The Nyingwom or Kam language is a Niger-Congo language spoken in eastern Nigeria. Blench (2019) lists speakers residing in the main villages of Mayo Kam and Kamajim in Bali LGA, Taraba State.^[2] Lesage reports that Kam is spoken in 27 villages of Bali LGA. ^[3]

Nyingwom was labeled as branch "G8" in Joseph Greenberg's Adamawa language family proposal. The precise classification of Kam is a matter of current research.

Speakers refer to themselves and their language as Nyí ŋwɔ̀m. Kamajim (Kam: àngwɔ́g ɲí 'house of the people') is the traditional capital of the Kam at the western foothills of a mountain range situated to the north of the Kam River. The Kam have historically been in extensive contact with the Kororofa Jukun.^[3]

Distribution

Kam or Nyingwom is spoken by approximately fewer than 5,000 speakers in the settlements of:^[4]

• Sarkin Dawa (70)
• Mayo Kam (150)
• Garin Hamza (700)
• Din Kamaajin A, B, C, D (3,000)
• Garin Laa (300)
• Garin Bandari (300)

However, Jakob Lesage estimates 20,000-25,000 speakers in 27 villages in May 2017.^[3]

Unlike many other Niger-Congo languages, Kam does not have a noun class system.

Further reading

• Lesage, Jakob. 2019. Selected Kam documentation (with audio). Pangloss Collection: An archive for endangered languages.
• Meek, Charles K. 1931. Tribal Studies in Northern Nigeria, Vol. 2. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd.

References

External links

• Kam, by Jakob Lesage. AdaGram.