thumb|right|200px|Main Chadic-speaking peoples in Nigeria.
The Biu–Mandara or Central Chadic languages of the Afro-Asiatic family are spoken in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.
A reconstruction of Proto-Central Chadic has been proposed by Gravina (2014).Gravina, Richard.
2014.
Proto-Central Chadic Lexicon.
Webonary.
Languages
Gravina (2014)
Gravina (2014) classifies Central Chadic as follows, as part of a reconstruction of the proto-language.
Letters and numbers in parentheses correspond to branches in previous classifications.
The greatest changes are breaking up and reassigning the languages of the old Mafa branch (A.5) and Mandage (Kotoko) branch (B.1).Gravina, R. (2014).
The phonology of Proto-Central Chadic: the reconstruction of the phonology and lexicon of Proto-Central Chadic, and the linguistic history of the Central Chadic languages (Doctoral dissertation, LOT: Utrecht).
South
SouthLanguages are closer to each other than are those of the northern branch
Bata (A.8)
Bata Proper: Bacama, Bata, Fali, Gude, Gudu, Holma (†), Jimi, Ngwaba (from A.1 Tera), Nzanyi, Sharwa
Tsuvan: Tsuvan, Zizilivakan
Daba (A.7)
Daba Proper: Daba, Mazagway Hidi
Mina: Mina, Mbudum
Buwal: Buwal, Gavar
Mafa (= South A.5 Mafa (d)): Mafa, Mefele, Cuvok
Tera (A.1):
East Tera: Boga, Ga'anda, Hwana
(West Tera): Jara, Tera
Sukur (A.6)
Hurza
Hurza (from A.5 Mafa): Vame, Mbuko
North
Margi–Mandara–Mofu
Margi (A.2)
Bura: Bura, Cibak, Putai, Nggwahyi
Margi Proper: Kilba, Margi South, Margi
Mandara (A.4):
Wandala: Mandara (Malgwa), Glavda
Dghwede: Cineni, Dghwede, Guduf, Gava, Gvoko
Podoko: Podoko, Matal (from A.5 Mafa)
Mofu (part of South A.5 Mafa)
Tokombere: Ouldeme, Mada, Muyang, Molokwo
Meri: Zulgo, Gemzek, Merey, Dugwor
Mofu Proper: Mofu North, Mofu-Gudur
Maroua
Maroua (part of South A.5 Mafa (c)): Giziga North, Giziga South, Mbazla
Lamang
Lamang (West A.4 Wandala): Lamang, Hdi, Mabas
Higi
Higi (A.3): Bana, Hya, Psikyɛ, Kamwe, Kirya-Konzel
Musgum – North Kotoko
Kotoko Island: Buduma
Kotoko North: Mpade, Afaɗə, Malgbe, Maltam
Musgum (B.2): Musgum, Mbara, Muskum (†)
Kotoko Centre
Kotoko Centre: Lagwan, Mser
Kotoko South
Kotoko South: Zina, Mazera
Gidar
Jilbe was not classified, as no sources were available.
Blench (2006)
The branches of Biu–Mandara traditionally go by either names or letters and numbers in an outline format.
Blench (2006) organizes them as follows:Blench, 2006.
The Afro-Asiatic Languages: Classification and Reference List (ms)
Tera (A.1): Tera, Pidlimdi (Hinna), Jara, Ga'anda, Gabin, Boga, Ngwaba, Hwana
Bura–Higi
Bura (A.2): Bura-Pabir (Bura), Cibak (Kyibaku), Nggwahyi, Huba (Kilba), Putai (Marghi West), Marghi Central (Margi, Margi Babal), Marghi South
?
Kofa
Higi (A.3): Kamwə (Psikyɛ, Higi), Bana, Hya, ?
Kirya-Konzəl
Wandala–Mafa
Wandala (Mandara) (A.4)
East: Wandala (Mura, Mandara, Malgwa), Glavda (Gəlvaxdaxa)
Parəkwa (Podoko)
West: Gəvoko, Guduf-Gava (Cineni), Dghweɗe, Hdi (Xədi, Hedi, Tur), Lamang, Woga, Vemgo, Mabas
Sukur (Sakwun, A.6)
Mafa (A.5)
Northeast Mafa: Vame (Pəlasla), Mbuko, Gaduwa
Matal (Muktele)
South Mafa
(a) Wuzlam (Ouldémé), Muyang, Maɗa, Məlokwo
(b) Zəlgwa-Minew, Gemzek, Ɗugwor, Mikere, Merey
(c) North Giziga, South Giziga, North Mofu, Mofu-Gudur (South Mofu), Baldemu (Mbazlam)
(d) Cuvok, Mafa, Mefele, Shügule
Daba (A.7)
North Daba: Buwal (Gadala), Gavar (Kortchi)
South Daba: Mina (Besleri, Hina), Daba (Mazagway), Mbədam
Bata (Gbwata) (A.8): Bacama, Bata (Gbwata), Sharwa, Tsuvan, Gude, Fali of Mubi, Zizilivakan (Ulan Mazhilvən, Fali of Jilbu), Jimi (Jimjimən), Gudu, Holma (†), Nzanyi
Mandage (Kotoko) (B.1)
South Mandage: Msər (Kousseri), Lagwan (Logone)
?
Jilbe
North Mandage: Afaɗə, Maslam, Malgbe (Gulfey), Mpadə
Buduma (Yedina)
East–Central
Gidar (Kaɗa)
Munjuk (B.2): Mbara, Muskum (Muzuk) (†), Mpus, Beege (Jafga), Vulum (Mulwi)
Mida'a (< B.1): Jina, Majəra
Newman (1977)
Central Chadic classification per Newman (1977):
700px|Newman 1977 Names and locations (Nigeria)
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations (in Nigeria only) from Blench (2019).
'''Distributions of Biu–Mandara branches in Nigeria'''<ref name="BlenchAtlas4"/>
South
North
Numerals
Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
See also
List of Proto-Central Chadic reconstructions (Wiktionary)
Notes
References
Central Chadic resources at africanlanguages.org
