Mbat

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
bau
Alternate Names
Bada’, Badanchi, Badawa, Bat, Garaka, Jar, Jarawan Kogi, Kanna, Mbada, Mbadawa, Plains Jarawa, River Jarawa
Population

40,000 (2006 SIL), increasing.

Location

Plateau State, Kanam LGA.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Jarawan, Nigerian
Dialects

Galamkya (Gidgid, Gyanggyang), Mbat (Gagdi-Gum). Mbat and Galamkya are mutually intelligible, Mbat intelligible to Duguri [dbm], Duguri [dbm] intelligible to Mbat but not Galamkya, Kantana [mma] marginally intelligible to Galamkya and Mbat. Lexical similarity: Mbat 82% with Galamkya, 75% with Duguri [dbm], 67% with Kantana [mma], 64% with Gwak [jgk], 63% with Bankal [jjr], 41% with Labir [jku].

Language Use

Home, village, market, school. All ages. Very positive attitudes. Also speak Hausa [hau].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Many under 40 are literate in Hausa [hau] and English [eng]. Used in some schools but not yet written.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mbat
Other Comments

Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.