The Numeral Systems of Hausa and Babur Bura: A Comparative Analyisis

Citation: Saleh Jibir (2017). The Numeral Systems of Hausa and Babur Bura:  A Comparative Analyisis. Yobe Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (YOJOLLAC), Vol. 5. Department of African Languages and Linguistics, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria. ISSN 2449-0660

THE NUMERAL SYSTEMS OF HAUSA AND BABUR BURA:  A COMPARATIVE ANALYISIS

By

Saleh Jibir

Abstract

This paper is a comparative study of the numerical counting system of the Hausa and Babur Bura languages. The study covered both the cardinals and ordinals of the two languages, to find out their similarities and differencies. The paper adopts Morphological processes approach to analyze the data, relevant literatures were cosulted for the data analysis. The study finds that even though there are some areas of differences, both languages have some interesting similarities in their use of cardinal and ordinal. Both of them have some pattern of numbering from numbers 1-10, by using one word to represent a numeral in the languages. So also, when counting numbers exceed (10) they change by introducing some morphological processes through the use of morphemes and suffixes. It was also discovered that, in Hausa language the cardinal numbers from ‘ìshìrín’ (twenty) ‘tálàtín (thirty), ‘àrba’ín’ (forty), ‘hámsìn’ (fifty) are said to be non native they were borrowed from Arabic but that of Babur Bura they are native.

Key words: Hausa, Babur Bura, cardinal numeral, comparative study.

INTRODUCTION

The first scientific attempts to discover the history of the world’s languages were made at the end of the 18th century, where scholars began to compare groups of languages in systematic and detailed way, to see whether there were correspondences between them Crystal (1997). It is interesting to note that languages have their unique ways of numbering and counting system. This is not far fetch from the fact that languages came from different families. However, Sanusi as cited from Mbah et al (2014) stress that “traditional system of counting in any given speech community, constitutes one of the sociolinguistic factors that make up the distinctness and individuality of that speech community as against other speech communities”. Despite the fact that Hausa and Babur Bura languages came from the same language familythat is Chadic language family according to Crytal (1994) calssifications but they also belong to different sub-groups i.e. Hausa belong to west-chadic sub-group while, Babur-Bura belong to central-chadic sub-group. The two languages despite the differencies they also share some numbers of linguistic similarities including their numbering and counting systems which this work is set to examine comparatively. This paper examines numerals of the two languages especially cardinal and ordinal numbers. The last aspect of the paper is discussion of the findings where similarities and differences between the two languages counting system were discussed.

2.0 REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

Counting system refers to “the method of finding how much or how many by associating actions or words to a sequence of objects. It is speculating that counting began soon after human develop language”. (Iloene, 2013:149). Mua’zu and Balami (2013:124) are of the view that “ Chadic languages numeral system in general as well as Bura system of numeration in particular is lagging behind in term of linguistics studies/analysis.

Among the previous studies by some scholars tried to identified the numeral system of some languages like that of Muhammad and Alkali (2013) in their contributions in the Fulfulde numeral system their priliminary investigation shows that “the numeral system of Fulfulde is the most endangered aspect of the language. This may not be unconnected with the fact that the counting system is complex and more importanly, that the language is threatened due to the force of language shift”. While Mbah and Uzoigwe (2013:76) examined the numeral patterns in Nsukka variety of Igbo using ordinal numbers, fraction, decimals. According to their findings “two patterns exist, they are traditional and modern counting patterns. The modern numeral system is made up of the forms mainly spoken in the standard Igbo whereas the traditional forms represent the ones typical of the native speakers dialects”. Similarly, Alerechi and Igoh (2013:313) in their studie on the numeral system of Obolo, identified that “Obolo language records two counting system (the traditional and the modern). The traditional (vigesimal) system of counting employs such mathematical porcesses of addition, subtraction, multiplication and a combination of two or more of the processes to derive certain numbers”.In a related development Omeregie (2013) examined the system of numeration in Edo according to the findings, “Edo employs the three basic counting principles of addition or subtraction and multiplication to attain a smooth flow of number formation. The counting system does not have single words for the numbers in the language. The language represents such numbers by applying any of the principles or a combination of two”.

Mua’zu and Isah (2013:81-89) dicuss Miship traditional numerals. The study covers numeration of cardinals, ordinals, numeral adverb, distributive numerals, fractional numeral and other quantity in the language. One of theinteresting fact about the counting system of Miship according to Mu’azu and Isah “... majority of numerals are mid tone patterns”.

In another vain, Okeke (2013) in his contribution on comparative analysis of Nkpor and Gboko numeral system, his finding revaels that “ the two dialects have cardinal and ordinal numbers. But while the Nkpor simple cardinal are all single words. Gboko dialect has numerals 7 and 9 as complex numerals; again in Gboko dialect it has singular and plural morphemes for some of the single cardinal numerals. Similarly, Mbah et al (2014) in their comparative study of numbering systems of Igbo and Igala languages finds that despite some differences there are areas of similarities in the numeral and counting system of the two languages. The most interesting area is the vestiges of vigesimal counting system noticeable in some Nigerian languages.   

Finally, with regard to the languages under study, Mu’azu and Balami looked at the Bura numeral system and clssified them into cardinal, ordinal, numeral adverb and distributive numerals. While according to Amfani (2013:239-244) in his conrtibution on Hausa numeral systemasserts that, “Hausa numeral system is adequate enough to cater for the counting needs of the Hausa society”. The study also shows that Hausa is quite receptive to numerical issues partaining to fraction and decimalization.

Many of the previous studie on the numeral system of languages (Muhammad and Alkali 2013; Mbah and Uzoigwe 2013; Alerechi and Igoh 2013; Mua’zu and Isah 2013; Omeregie 2013 and Amfani 2013) are equally relevant to this work even though they tried to identify numerals system and their order of occurances in the languages. But this research work will equally borrow a leaf from their study in the course of the comparism. While those concerns with comparative aspect like Okeke (2013) who looked at two dialects of Igbo and Tiv which belong to the Benue-Congo language family. While Mbah et al (2014) wholooked at Igbo and Igala using descriptive approach of analysis,are entirely different from the present study which adopt Mophological processes of Abubakar (2001) in the analysis.Despite the fact that Hausa and Babur Bura languages came from the same language familythat is Chadic language family according to Crytal (1994) calssifications but they also belong to different sub-groups i.e. Hausa belong to west-chadic sub-group while, Babur-Bura belong to central-chadic sub-group.

3.0 METHODOLOGY

In this study the data analysed were collected using secondary source of data collection method. The numeral counting systems of the two languages are gathered and analysed using the researcher’s intuition and mastery of the languages. The secondary source of data used in this study includes: (1) Blench (2000): A Dictionary of Bura (2) Schuh and Shalanguwa (2010): Bura-English-Hausa Dictionary (3) Newman and Newman (2000): Modern Hausa-English Dictionary (4) Mu’azu and Balami (2008): A Descriptive Analysis of Bura Verbs and Vocabulary and (5) ‘Yar aduwa (2008) The Syntactic Description of the Hausa Quantifiers.

3.1 MODEL OF APPROACH

Hausa and Babur Bura are distance coursins belong to Chadic Afroasiatic phylum. Many scholars have for long established that the two languages share common linguistic features in phonetic/phonology, morphology and syntax Newman (2000). İn view of this the present research adopt Abubakar (2000) model of compound morphology to accomondate issues that the present study uses to invetigate on this numeral counting system of Hausa and Babur Bura. Abubakar (2000) provides analogy of compounding morphology as follows: (1) component + component (2) component + connector + component. In the present paper the study adopt the latter postulation in handling numeral counting phenomena of this comparative study.

4. 0 DATA PRESENTATION

CARDINAL NUMBERS

The following is the list of the cardinal in Hausa ans Babur Bura with their glossaries.

4.2 HAUSA AND BABUR BURA  NUMERALS  (CARDINAL)

3.2 Hausa and Babur-Bura Numerals (1–10)

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Ɗáyá	Ntàng	one
Bíyú	Sùxà	two
Úkù	Màkәr	three
Húɗú	Fwàr	four
Bìyár	Ntifù	five
Shídà	Nkwà	six
Bákwài	Mùrfa	seven
Tákwàs	Cisù	eight
Tárà	Ùmthlà	nine
Gómà	Kùmà	ten

3.3 Hausa and Babur-Bura Numerals Above Ten (11–19)

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Gómà shá ɗáyá	Kùm kàntàng	eleven
Gómà shá bíyú	Kùmyà sùxà	twelve
Gómà shá úkù	Kàmyà màkǝr	thirteen
Gómà shá húɗú	Kùmyà fwàr	fourteen
Gómà shá bìyár	Kùmyà ntùfù	fifteen
Gómà shá shídà	Kùmyà nkwà	sixteen
Gómà shá bákwài	Kùmyà mùrfà	seventeen
Gómà shá tákwàs	Kùmyà cìsù	eighteen
Gómà shá tárà	Kùmyà ùmthlà	nineteen

 

3.4 Hausa and Babur-Bura Numerals Above Twenty (21–29)

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
ìshìrín dà ɗáyá	Súr kùmàrì kà ntàng	twenty one
ìshìrín dà bíyú	Súr kùmàrì kà sùxù	twenty two
ìshìrín dà úkù	Súr kùmàrì kà màkәr	twenty three
ìshìrín dà húɗú	Súr kùmàrì kà fwùr	twenty four
ìshìrín dà bìyár	Súr kùmàrì kà ntùfù	twenty five
ìshìrín dà shídà	Súr kùmàrì kà kwà	twenty six
ìshìrín dà bákwài	Súr kùmàrì kà mùrfà	twenty seven
ìshìrín dà tákwàs	Súr kùmàrì kà cìsù	twenty eight
ìshìrín dà tárà	Súr kùmàrì kà ùmthlà	twenty nine

3.5 Hausa and Babur-Bura Numerals From Thirty (30–35)

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Tàlàtín	màkùmàrì	thirty
Tàlàtín dà ɗáyá	màkùmàrì kà ntàng	thirty one
Tàlàtín dà bíyú	màkùmàrì kà sùxà	thirty two
Tàlàtín dà úkù	màkùmàrì kà màkǝr	thirty three
Tàlàtín dà húɗú	màkùmàrì kà fwùr	thirty four
Tàlàtín dà bìyár	màkùmàrì kà ntùfù	thirty five

3.5 Arabic → Hausa → Babur-Bura Numerals

Arabic	Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Thalathun	tàlàtín	màkǝmàrì	thirty
Arba’un	àrba’ín	fwùrkùmàrì	forty
Khamsun	hàmsín	ntùfkùmàrì	fifty
Sittun	sìttín	nkwàkùmàrì	sixty
Saba’un	sàbà’ín	mùrfkùmùrì	seventy

 

3.2 ORDINAL NUMBERS

3.2.1 HAUSA AND BABUR BURA NUMERALS (ORDERING)

 

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Ná xáyá	Nà ntànkùmà	number one
Ná bíyú	Nàsùxàkùr / sùxkùr	number two
Ná úkù	Nà màkәrkùr	number three
Ná húxú	Nà fwàrkùr	number four
Ná bìyár	Nà ntàfùkùr	number five

 

2. Ordinal Positions (1st–5th)

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Ná xáyá	Nà ntànkùmà	first position
Ná bíyú	Nà sùxàkùr / sùxkùr	second position
Ná úkù	Nà màkәrkùr	third position
Ná húxú	Nà fwàrkùr	fourth position
Ná bìyár	Nà ntàfùkùr	fifth position

 

3.2.2 Ordinal Numbers Above Twentieth

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Ná tàlàtín	Nà màkәrkùmàrì	(30th) thirtieth
Ná àrba’ín	Nà fwàrkùmàrì	(40th) fortieth
Ná hàmsín	Nà ntùfùkùmàrì	(50th) fiftieth
Ná sìttín	Nà kwàkùmàrì	(60th) sixtieth
Ná sàbà’ín	Nà mùrfàkùmàrì	(70th) seventieth
Ná tàmànín	Nà cìsùkùmàrì	(80th) eightieth
Ná càsà’ín	Nà ùmthlakùàrì	(90th) ninetieth

 

3.2.3 Numeral Adverbs

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Sáu xáyá kà pál	—	once
Sáu bíyú kà sùxà	—	twice
Sáu úkù kà màkǝr	—	thrice / three times
Sáu húxú kà fwar	—	four times
Sáu bìyár kà ntùfù	—	five times
Sáu shídà kà kwà	—	six times
Sáu bákwài kà mùrfa	—	seven times
Sáu tákwàs kà cìsù	—	eight times
Sáu tárà kà ùmthla	—	nine times
Sáu gómà kà kùmà	—	ten times

3.2.4 Distributive Numerals (Total Reduplication)

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Xáyá-xáyá	Ntàng-ntàng	one each
Bíyú-bíyú	Sùxà-sùxà	two each
Úkù-úkù	Màkǝr-màkǝr	three each
Húxú-húxú	Fwàr-fwàr	four each
Bìyár-bìyár	Mtìfù-mtìfù	five each

 

3.2.5 Numeral Adverbs (Partial Reduplication)

Hausa	Babur-Bura	Gloss
Xáxxáyá	Pàlpàl	one each
Bìbbìyú	Sùsùxà	two each
Úr’úkù	Màmàkǝr	three each
Húrhùxù	Fwàrfwàr	four each
Bìbbìyár	Ntùntùfù	five each

 

4.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

This section discusses the similarities and differences between Hausa and babur Bura numeral counting systems.

4.1 SIMILARITIES

The two languages have some areas of similarities in their numeral. Both of them have some pattern of numbering from numbers 1-10, by using one word to represent a numeral in the languages as indicated in 3.2 above.

However, Cardinal numbers in Hausa are counting numbers that are used to express quantity and they are native not borrowed from any language and they are the basic counting numbers. Similarly, in Babur Bura also its cardinal number are numeral of class whose members are considered basic in form; used in counting and in expressing how many objects are referred to, and they are also native not borrowed from any languageas in example (3.2) above..

In the two languages when counting numbers exceed (10) they changed by introducing some morphological processes. For instance in Hausa the numbers above (10) ten changes by introducing ‘gómà’ followed by morpheme ‘shá’ plus another cardinal number ‘gómà shá bíyú’ (twelve). Similarly, in Babur Bura when counting reaches above ‘kùmá’ (10) they change by using ‘kùmá’ (10) followed by morpheme ‘ká’ for ‘ntáng’ (1) only while the remaining cardinals from sùxá (2) a siffix is attached to the ‘kùmá’ by deleting the vowel /a/ to read ‘kùmyá’ plus another cardinal number as in example (3.3) above.

In Hausa when counting reaches above ‘gómà shá tárà’ (nineteen), then a new number emerges, ‘ìshìrín’ (twenty). Here also another morpheme is reintroduce for counting above twenty i.e. ‘dá’ for ‘ìshìrín da xáyà’ (twenty one). Similarly, in Babur-Bura this structure also continues up to ‘kùmyà ùmthlà’ (nineteen). When it reaches above ‘kùmyà ùmthlà’ (nineteen) then a new morpheme is reintroduce ‘súr’ plus a different cardinal number example ‘súrkùmàrì’ (twenty). Here also the morpheme ‘ká’ is reintroduced after ‘súrkùmàrì’ (twenty) i.e. for cardinal numbers more than twenty as shown in example (3.4) above.

With regard to ordinal numbers these are numbers that expresses order or position, the structure of the ordinal numbers, contains preceding morpheme followed by a number i.e. ‘ná’ + number (infinite)”. Similarly, Babur Bura ordinal numerals they are derived from the cardinal numbers through prefixation and suffixation process. The process involves prefix of morpheme –nà and suffix –kùr to the cardinal in order to have the ordinal from (2^nd) second to (20^th) twentieth with the exception of (1^st) first which uses a different stem from the cardinal numerals. As shown in example (3.2.1) above.

Similar, the numeral advarbs of the two languages are formed through the process of prefixatiom. A morpheme ‘sàu’ is added or prefixed to the cardinal numerals for Hausa while, morpheme ‘kà’ is prefixed to the cardinal numerals in Babur-Bura. Both also can undergo total and partial reduplication as examplied in 3.2.3, 3.2.4, and 3.2.5 respectively.

4.2 DIFFERENCES

With above mention similarities between Hausa and Babur Bura numeral and counting system notwithstanding, there are good number of diferencies that exist between the two langages.

This study finds out that in Hausa the symmetry in syllable structure and tone patterns of the basic numerals i.e. cardinals numbers 1-10, each of them is a disyllable word. While basic numeral 1, 2 and 4 all have high high tone patterns, and basic numeral 3,6,7,8,9 and 10 all have high low tone pattern. But basic numeral 5 stands alone with low high tone pattern. While in Babur-Bura basic numerals i.e. cardinals numbers are combination of both mono and disyllabic words. Cardinal numbers 1, 4, and 6 each of them is a monosyllabic word with low tone pattern only. Basic numeral 2, 3, 7, 9, and 10 all have low high tone patterns and basic numerals 5, and 8 have high low tone patterns as examlified in 3.2 above.

Cardinal numbers from ìshìrín’ (twenty) tàlàtín (thirty), àrba’ín (forty), hàmsín (fifty) are said to be non native, they are borrowed from the Arabic numerals with some slight modification. But in Babur-Bura cardinal number from sùrkùmarì (twenty),màkǝmàrì (thirty), fwùrkùmàrì (forty),ntùfkùmàrì (fifty) etc.are said to be native not borrowed from any language as examplified in (3.4) above.

It has observed also in Babur Bura from the ordinal numbers 2^nd (second) up to 20^th (twentieth) prefix –‘ná’ is added at the initial position of the number and suffix ‘–kùr’ at the end. But for 30^th (thirtieth) and above, the rule changed, here a suffix of ‘kumari’ at the cardinal stem is added depending on the formation of the ordinal number as shown in example (3.2.2) above.

5.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we can say that there are more interesting similarities than differencies in the two languages as examplified by their numerals, since their numerals reflect some linguistic processes through the use of morphemes and affixes, this has help in recording alot of similarities. Both languages have some pattern of numbering from numbers 1-10, by using one word to represent a numeral in the languages.In both languages cardinal number are numeral of class whose members are considered basic in form and are used to express quantity. The two languages also differs in some areas especially in the areas of symmetry in the syllable structure. Some basic numeral are monsyllabic some are disyllabic. With regard to the tone patterns some are high high tone patterns while some are high low or low high as the case may be. More interestingly some numerals were said to indigeneous while some are borrowed from other languages.

Finally, the numeral system of Hausa and Babur-Bura languages are said to be comprehensive where the speekers can use them to express their numerical needs.

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