Izere

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
izr
Alternate Names
Afizare, Afizarek, Afizere, Afudelek, Afusare, Feserek, Fezere, Fizere, Hill Jarawa, Izarek, Izer, Jarawa, Jarawan Dutse, Jari, Jos-Zarazon, Zarek
Autonym
Izere
User Population

50,000 (1993 SIL).

Location

Bauchi State: Tafawa-Balewa and Toro LGAs; Plateau State: Jos East, Jos North, and Mangu LGAs.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Plateau, Central, South-Central
Dialects

Isum (Fursom, Fursum), Ibor (Fobor, Fobur), Iganang, Ifudere (Fedare, Zandi, Zendi), Ikyo. Ibor dialect is prestigious. Cen (Ichen) [cen] and Firan [fir] are separate languages.

Typology

Restricted set of segmental noun-class prefixes; 29 consonant and 7 vowel phonemes; tonal (5 tones: 3 level and 2 contour).

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Ibaas [cen], Tunzuii [dza].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Radio. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 2006.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Izere
Writing

Latin script [Latn], used since 1985.