ut-Ma’in

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
gel
Alternate Names
Fakai, Fakanchi, Fakanci, Fakkanci, Gelanchi
Population

36,000 (1992 SIL).

Location

Kebbi State, Zuru LGA, Fakai district, migrants south; Sakaba LGA, Kur.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Kainji, Western, Duka
Dialects

Fer (Et-Fer, Fere, Kukum, Wipsi-Ni), Jiir (Et-Jiir, Gelanchi), Kag (Et-Kag, Fakanchi, Puku), Koor (Kulu), Kur (Kar, Kelanchi, Kelinci, Kelli-Ni, Kere, Keri-Ni), Ror (Er-Gwar, Et-Maror, Tudanchi), Us (Et-Us), Zuksun (Et-Zuksun, Zussun). Kag, Ker, Jiir, and Fer have 79%-92% inherent intelligibility of Ror. Ror and Kag, the largest dialects, Koor and Us, the smallest. Lexical similarity: 81%–97% among dialects, 63% with Hun-Saare [dud], 50% with C’lela [dri], 57% with Gwamhi-Wuri [bga].

Language Use

Also use Hausa [hau].

Language Development
Bible portions: 2009.
Writing
Latin script, in development.
Other Comments

Want literature in their language. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian.