🇳🇬 Language

Otank

Evidence: Multiple sources

Otank (Utanga) is a Tivoid language closely related to Tiv, spoken on the Benue–Cross River border and in Cameroon. Its ISO 639-3 code is uta.

Key facts
Type
Language
Belongs to
Tivoid
ISO 639-3
uta
Glottocode
otan1238
Overview

Wikipedia describes its speakers, the Utanga, as a Tiv group living in Ushongo LGA of Benue State, Obanliku LGA of Cross River State and Cameroon. Blench's Atlas places them in Kwande LGA of Benue State and Obudu LGA of Cross River State.

Connections
Other names
  • Utanga · alternative
    Also Otanga (Blench's Atlas; Wikipedia).
Figures

Each figure is shown with its year and source. Where sources differ, all figures are listed.

MeasureFigureYearSource
Speakers 2,000 (estimate) 1953 An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition)
Sources
  1. An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition) — Roger Blench, Kay Williamson Educational Foundation / McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, 2020 · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Otank (Utanga): Cross River State, Obudu LGA; Benue State, Kwande LGA; Tivoid
  2. Glottolog 5.3 — languoid catalogue — Glottolog (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology) · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Otank otan1238, ISO uta, Tivoid (Tiv-Iyive-Otanga)
  3. Otank language — Wikipedia · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Tivoid language of the Utanga in Nigeria and Cameroon

Last updated 24 September 2026. Spotted an error or have a source to add? Tell us.

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