the sense come home. 126 The form in Efutop is usually the first member of the construction -bn -z/-bn -z (covering of the house) with the same meaning.

20

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss PoS Mbe Ejagham ny k, m n k nyk ft, w w yn mm gr f , r ngis Ekparabong Balep Bendeghe N Etung S Etung n -k -n / kpm u , kp d y n m-m / gr j m... <---> dz m -s n kr y -f/r m , t m -gb / -k m/Efutop Nde Nselle Nta Abanyom Nkim Nkum Nnam Ekajuk

run salt scorpion scrape scratch see seed sell128 set fire to seven129 sew130 shake131 shame share132 sharpen133 shine shoulder shove show134 shut135 side

v n n v v v n v v.t nu m v v.t. n v v v n v.tr. v v.tr. n

gbl k -my /kkkm gbr, fw r yy k l pm/ b e dzwm -tne + pul

gb d m-k -n/b (k m, f d) w n (r ) m-mn/m bn --<---> jm -s n kn si, b bd -p p g/b t bm -kk/b -

mr -k -nnt/b(k m, f r) w n (r ) m-m /m-b kr j m <---> j m n -d n kn rl br -p g/b t m t bm -kk/bb -k m/ -

t -k --kpm w y n m-m / gr j m... <---> jm -s n kr y -f/r m ~d m , t m -gb / -k m/-

t -k --kpm w y n m-m / gr ~gr j m... <---> jm -s n kr y -f/r m ~d m , t m -gb / -k m/-

bi -k -n /kpm wu m-mu g/ gr z m~z mm -z z m i -su n ba sn y -f /t m t (gb) m-gb / -k m/-

b -k n-nt/akpm w y m-m g/ gr j m -s mma j m -s n b b y -f /b t mm t bm,(gba) m-gb/ -k m/-

b -k n-n /akp w y m-m g/ gr j mm -s mma j m -s n b b y -f /b gbn,t mm t b m-gb/ -k m/-

b -k -n /b kp w y m-mg/ gr j mm -s mma j m -s n b b y -f /b t mm t --m-gb/ -k m/-

b n -k -nt/kpm w y n m-mg/ gr jm -r mm jm -d n b b y -b g/gbl t ,tb bm m-gb/ -km/ -

tb -k -n/kpm w yd m-m g/ gr j m... -r mn (kr) n ~ -d n bg b y -b g/m t ,tb bm -gb~m /-k m/

tb -k -n/kpm w n m-m g / gr jom... -rmn j'om n -d n/-[r] bg b y -b g/m tb bm -gb/m -ko m/-

b a-k a n-n a/ kpm w n~ n m-m g/

b a-k a n-n a/akpm w n m-m g/

g o j m -s mm j m n-d n/a[r] b a b a y -b g/gbl t ,tb bm m gb a / -k m/a-

g u j m b- m jm n-d n b a b a y -b g/agbl t ,tb bm m gb a /-k m/a-

silk-cotton tree 136 , Ceiba pentandra sing sink sit137 skin138 slave sleep slip smallpox smell
127 128

mbwm, b-bm /b -

ok m

b -k m/b

v v.i. v n n v v.i. n v.t.

k n t d k m -kb m -s b/bli s r -kp wn

k n t r b n -kb -d b/b-[r] ll r l g -k r wn

k n t d km -g/ -s /y s -kp y n

k n t d km -g/ -s /y s -kp y n

k n t d km,j -g/ -su /y s ,sr -kp yn

ku n ti r zu n -gg/ -z/ln su -kr~-~i n

(y m) t r j n -g/akpg -jo/nn s ,sr -k r yun

(y) t r j n -g/akpg -jo/nn s b ,sr -k r yun

(y) t r j -g/ -ju/nn s ,sr -k r yun

(tm) t r j l -g/ -j /ll r b -k r n

k n --bm -gbj/ -j /ll r b -k r y

(tm) --bm -gbj/ -j /ll r b -k r y

(ym) t r j -g/ -j/ll r -k r wn

(ym) t r j -g/ -j/ll r -k r w n

The second form in S Etung is archaic. These forms are to be compared with buy. 129 Sub-groups a-b and f-h have constructions involving four and three. 130 1. Nkim j m means stab. 2. this verb generally also has the meaning of pierce or jab. 131 The form in Efutop means bend sideways. 132 These forms are to be compared with divide. 133 The first form in Ekparabong means sharpen a blade or a knife and the second means sharpen a point. 134 The first forms in Nnam and Ekajuk mean tell. 135 1. The divergent forms in Efutop and Nde above are cognates of forms glossed as lock (q.v.). 2. The first form in Nde is archaic. 136 This is the cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra) Efik ukim, ukum. 137 The form in Ebanyom also means be present, on the spot.
138

These forms are more usually used in constructions in the following languages; -kb b-k -kb b-k -gb j/-gb j -gb j/-gb j 21

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss smoke smooth139 snail snake soup speak spear spine140 spirit141 spit,spray squat142 squeeze143 stand steal stir stop(1) stop(2)144 suck surpass145 swallow sway146 sweat sweep swim tail take away147 take148 tap wine tear up tears ten termite testicle149 theft150 thigh151 PoS n v n n n v n n n v.i. v v v.i. v v v v v v v v.i. n v v n v v n v n n n n n n Mbe Ejagham Ekparabong -ll sm -k /b - /b b-s /m d -d b/b -k /b m-n m/b-[l] pm d km,k b lm jb bd g sb yb k m i fg b -s s pg w g m-k/bl b k (fi) jg b-b dg -f -k k /b b -j b/b -ttb/b Balep b- n k g r -k /b - /b b -r / -[d] d -d b/b -k /b -n m/b-l m p m kdm km,k b lm j b brg,kpgd g rb gb k m l g fg l -yb pg w g -kl/bl b k (fl) yb b-m r jb -gb/b -p n -j b/b nmnmg/b Bendeghe -t g kg, m -k / - / -s b/d -r b/b -k /-d m/-[r] fm kb km ym j ,kpg d km yb m ~m fg -y fg y g b-k/yg k k m - b b -f -ki / ( -d / -[r]) -j/b -t/N Etung - g k g,g g, m -k / - / -s/ d -r b/b -k /-d m/ [r] fm kb km ym j ,sg d km yb m fg -yb fg y g -k/ yg k k m~ki m - -f -ki / ( -d / [r]) -j/b -t/S Etung - g k g, m -k / - / -s/ d -r b/ -k /-d m/-[r] fm kb km ym j ,s g, d km yb m fg -y fg w g -k/ yg k , k ki m - -f -ki / ( -d / -[r]) -ju -t/Efutop -tt /gu -ku / - u /-kki /d g -k /-k z m/( -zi /-) f m k m km yim y kpi gu yr yb (g) mi n f -yu yu n yu g -sn/y ku si m s -mi /w -kku / -f n/-z -t/Nde a-ttg gb -k - b -s rg n -k / / / Nselle e-t tg/a gb g -k / - / b -s / rg n -k / -k /-n m/f m k kam yem y kpe ,br g yr,k b yb (g) m n fegg n-yob f y g n -s n/ yg k ,k s s a-m wobo -k k /a -f n/ -j/ -n m /b Nta a-tt gb g -k / - / -s rg n -k / -k /-dnd m f m ku kam ym y kpe ,br g yr yb (g) m n f gg n-yob/ f y g n-sn/ y k ,k s s m wobo -k k / -f n/-j/ -n m /b Abanyom -tg gb g -k r/ - / b -r r/ -[d] b l -k / -k /-n m/-[l] fm km km ym y br d ,l yr,km yb s.(g) m l fg l -yb f,wl g l -kl/ yg k k m jg -bb wb -k k /-- -j/b -n m/Nkim -tu tug r b -k r/ - /-r n/b -k /-k m/ -n m/-[l] fm k m km ym y br ~b'r km ~k mm yr,km yb m l fg -j jl fl g -k l/yg k ,k m jg -bb -gl -k k / -f n/-j/-t/Nkum -to tog r b -k r/ - / -r n /b -k /-k j m -n m/-[l] fm ko m km ym y br ko mm km yb m l fg -j jl fl g -kl/ yg k ,k m jg -bb -gl -k k / -f n/-j/-t/Nnam a-t t g gb g -k / - / -b n b o kk / -k j m/n-l m/af m k m ka am ye em w bu ur r km yb s m l f ag wo oro f g s-sel/a yg k s m j ag -b -wb -k k / -f n/-ju/an mm / Ekajuk a-t t g gb -k - / -b n b u l-k // -

/-

-k /b -n m/ fm ku kam ym y kpe ,br g yr yb (g) m n fag n -yob f y g n-sn~sn/ y k ,k s m s a-m wobo -kk / -g n/ -j/ -n m /b -

-k j m/n-n m/ b[l] f m km ka am yi im b r ~b r km yb m l f ak -wu uru g l- l/ y f k m j ag -b b-wb -k k / l-f n/ -j /a-y /a-

139 140

1. These forms are used especially referring to smoothing plaster. 2. The form in Ekajuk means to whet a knife. The second member of the constructions above is the form meaning back (q.v.). 141 1. These forms were elicited with the gloss fairy. 2. There is no singular/plural alternation possible in the form given in Nta. 3. the form in Efutop is the same as the one given for the gloss witch~wizard (q.v.). 142 These forms are to be compared with arch, with bow (v.), and with duck (v.). 143 1. The second form in Ekparabong means squeeze someones hand. 2. The first form in Balep refers to squeezing leaves, and the second to squeezing cloth. 144 These forms refer specifically to the rain. 145 These forms exhibit almost identical roots with pass (q.v.) and profit (q.v.). 146 These forms are used in the sense of turn, swing, shake from side to side except the form in Ekparabong which means turn sideways. 147 These forms are used in the sense remove. 148 1. In languages Nde, Nselle, Nta, Nkim, and Nkum the first form is a complete utterance meaning take it from me. and the second form is another complete utterance meaning take it from over there. 2. The second form in S Etung means get it. 149 There is only a descriptive compound in Ebanyom, the meaning of which is seed of the scrotum. 150 The forms in languages S Etung and Efutop have no singular/plural alternation. 151 These forms refer to the upper leg (above the knee).

22

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss thing thorn three threeleafed yam, Dioscorea dumetoru m throat152 thunder tie153 toad today154 tomorrow tongue tooth tortoise tree trunk(bod y)155 tuck156 turn over twenty157 twist two hundred158 two understand
159

PoS n n n n

Mbe

Ejagham

Ekparabong -km/ -gm -s n/bb -r -r m

Balep -jm/ -gm -d n/b-[r] b -r -r m/b

Bendeghe -jm/-ym j / -s -r m/b

N Etung -jm/ym~ j / -s -r m/b

S Etung -dzm/m bm j / -s -r m

Efutop -zm/- m -s /-sa -d m /-

Nde -jm/ -s n -j ~jj /ab -saa -r m /b -

Nselle -j/ -s n -j j /a-j b -sa -r m /b -

Nta -j/m-b -j j /ab -saa -r m /b -

Abanyom -jm/ -s l -j /b -r -r m/b

Nkim -jm/-j j /-r -r m/

Nkum -jm/-j j /-r -r m/-

Nnam -jom/ s l j / r-r~ -r -l m /n[l]

Ekajuk -jum/ l -j / b-r -l m / b-

n n v n

m-k/b -sn/b b b gu rgu /b -l i -ku -lb/b-l/m-m -ku/b-rr/mn-[d] -kk /bs g kpd -r m/b -~ k b -g d/b b -fl m jg,n d wd jb pb m-pb/b (m-bd/b-)

-k/b-dn/b-[r] b b g gudgu/b -l l -ku l-lgb/ -[l] l -m /m -kl/bb-r/ -dr -kk/b r g kpgd -r m k b -g d/b b -fl m l d grg (m ) fbg b-fbg~f bg (m-bd/b-)

-t / -sn/ m -kpjr/ -y -j ~-jf -r b /b -y/-m -k i/-t/-k /bs g kpg -s m/ b -g d/b - --jg f y b fg -f g -t d/-

-t / -sn/ m kpjr/ -y ~-y -j ~j f -r /b -y/m -k i/-t/-k /s g kpg -s m/ b -g d/b - --jg f y b fg -f g -t d/-

-t / -sn/ m -kp jr/-y -j -r / ~b -y/-m -ku i/ -t/ -ku k/s g kpg -s m/ b -g d/ - --jg f yb f g -f - u d/ -

-k / -sn/k n -lili /-

-k / -sn/b -j nkn/ -n -w

-k / -sn/b -jnk n/a-n , -n j -w na ne-nb/nn-m n/-- -te/ -kk/kg kpg n -t n/ba -g r b -b gb r j g f y b,(m nn ) fug -fu -t r/-

-k / -sn/b o-nn /a-

-k/-, t /-dn/-[r] b m -kpjl/ -l l -g l -rb/-[d] l -m n~ -/ -kl/ -t/ -kk/md kpd l -t l/ bg -g r/b -bl gb r yg,kpd f (m l) fg -fg ( -k b/b -)

-bk d/-dn/-[r] b m -kpjl/-

-rk d/-dn/-[r] b m -kpjl /-l l -b n -lb /(-ll/-) -ko l/ -t/-kp gbj/md kpd -t l/jr ---bl yg yg fo yo ob fr -f r (-k b/-)

-k /an-dan/a[r] b b kp j m / l l b n l-lg/`n~ mm n/a---te/n-kk/ kp d kpe ed t-t l/b ag -g r b-bl gb r yg,kpd f (m ll ) f -f n-t r/ -

-k /an-dan/a-[r] b b kpj m / l l b n b-lk/l-m n/a-k l/ -t/n-kk / kp t kpi id~kp i it l-t l/b a -- b-bl gb r y ,kpd f (m ll ) f -f n-t r/ ~ b-

n n n n n n n v v.t. n v nu m n n v v v v n n

-li n -wu -li /-m n/---t/ -kk/k g kpi m-t n/ba -gu r -n gbi r zu g kp rr y b,(m r ) fu -fu -tm/-

na

-n , -n j -w n n-n/nn -m n/---te/ -kk/kg kp n -t n/ba -g r b -b gb r jg f y b,(m nn ) fu -fu -t r/-

-l la -g -rb~rb/(-ll/-) -ku l/-t~-/-kp gbj/mn, <md> kpd -t l/j r ---bl yg yg f y b fr -fr (-k b/-)

n -nb/nn -m n/---te/ -kk/kg kpg n -t n/ba -g r b-b gb r j g f y b,(m nn ) fu -fu -t r/-

undress untie uproot160 urinate urine vagina

1. The plural form in languages Nde and Nselle is uaually -ta-k . 2. another form with the same meaning in Nkim is m-kprk d. 1. These forms are used in the sense of tie on a garment. 2. compare cloth. 154 The second entries in languages Nselle and Nta are demonstrative constructions. 155 1. These forms refer to the part of the body exclusive of the limbs. 2. The second member of the construction in minor sub-group r-s means skin or body. 156 The second form in Nkim means press in on one side. 157 1. The plural forms are used for multiples of twenty. 2. Balep does not have any singular/plural alternation for such multiples. 158 1. where singular/plural alternations are given above, the plural forms are used for multiples of two hundred. 2. The forms in languages Bendeghe and N Etung are said to be archaic. 159 The form in Ekajuk is dialectal. 160 The first form in Nde, Nselle and Nta refers especially to uprooting small sticks (stalks).
152 153

23

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss vein village god village(1) PoS n n n Mbe Ejagham Ekparabong m-k b/b -fm m-pmb/b m-pm/b -lm/bk -t r /b(m -sn/b-) m k n b -r mmi~m-mi k d fr ( -t) m-ki/bm-p b -pb/b sr, bg m - /bb - y m-kn/bbutw (hard work, overwork ), l n /- (work) -tm/ -rm/bBalep -k b/b -fm m-pmb/b m-pm/b l -lm/bk -t r /b( -d n/b-[r]) gm k n b -r m-ml k r fb ( -t) -kl/bm-p b kpmkp/b n g, bg - /bb - l -kn/bl -rm/-[d] Bendeghe b-j b/ -fm -te g/ ---y m/bk -t r /-n/b-~m [b] m j n b-t -yb k d fb -f m -k / -f b -f /f n -j / -j n n -k /n-tm/ N Etung -j b/~ -fm -t g/ ~ te g/ ---y m/ k -t r /-n/b~m-[b] m j n -t/ -, n g -y b k d fb -f m/-k / -f b -f /f n -j / -j n n k /n-tm/ S Etung -j b/-~ -fm -t g/ -fm/ -y m/ ku -t r /-n/~m[b] m j n b-t, -n g -y b k d g -f m -k / -f b -f /f n -j / -j n n -k /n-tm/ Efutop -z b/ -fm -l/Nde -j b/ -fm -j /b , ss g/ -fm ( -t /-) k -t r ~-/ -bn/b m j n b -ta/ -n b kr, (yb) f -f m/b -kaa/-~b -fi b kp mkp /s n -j / -j k m-kaa/bn -tm/ Nselle -j b/ -fm n -s/ -f ( -t /-) k -t r / -bn/b m j n b -ta/ -l b kr, (yb) f -f m/b -ka/ -fi b kp mkp /s nn -j / -j k m -ka/b n-t/ Nta -j b/ -fm -j /b ,ns/ -f ( -t /-) k -t r /-bn/bm j n b -ta/ -n b kr, (yb) fer -f m/-kaa/ -f b kp mkp /s nn -j / -j n m -kaa/bn-t/ Abanyom -j b/-- -j b/b -, kpgb / -fm l -l m/ kl -t r / -bn/b m j n b -t/ -l b kr fl -f m/-kl/ -f b kp mkp/fl,r n,dg -j / -j n n -kl/bl -tm/ Nkim -j b/ -fm -fm,- b'ug -fm -l m/k -p/-bn/m j n -t/-l b kr fl -f m -kl/(-f f ) kpmkp/ fl -j /-j n n -kl/b(-f/ -) Nkum -j b/---b'og ,- -bo g -fm -l m/k -p/-bn/m j n -t/ -l b kr fl -f m/-kl/(-f f ) kpgkpg/fl -j /-j n n kl/n b(-f/ -) Nnam -j b/-- -j b / b, -fam -fam ( t /-) k ll ~k l t-t r / -bon/am j n t-ta/na-l b (w b) fl -f m/a-kal/a-f b kp omk p o/fl,r nn -j /a-j b n~n l kal/ab t-tom/nEkajuk -j b/-- -j b /, -fam/a-fam blm~ l-/k ll ~k l -t r /-bun/am j n b-ta/na-l b (w b) fl -f m/a-kal/a-f b k umkp u/fu ut -j /a-j b la~a n kal/an bl-tum/n-

village(2)
161

n n v n n v.i. v n n v v n n n n

-fm/-l m/k nn -t r / -b n/m ~ m zi n -t/ -l b (y ) --(-kpn/-) -kn/ -fi b -kp /f n,n g -zi /-zi m ni -kn/-tm/-

voice162 vomit vulture waist wake walk163 war water weed whistle whitewash wife wind wing wipe164 witch~wiz ard witchcraft with woman work165

v n n pre p n n

worm

-s ng/bs m s -l/b -wr

-d n/b-[r] r m r -l/b -grm/b -

-s / j m s -y/b -y

-s / j m s -y/b -y

-s / j m s -y/ -y /-

-su /zu m mi m -l/-ya /-

-s /aj m y n -n/b-ya/-

-s /aj y n -n/b -yab/-

-s /aj y n -n/b -ya/b -

-d /-[r]

-d /-[r] j m n (-y l) -yb/-

worship write yam166 yawn

v.t. v n n

j m y l -l/b -yb /-

d d /[r] j m n (-y l) -yb/-

d /[r] j m y l -l/ bya ab /-

r /j m y l , n -l/ bya ab /-

161 in general, these forms mean community or town or settlement. The form in Efutop is specifically restricted to farm plantation, that is, the living quarters in the fields rather than in the town, but the idea of community is otherwise dominant even to the extent of the forms in Nkim and Nkum including not only the meaning of town but also the whole world. 162 1. The forms Nta n-n /- and Nnam l-lm/- mean word. 2. The form in Ekajuk means both voice and word. 163 These forms are identical with the roots in journey (q.v.) 164 These forms are to be compared with brush (v.) and with erase. 165 -tm/ - in Nkim and Nkum means farm(q.v.) 166 The forms in minor sub-group r-s have no singular/plural alternation.

24

Roger Blench Ekoid overview Circulation Draft

Gloss yawn year167 yellow168 PoS v n n Mbe Ejagham Ekparabong wr -y/ b -k g -yki Balep grm -y/bb -k g -j n Bendeghe y -y/ -g g g g - n N Etung y -y/ -g g g g - n S Etung y -y/ -g g g g - n Efutop ya -l/-gu gu g Nde ya - n -g gn g g Nselle yab - /n -g gn g g Nta yab - /n -g gn g g Abanyom yb l -y/ - l -g g/ - n Nkim yb -r/ -d -g g - n~- n Nkum yb -r/ -d -g g - n Nnam ya ab y-ya/ gg g g g a an Ekajuk ya ab l-ya/ l-g /a

yesterday

167 168

The form in Nde has no singular/plural alternation. These forms refer to yellow pigment or ochre as well as to yellowness.

25