The classification of the Masa group of languages

The Chadic family of languages comprises approximately 140 languages classified into three major branches: West Chadic, Biu-Mandara, & East Chadic. Newman (1977b) has proposed an additional, fourth branch of Chadic consisting of the Masa group of languages, previously classified in the Biu-Mandara branch. This article provides supporting evidence for Newman's classification of the Masa group as a fourth branch by demonstrating that this group does not exhibit the phonological, lexical, & morphological innovations characteristic of the Biu-Mandara branch. It follows from the absence of these innovations that there is no evidence for the classification of the Masa group in the Biu-Mandara branch. 2 Maps, 2 Appendixes, 48 References. Adapted from the source document