to the phoneme ~ Kparev, spoken in the centre and south-centre; Kunav, a sub-accent of Kparev, noted for its preference for sounds where other Kparev use . Vocabulary, particularly plant and tool names, changes from one part of Tiv territory to the other. History and classification The first reference to the Tiv language (dzwa Tiv) was made by Koelle (1854) from liberated slaves from Sierra Leone. Johnston (1919) classified it as a peculiar language among the Semi-Bantu languages, and Talbot (1926) concurred. Abraham (1933), who has made the most complete linguistic study of Tiv, classifies it as Bantu, stating that its vocabulary is more similar to the East African Nyanza group of Bantu languages than to Ekoi or other neighbouring languages. Malherbe (1933) agrees with Abraham that Tiv is essentially Bantu. All material on Tiv seems to point to a recent expansion, perhaps in the early 15th century. Morphology Tiv has nine noun classes. See also Tiv people Ate-u-tiv, a traditional Tiv hut used for reception and gathering References R.C.Abraham, A Dictionary of the Tiv Language, Government of Nigeria 1940, republished by Gregg Press Ltd., Farnborough, Hants., England 1968. External links Tiv-English Dictionary PanAfrican L10n page on Tiv Religious materials Video and audio files, New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures Released and other bible study material in Tiv Language by Jehovah's Witnesses The bible in the tiv language Gospel Jesus film in tiv Languages of Nigeria Tivoid languages Tiv people