436:
Phla–Phera, and eastern Phla–Phera (together roughly equivalent to Capo's Phla–Pherá languages). Among other things, this part of Kluge's analysis confirmed the uncertainty of the classification of the Alada dialect: some possible results point to inclusion in the Fon group, while others suggest membership of one of the Phla–Pherá clusters. Likewise, Kluge's results indicate uncertainty regarding the classification of Ayizo and
Kotafon.
197:
173:
linguistically diverse branch of Gbe, due partly to the existence of several geographically separated communities, but mainly because of considerable influence by several non-Gbe languages in the past. Some of the Phla–Pherá peoples are thought to be the original inhabitants of the region having intermingled with Gbe immigrants.
431:
efforts and whether additional development programs in some of the remaining communities would be needed. Linguistic research carried out in the course of this study was to shed more light on the relations between the various varieties of Gbe. Some of the results of this study were presented in Kluge
414:
Capo noted that ‘the name Phla–Pherá is not used by speakers of the various lects which it comprises’ and that ‘in fact, the Phla–Pherá section is less unified than the others’. However, according to Capo, their speakers ‘recognise a closer link between the lects listed here than between any of those
448:
Just like Capo readily admitted the considerable diversity of the Phla–Pherá branch, Kluge's analysis did not result in conclusive evidence regarding the exact make-up of the western and eastern Phla–Pherá branches – various modes of computation yielded different configurations of the respective
435:
Based on a synchronic analysis of lexical and grammatical features elicited among 49 Gbe varieties, Kluge divided the Gbe languages into three major groupings: western, central, and eastern. The eastern grouping consists of three clusters: Fon (roughly equivalent to Capo's 'Fon' branch), western
484:. This contact and intermingling of non-Gbe peoples with Gbe peoples and the influence of this processes on language inevitably diffuses the picture presented by comparative linguistic research. Further research into the historical origins of the Phla and Pherá peoples has yet to take place.
237:
The Phla–Pherá languages are among the least investigated of the Gbe languages. In some cases, barely more is known than the name of a dialect and the village where it is spoken. Because of this, it is difficult to determine the total number of speakers of Phla–Pherá languages. A tentative
172:
in the nineties corroborated many of Capo's findings and led to adjustment of some of his more tentative groupings; in particular, Phla–Pherá was divided in an eastern and a western cluster. Phla–Pherá is one of the smaller Gbe branches in terms of number of speakers. It is also the most
467:
Roberto Pazzi pointed out that 'three dialects emerged from the half-breeding between immigrant groups and the indigenes from Tádó: they are Gɛ̀n, Sáhwè and Xweɖá.' The latter two dialects are part of Capo's Phla–Pherá branch, and Capo adds that Tsáphɛ and Phelá have
250:
Much of the comparative research for
Hounkpati B.C. Capo's influential classification of the Gbe languages was carried out in the seventies, and partial results trickled down in the late seventies and early eighties in the form of articles on specific
449:
dialects (cf. 2000:62–3, 2005:45ff). The diversity in this subfamily is probably due in part to the fact that the various Phla–Pherá communities do not occupy one specific geographical area but are scattered along the coast of the
439:
A number of lects considered by Kluge were not included in Capo's research (cf. Capo 1991:14ff), namely Ajra, Daxe, Gbesi, Gbokpa, Movolo, Se, and Seto, all of which Kluge (2000:32, 2005:41ff,47, 2006:74ff,79) classified as Phla–Phera.
491:
has omitted Phla–Pherá altogether from its subclassification of Gbe languages. Some of the lects of Capo's and Kluge's Phla–Pherá are included in other branches (for example,
234:
in its various shapes, representing another branch of Gbe, is the dominant language in this area and communities of Phla–Pherá speakers are scattered across the Fon area.
230:), is spoken west of the Mono river, along the coast between Anexo (Togo) and Grand Popo (Benin); this language has been called Popo in the past.
662:
456:
However, a more substantial reason for the noted diversity is one of historical nature. In a 1979 work on the history of the Gbe peoples (called
427:
In the early nineties, the Summer
Institute of Linguistics initiated a study to assess which Gbe communities could benefit from existing
610:
Kluge, Angela (2000) ‘The Gbe language varieties of West Africa – a quantitative analysis of lexical and grammatical features’. .
263:
is an
English translation of this). In this classification, Phla–Pherá is considered one of the five branches of Gbe, the others being
624:
600:, Publications in African Languages and Linguistics, 14. Berlin/New York: Foris Publications & Garome, Bénin: Labo Gbe (Int)
655:
625:‘Qualitative and quantitative analysis of grammatical features elicited among the Gbe language varieties of West Africa’
614:
180:
is a conjunction of the names of two major dialects of this grouping. There exist many spelling variants of both names (
637:(Etudes et Documents de Sciences Humaines 1, Institut National des Sciences de L'Education). Lomé: University of Benin.
415:
listed in other ’. He marked the Alada variety as an exception, as some people 'consider Alada and the Fon language
259:, the internal classification of Gbe was published in full for the first time (part of the introduction in his 1991
1049:
1013:
165:
648:
276:
615:‘A synchronic lexical study of Gbe language varieties: The effects of different similarity judgment criteria’
518:
as a spelling variant seems to have caused the listing of this Phla–Pherá language as 'unclassified' on the
63:
591:
Renaissance du Gbe (réflexions critiques et constructives sur L’EVE, le FON, le GEN, l AJA, le GUN, etc.)
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
1246:
671:
78:
68:
57:
679:
384:
582:
Afeli, Kossi A. and
Bolouvi, Lebene Ph. (1998) 'Les langues du Togo, mutuellement intelligibles' (
481:
1241:
1081:
803:
607:
no. 4, Communications of the Centre for
Advanced Studies of African Society). Cape Town:CASAS.
586:
no. 5, Communications of the Centre for
Advanced Studies of African Society). Cape Town:CASAS.
212:. Alada, a lect that is sometimes included in the Phla–Pherá group, is spoken in southwestern
383:
Capo grouped the Phla–Pherá lects mainly on the basis of a number of shared phonological and
168:
of Gbe languages as one of the five main branches of Gbe. Additional research carried out by
161:
208:
Most Phla–Pherá languages are spoken in the Mono, Atlantique, and Oueme (Weme) provinces of
204:
language area. Green spots are languages of the Phla–Pherá cluster according to Capo (1988).
487:
Due to the uncertainty about the internal structure of the eastern Gbe major grouping, the
8:
1106:
952:
522:, as was pointed out by Angela Kluge (2000:104); this was rectified in the 15th edition.
1126:
1003:
838:
495:
is found under Aja) while others are not included in any subgroup of Gbe (e.g. Xwela).
123:
113:
1146:
856:
279:. According to Capo (1988:15), the Phla–Pherá group consists of the following lects:
169:
760:
313:
1116:
1086:
1073:
947:
912:
891:
808:
780:
750:
293:
1054:
993:
967:
957:
932:
886:
871:
861:
788:
473:
317:
52:
1220:
1210:
1205:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1111:
1096:
1059:
1044:
1039:
1018:
1008:
998:
988:
972:
962:
942:
922:
851:
770:
755:
735:
720:
715:
687:
450:
365:
359:
353:
343:
337:
326:(Pla, Xwla, Hwla, Popo) – in the coastal borderland of Togo and Benin, between
303:
283:
185:
307:
242:, is 400 000 speakers excluding Alada, or 600 000 to 700 000 including Alada.
1235:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1136:
1131:
1121:
1101:
1091:
1023:
937:
927:
896:
828:
823:
813:
798:
793:
765:
710:
702:
692:
492:
347:
323:
297:
221:
201:
181:
145:
83:
73:
1215:
917:
846:
818:
745:
740:
730:
725:
477:
469:
272:
268:
264:
231:
603:
Capo, Hounkpati B.C. (1998) ‘A classification of the languages of Benin’ (
640:
519:
488:
464:
331:
287:
239:
217:
252:
238:
approximation, based on the scanty demographic data available in the
107:
461:
428:
226:
213:
157:
45:
196:
327:
209:
149:
41:
33:
153:
37:
255:
developments in various branches of Gbe. In his 1988 work
635:
Introduction à l'histoire de l'aire culturelle
Ajatado
356:(Gbesi) – Mono province, north of Ahéme Lake, Benin.
557:Compare Kluge 2005:41ff,47 and Kluge 2006:74ff,79.
411:, and the occurrence of various nominal prefixes.
571:Cf. Capo 1991:10, Kluge 2000:71–2, 2005:49.
387:features, including the development of proto-Gbe
286:(Allada, Arda) – southwest Nigeria, southeast of
216:just southeast of Benin's administrative capital
1233:
306:(Toffi, Tofin) – Weme province, Benin, north of
245:
362:(Sahwe, Saxwe) – northern Mono province, Benin.
148:spoken mainly in southeastern and southwestern
656:
564:Pazzi 1979:17, as translated in Capo 1991:10.
152:; some communities are found in southeastern
628:Journal of African Languages and Linguistics
340:(Ayizo, Ayize) – Atlantique province, Benin.
191:
663:
649:
164:, was introduced by H.B. Capo in his 1988
670:
195:
498:
443:
1234:
422:
644:
567:
316:(Fida, Péda, Xwela, Phera) – east of
225:
144:) languages form a possible group of
550:Kluge 2000:63, 2005:41ff, 2006:74ff.
543:Kluge 2000:72, 2005:32ff, 2006:69ff.
510:
320:in the Atlantique province of Benin.
553:
546:
403:, the retained distinction between
13:
560:
539:
419:to be one and the same language'.
160:. The group, comprising about ten
14:
1258:
532:
525:
368:(Se) – west Mono province, Benin.
593:. Hamburg: Helmut Buske Verlag.
380:) are the same basic language.
598:A Comparative Phonology of Gbe
261:A Comparative Phonology of Gbe
1:
576:
246:Capo's initial classification
596:Capo, Hounkpati B.C. (1991)
589:Capo, Hounkpati B.C. (1988)
7:
220:. One Phla–Pherá language,
16:Proposed Gbe language group
10:
1263:
1198:
1145:
1072:
1032:
981:
905:
879:
870:
837:
779:
701:
678:
300:, west of the Alada area.
106:
53:Linguistic classification
51:
26:
21:
503:
296:(Tori) – Atlantique and
192:Geography and demography
205:
672:Volta–Niger languages
623:Kluge, Angela (2006)
613:Kluge, Angela (2005)
514:Failure to recognize
199:
618:Linguistic Discovery
499:Notes and references
444:Linguistic diversity
432:(2000, 2005, 2006).
423:Subsequent research
44:, and southwestern
1247:Languages of Benin
257:Renaissance du Gbe
206:
1229:
1228:
1068:
1067:
633:Pazzi, R. (1979)
605:Notes and records
584:Notes and records
170:SIL International
156:and southwestern
134:
133:
1254:
877:
876:
665:
658:
651:
642:
641:
570:
563:
556:
549:
542:
535:
528:
513:
480:respectively as
460:back then), the
410:
406:
402:
398:
394:
390:
229:
130:
126:
120:
116:
19:
18:
1262:
1261:
1257:
1256:
1255:
1253:
1252:
1251:
1232:
1231:
1230:
1225:
1194:
1141:
1064:
1028:
977:
901:
866:
833:
775:
697:
674:
669:
579:
574:
506:
501:
446:
425:
376:) and Kotafɔn (
248:
194:
128:
122:
121:
118:
112:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1260:
1250:
1249:
1244:
1227:
1226:
1224:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1202:
1200:
1196:
1195:
1193:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1151:
1149:
1143:
1142:
1140:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1078:
1076:
1070:
1069:
1066:
1065:
1063:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1036:
1034:
1030:
1029:
1027:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
985:
983:
979:
978:
976:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
909:
907:
903:
902:
900:
899:
894:
889:
883:
881:
874:
868:
867:
865:
864:
859:
854:
849:
843:
841:
835:
834:
832:
831:
826:
821:
816:
811:
806:
801:
796:
791:
785:
783:
777:
776:
774:
773:
768:
763:
758:
753:
748:
743:
738:
733:
728:
723:
718:
713:
707:
705:
699:
698:
696:
695:
690:
684:
682:
676:
675:
668:
667:
660:
653:
645:
639:
638:
631:
621:
611:
608:
601:
594:
587:
578:
575:
573:
572:
565:
558:
551:
544:
537:
530:
523:
507:
505:
502:
500:
497:
451:Bight of Benin
445:
442:
424:
421:
372:Ayizɔ, Gbesi (
370:
369:
363:
357:
351:
341:
335:
321:
311:
301:
291:
247:
244:
227:[xʷla]
193:
190:
166:classification
132:
131:
110:
104:
103:
102:
101:
100:
99:
98:
97:
96:
95:
94:
93:
92:
91:
64:Atlantic–Congo
55:
49:
48:
30:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1259:
1248:
1245:
1243:
1242:Gbe languages
1240:
1239:
1237:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1203:
1201:
1197:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1148:
1144:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1071:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1037:
1035:
1031:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
986:
984:
980:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
910:
908:
906:North-Central
904:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
884:
882:
878:
875:
873:
869:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
844:
842:
840:
836:
830:
827:
825:
822:
820:
817:
815:
812:
810:
807:
805:
802:
800:
797:
795:
792:
790:
787:
786:
784:
782:
778:
772:
769:
767:
764:
762:
759:
757:
754:
752:
749:
747:
744:
742:
739:
737:
734:
732:
729:
727:
724:
722:
719:
717:
714:
712:
709:
708:
706:
704:
700:
694:
691:
689:
686:
685:
683:
681:
677:
673:
666:
661:
659:
654:
652:
647:
646:
643:
636:
632:
630:27, 1, 53-86.
629:
626:
622:
619:
616:
612:
609:
606:
602:
599:
595:
592:
588:
585:
581:
580:
569:
566:
562:
559:
555:
552:
548:
545:
541:
538:
536:Capo 1991:14.
534:
531:
527:
524:
521:
517:
512:
509:
508:
496:
494:
490:
485:
483:
479:
475:
471:
466:
463:
459:
454:
452:
441:
437:
433:
430:
420:
418:
412:
386:
385:morphological
381:
379:
375:
367:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
349:
348:Mono Province
346:(Kotafohn) –
345:
342:
339:
336:
333:
329:
325:
322:
319:
315:
312:
309:
305:
302:
299:
298:Weme Province
295:
292:
289:
285:
282:
281:
280:
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
243:
241:
235:
233:
228:
223:
219:
215:
211:
203:
198:
189:
187:
183:
179:
174:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
146:Gbe languages
143:
139:
125:
115:
111:
109:
105:
90:
87:
86:
85:
82:
81:
80:
77:
76:
75:
72:
71:
70:
67:
66:
65:
62:
61:
59:
56:
54:
50:
47:
43:
39:
35:
32:southeastern
31:
25:
20:
1033:Southwestern
982:Northwestern
634:
627:
620:3, 1, 22-53.
617:
604:
597:
590:
583:
568:
561:
554:
547:
540:
533:
529:Capo 1991:4.
526:
515:
511:
486:
457:
455:
447:
438:
434:
426:
416:
413:
382:
377:
373:
371:
260:
256:
253:phonological
249:
236:
224:(pronounced
207:
177:
175:
141:
137:
135:
88:
29:distribution
308:Nokoué Lake
184:(Phla) and
79:Volta–Niger
69:Volta–Congo
58:Niger–Congo
36:, southern
1236:Categories
1107:Gupa-Abawa
953:Ivbiosakon
680:Ayere-Ahan
577:References
520:Ethnologue
489:Ethnologue
465:missionary
332:Grand Popo
318:Lake Ahémé
288:Porto-Novo
240:Ethnologue
218:Porto-Novo
188:(Phera)).
178:Phla–Pherá
142:Xwla–Xwela
138:Phla–Pherá
89:Phla–Pherá
27:Geographic
22:Phla–Pherá
1127:Koro Zuba
1087:Bassa Nge
1004:Okpamheri
482:substrata
176:The term
162:varieties
129:(Western)
119:(Eastern)
108:Glottolog
857:Itsekiri
839:Yoruboid
474:Yoruboid
462:Catholic
458:Adjatado
429:literacy
350:, Benin.
124:west2934
114:east2845
1147:Idomoid
1117:Kakanda
1050:SW Okpe
1014:NW Okpe
948:Ikpeshi
913:Afenmai
892:Engenni
809:Ikwerre
374:gbesiin
344:Kotafon
214:Nigeria
158:Nigeria
127:
117:
46:Nigeria
1199:Others
1074:Nupoid
1055:Urhobo
994:Ehueun
968:Sasaru
958:Okpela
933:Ghotuo
887:Degema
862:Yoruba
789:Ekpeye
781:Igboid
476:) and
360:Tsáphɛ
275:, and
40:&
1221:Ukaan
1211:Akoko
1206:Akpes
1175:Igede
1170:Idoma
1165:Etulo
1160:Alago
1155:Agatu
1112:Gwari
1097:Ebira
1060:Uvbie
1045:Isoko
1040:Eruwa
1019:Uhami
1009:Oloma
999:Iyayu
989:Akuku
973:Uneme
963:Ososo
943:Ikhin
923:Enwan
880:Delta
872:Edoid
852:Igala
771:Saxwe
761:Pherá
756:Tofin
736:Gbesi
721:Ayizo
716:Alada
688:Ayere
504:Notes
395:into
378:kógbè
354:Gbési
338:Ayizɔ
328:Anexo
314:Phelá
304:Tɔfin
284:Alada
210:Benin
186:Xwela
150:Benin
42:Benin
34:Ghana
1190:Yala
1185:Akpa
1180:Yace
1137:Nupe
1132:Kupa
1122:Kami
1102:Gade
1092:Dibo
1024:Ukue
938:Igwe
928:Esan
897:Epie
829:Ogba
824:Mgbo
819:Izii
814:Ikwo
799:Igbo
794:Ezaa
766:Phla
751:Tɔli
693:Ahan
516:Hwla
493:Xwla
478:E̟do
470:Cábɛ
407:and
399:and
391:and
330:and
324:Phla
294:Tɔli
222:Xwla
200:The
182:Xwla
154:Togo
136:The
38:Togo
1216:Oko
1082:Asu
918:Edo
847:Ede
804:Ika
746:Gun
741:Gen
731:Fon
726:Ewe
711:Aja
703:Gbe
417:Gun
401:/z/
397:/s/
393:*dʱ
389:*tʰ
277:Ajá
273:Fon
269:Gen
265:Ewe
232:Fon
202:Gbe
84:Gbe
74:Kwa
1238::
453:.
409:*e
405:*ɛ
366:Sɛ
271:,
267:,
664:e
657:t
650:v
472:(
334:.
310:.
290:.
140:(
60:?
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
