Bacama language

Bachama (Bachama) is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Nigeria in Adamawa State, principally in the Numan Local Government Areas. Dialects are Mulyen, Opalo, and Wa-Duku. Bachama-Yimburu appears to be a closely related but distinct language. Bachama is used as a trade language.[1] It is often considered the same language as Bata. There are also Egyptian,SouthAfrican and Ethiopian descendants that settled and are Nigerian citizens.

Bachama
Native toNigeria
RegionAdamawa State
Native speakers
(150,000 cited 1992)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3bcy
Glottologbaca1246  Bacama
baca1245  Bacama-Yimburu

Numerals

Bachama has a decimal/quinary number system, with both 5 and 10 as bases:[2]

12345678910
hidokpemwakinfwottuftukoltakatukolukpefwofwotdombi hidobau

8 is 4-4, 6 and 7 are based on adding to 5, and 9 means '(10) less 1'.

Notes

  1. Bachama at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Matsushita, 'Decimal vs. Duodecimal'



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