Lopa language

Lopa or Rop (Ollop) is a minor Kainji language of Nigeria.

Lopa people neighbouring the Busa language have shifted to that language.

The name Rerang (Oleran) subsumes both Lopa and the closely related Cuba language (Urcibar) that it surrounds.

Blench (2019) lists Tsupamini as a related variety or dialect.

Name

The name Lopa likely comes from the name lópár (Lapar), which refers to both the Rop and the Shuba. Cover terms referring to both Urcibar and Ollop speakers are [dɔ̀ɾìɾáŋ̃ ] (one person), [òːɾìɾáŋ̃ ] (many people), and the language [òlːèɾáŋ̃].

Location

Ollop is spoken in the major villages of àɾóp (Lopa town), ù̃jẽ ́mé (Gafara), rʷáːʃé (Raishe); and the minor villages of ʔʷéːɾà (Tungan Masu), ò̃sán (Bakin Ruwa), lópár (Lapar), áñ wá ̃ (Ana). Lopa speakers call themselves [dɔ̀ɾóp] (one person), [òːɾɔ́p] (many people), and the language [òlːɔ́p]. They refer to Urcibar speakers as [dɔ̀tʃíbár] (one person), [òːtʃíbár] (many people), and to their language as [ɘ̀ɹtʃíbár].

References