Yiwom language

Yiwom (Ywom), also known as Gerka or Gerkawa by the Hausa,^[2] is a Chadic (Afro-Asiatic) language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria.

Ywom was formerly much more widespread, with Ywom toponyms found in southern Tarok-speaking areas.^[2] Roger Blench (2013)^[3] reports that Ywom is spoken in Hyel Ywom town and nearby hamlets. Many Ywom speak Jukun and Tarok as additional languages.^[3] Due to influence from Plateau languages, Ywom has various phonological features that are considered unusual for a West Chadic language, such as labiovelar consonants.^[2]

Tones are at least high and low. Mid tone may be allophonic. Rising and falling tones are probably restricted to sequences.

Vowels are /i e a ɨ ə u o/. There may also be an ?/ɯ/. Three vowels are long, /aa ee ɨɨ/.

Consonants are:

Syllable-initial consonant clusters are Cw, Cj, Cr and Cl. NC also occurs; the N takes its own tone.

• Blench, Roger. 2013. However did Ywom become so strange?.
• Paradisec has an open access collection of Roger Blench’s materials that includes Yiwom language materials

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