| Goemai | |
|---|---|
| Gamai | |
| Pronunciation | [gə̀mâi] |
| Native to | Nigeria |
| Region | Great Muri Plains, Plateau State |
| Ethnicity | Goemai people |
Native speakers | 380,000 (2020)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Latin | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | ank |
| Glottolog | goem1240 |
Goemai (also Ankwe) is an Afro-Asiatic (Chadic, West Chadic A) language spoken in the Great Muri Plains region of Plateau State in central Nigeria, between the Jos Plateau and Benue River. Goemai is also the name of the ethnic group of speakers of the Goemai language. The name 'Ankwe' has been used to refer to the people, especially in older literature and to outsiders.[2]: 1 As of 2020, it is estimated that there are around 380,000 Goemai speakers.[1]
Goemai is a predominantly isolating language with the subject–verb–object constituent order.
The language is considered threatened,[1] which means that its adoption is declining, especially among children.[2]: 6 Many are learning Hausa as a first language instead, which is used extensively in official and educational settings.[2]: 6
- ^ a b c Goemai at Ethnologue (26th ed., 2023)
- ^ a b c Hellwig, Birgit (2011). A Grammar of Goemai. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. ISBN 978-3-11-023828-0.
