Tunzu
[également appelé Dugusa, Duguza]Classification : Niger-Congo
·menacée
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Menacée
60 percent certain, based on the evidence available
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~2,500
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~4,500
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"The people’s own estimate of the number of speakers is 2500, which seems reasonable. There are probably another 2000 ethnic Tunzu who don’t speak the language."
- DATE OF INFO
- 2003
- TRANSMISSION
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- AUTRES LANGUES PARLÉES PAR LA COMMUNAUTÉ
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Hausa
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Izere
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iBunu
- COMMENTAIRES SUR LE CONTEXTE DE LA LANGUE
"Hausa is widespread and has largely driven out Tunzu in Kurfi and Magama. Apart from Hausa, Izere and iBunu are the commonly spoken second languages. Nonetheless, compared with some of the neighbouring languages, the Tunzu people are making an effort to ensure that the language is maintained. For example, they encourage Tunzu who migrate to the towns to send their children back to the village so that they will have at least a rudimentary command of the language. Children in the rural community all seem to be fairly fluent, despite the bias towards Hausa in the schools system. Nonetheless, there is no room for complacency as Hausa has made considerable inroads in the languages of their neighbours."
- PLACES
- Nigeria
- LOCATION DESCRIPTION
"The Tunzu live in 5 villages in Jos East Local Government, Plateau State, with two settlements, Kurfi and Magama, in Toro LGA, Bauchi State. However, these latter two are highly Islamised and the language is largely lost to Hausa. Their main settlement, Gada, is marked on maps and other villages are very close."