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The Mernyang Noun Phrase
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1.2.5 Mode of dressing
The speakers of Mernyang language are
typically dressed in their native ‘agbada’ with the popular ‘aburo’ cap.
Their women are mostly dressed in their ‘iro’ and ‘buba’ with ‘gele’
1.2.6 Food
Going
by oral tradition, the favourite foods of the people are millet and
guinea corn. Their common food is known as ‘chugum’ made from millet and
guinea corn and grounded with other items. Their favourite drink is
‘brukutu’
1.2.7 Mode of kingship
The traditional system of
rulership among the Mernyang is by monarchy. The choice of who becomes
the next king is usually determined by election from the royal family.
The king makers have to test the competence of the elected candidate and
make him the next king who then becomes the paramount ruler of the
land.
1.3 Genetic classification
Greenberg (1966:8)
maintains that African languages belong to various families, and there
are four main groups namely, Niger-Kordofanian, Nilo-sahara,
Afro-Asiatic and khoisan.
The Mernyang language is classified under the Benue Congo, belonging to the group of plateau. This is represented below:
NIGER-CONGO
West Atlantic Mande Benue-Congo Gur Kwa Adamawa
Jukunoid Plateau Cross-river Bantoid
Plateau 1 Plateau 2 Plateau 3 Plateau 4 Plateau 5 Plateau 6 Plateau 7
ZARIA GROUP
Koro Jaba Kadara Nandu central
Sub-group sub-group sub-group sub-group sub-group
Kadara Doka MERNYANG
Figure 1: Genetic classification of Mernyang
Source:
Fivaz,
D and Scott, P.E. (1977). African languages: A genetic and decimalised
classification for bibliographic and general reference.
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