Hyam is a regionally important linguistic cluster of Plateau languages in Nigeria. Hyam of Nok is the prestige dialect (Blench 2008). Writing the sociolinguistics of Hyam, Blench treats Sait, and Dzar as distinct varieties, and notes that Yat and Ankung may be viewed as separate languages, however, Hayab (2016) presents a differing opinion arguing that it is Ankung, a language called Iduya, that is not mutually intelligible to Hyam. Meanwhile, Hyam, which is spoken by the Ham people of Nigeria, popularly known as 'Jaba' in a recent study by Philip Hayab, a native of the area and a linguist who carried out in-depth research into the language, reveals that 'Jaba' has a Hausa etymology and is derogatory and should be discarded (John 2017). Distribution Native Hyam speakers are found mainly in Jaba, Kachia and Kagarko. They are also found in Jema'a Local Government Areas of southern Kaduna State and in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State of Nigeria. Dialects James (1998) classified the Hyam dialects according to the following sub-groups he placed under the Ham or Northern Group of the Proto-Plateau Ethno-Linguistic Cluster: Ham Kpop (Jaban Kwoi) Ham Ngat Ham (Jaban Katari) Ham Shambang (Samban) Ham Duhyah (or Idun) (Jaban Lungu) Ham Kworri (Chori) Ham Det (Faik/Kenyi) Ham Netkun/Netwho (Gbaham) Ham Nyakpah (or Nyankpa) (Yeskwa) Ham Kong/Rhuini (Kamantan) According to Hayab (2016:5-11), however, the Ham people, aside migratory past, a subject requiring keen study, could be said to speak the following: Hyam Taa Ham - 'Hyam spread in Ham area' including Nok, Ghikyaar, Kuscum, Har Dzyee, Shong, etc. Kwyeny - same as James's Hyam Kpop (spoken in Har Kwain or Kwoi) Kyoli - the dialect of the Kworri/Kwori (also known as Chori) Saik Shamang - same as Shambang Hayab (2016:6) added that other varieties may also include: Dùya/Idúyà - same as Idun Gwora - Gora Yat Zhire - Kenyi. Further more, Hayab (2016:8) classified these dialects into four clusters, A-D, according to their levels of intelligibility. Cluster A. Hyam Taa, Kwyeny, and Saik (all have not less than 90% phonological homogeneity in vocabulary Cluster B. Kyoli and Shamang (have about 50% intelligibility) Cluster C. Yat and Zhire (may be coherent with A and B. More studies needed) Cluster D. Idúyà [or Idun ] and Gwora (stand in an independent category) Again note that Hyam is the language spoken by the Ham people. Blench (2019) lists: Kwyeny Yaat Saik Dzar