🇳🇬 Language

Tyap

Evidence: Well documented

Tyap is a language of Kaduna State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Plateau (Central).

Key facts
Type
Language
Belongs to
Plateau
Glottocode
tyap1238
Overview

Tyap is a language of Kaduna State, according to Roger Blench's Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020), which classifies it as Plateau (Central). The Atlas places the cluster in Kachia, Saminaka and Jema'a LGAs, as they were before the later splits; Gworok (Kagoro), Atakar, Sholio (around Manchok) and Kafancan in Jema'a. Its members include Gworok, Atakar, Sholio, Kacicere, Kafancan. Other names include Kataf, Katab, Atyap, Atyab. Speaker figures in the Atlas: more than 130,000 (1990, Tyap); 9,300 (1949, Gworok); 5,700 (1949, Sholio). The Atlas records a New Testament in Gworok and a Bible translation in progress in Tyap. Glottolog lists Tyap (tyap1238), with Kagoro, Sholio and Kafanchan as separate languoids.

Connections
Other names
  • Atakar · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field member: member of the cluster, as the Atlas lists it.
  • Atyab · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 1.C: the speakers' name for themselves.
  • Atyap · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 1.C: the speakers' name for themselves.
  • Gworok · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field member: member of the cluster, as the Atlas lists it.
  • Kacicere · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field member: member of the cluster, as the Atlas lists it.
  • Kafancan · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field member: member of the cluster, as the Atlas lists it.
  • Katab · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 2.A: name based on location.
  • Kataf · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field 1.A: alternate spelling of the name.
  • Sholio · alternative
    Blench's Atlas (2020), field member: member of the cluster, as the Atlas lists it.
Sources
  1. An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (2020 edition) — Roger Blench, Kay Williamson Educational Foundation / McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, 2020 · Academic source · link (accessed 24 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Tyap
  2. Glottolog language index (resourcemap) — Glottolog · Academic source · link (accessed 26 Sep 2026)
    Supports: Glottolog tyap1238
  3. Zangon Kataf — Wikipedia · Reference source · link (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
    Supports: Tyap
  4. Kaura, Nigeria — Wikipedia · Reference source · link (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
    Supports: Tyap
How evidence is graded
  • Verified: Supported by an official source, or by two or more independent sources that agree.
  • Well documented: Supported by credible sources, but not yet independently confirmed.
  • Reported: Found in a credible source; further corroboration is welcome.
  • Needs corroboration: The evidence is thin or incomplete; more sources are being sought.
  • Disputed: Credible sources or community accounts disagree; the differing accounts are noted.
  • Uncertain: There is not yet enough information to classify this responsibly.

Sources are marked official, academic, reference, community or general web. Sources that copy each other count as one. Oral traditions are recorded as traditions, not as proven fact.

Archive ID: LANG-TYAP · Last updated 7 October 2026. Spotted an error or have a source to add? Tell us.

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