A DICTIONARY OF MADA, A PLATEAU LANGUAGE ... - Roger Blench

Preface
This dictionary is a preliminary attempt to record the richness of the Mada language. It is intended to help
standardise the spelling of Mada words and to define words which are no longer in current use, especially
cultural terms. The primary goal is to assist Mada speakers to use and spell words correctly. We hope also
that the dictionary will be useful to students of the languages of Nigeria and of African languages in general.
An introduction has been provided to facilitate the effective use of the dictionary. It covers Mada
phonology; current orthography; sketch of Mada grammar; Mada language use; abbreviations; and the
structure of individual entries. The appendices provide information of both cultural interest, such as Mada
personal names, towns and villages; and words developed for Mada Bible Translation.
The original source of the present document was a dictionary file prepared by Norman and Barbara Price in
relation to the translation of the New Testament, a project finally finished and launched in 2000. However,
the entries have been rechecked and in some cases retranscribed, many new items entered and it should be
thus considered an essentially new document.
We are aware that there are still many Mada words which have eluded us and that some words here defined
may have secondary meanings that are not included. This is a draft circulated to interested individuals and
therefore we would be grateful if any suggestions for amendment, correction and addition could be
forwarded to the authors at the addresses given below.
Roger Blench
Barau Kato
Jos 24 July 2010
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