Nigerian Fulfulde

Nigerian Fulfulde, also known as Hausa States Fulfulde, Fula, or Fulani is a variety of the Fula language spoken by the Fulani people in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern region of Nigeria. It belongs to the West Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Phonologically, Nigerian Fulfulde exhibits a system of vowel harmony and a relatively simple consonant inventory, including stops, fricatives, and nasal sounds.^{[1][2] [3][4]}

The syntax of Nigerian Fulfulde is characterized by a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, but it is flexible due to the use of extensive nominal and verbal agreement markers. These markers convey information about gender, number, and person, playing a crucial role in indicating grammatical relationships within sentences. The language employs a complex system of noun classes, which impacts both nominal and verbal concord.^[2][3][4]

Word order in Nigerian Fulfulde is subject to pragmatic and contextual factors, allowing for variations in emphasis and focus. It often employs topic-comment structures, with the topic appearing at the beginning of the sentence and the comment providing additional information. Additionally, the language features extensive use of proverbs, idioms, and metaphors, reflecting the cultural characteristics of the Fulani people.^[2][3][4]

In terms of sociolinguistics, Nigerian Fulfulde is used in various domains, including everyday communication, traditional ceremonies, and religious contexts.^[2][3][4]

Nigerian Fulfulde has 40–50% intelligibility with Adamawa Fulfulde and is most similar to Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde.