Busa

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
bqp
Alternate Names
Bisã, Bisayã, Busa-Bisã, Busano, Bussanchi
Population

40,000 (2005 R. Jones). 20,000 ethnic Laaru, Lupa and Kambari. Ethnic population: 20,000.

Location

Niger State, Borgu LGA; Kebbi State, Bagudo LGA. 35 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Mande, Eastern, Eastern, Busa
Dialects

Illo, New Busa, Wawa. New Busa and Wawa dialects inherently intelligible. New Busa is prestigious, but Wawa dialect is viewed as purer and used for literature. New Busa has Hausa [hau]-influenced phonology. Illo Busa dialect has Boko [bqc] influence. Lexical similarity: 91% with Bokobaru [bus], 85% with Boko [bqc], 54% with Kyanga [tye], 50% with Bisa [bib] in Burkina Faso.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals, relatives after noun heads; question word initial or final; 4 suffixes; word order distinguishes subject, object, indirect object; person, number, aspect included in subject pronouns; tone indicates some verb aspect; passive; CV, CVV, CCV; grammatical tone affects NPs, verbs, and pronouns; tonal, 3 level tones

Language Use

Positive attitudes. Also use Hausa [hau], Cishingini [asg], or English [eng].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 5%. Busa and Hausa adult literacy programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2004.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Busa
Writing
Latin script, used since 2004.
Other Comments

Different from Bisa [bib] of Burkina Faso and Ghana. The Hausa call several groups of people (Boko, Bokobaru, Busa, Bariba) Bussawa, while the Yoruba call them Bariba. Glossonym: Bussanchi by the Hausa. Muslim, Christian.