Paul Newman (1977) classified the languages into the four groups which have been accepted in all subsequent literature. Further subbranching, however, has not been as robust;
Roger Blench (2006), for example, only accepts the A/B bifurcation of East Chadic. Subsequent work by Joseph Lovestrand argues strongly that Kujarge is a valid member of East Chadic. The placing of Luri as a primary split of West Chadic is erroneous. Bernard Caron (2004) shows that this language is South Bauchi and part of the Polci cluster. A suggestion for including the
language isolate Kujargé as an early-diverged member, which subsequently became influenced by East Chadic, has been made by Blench (2008). •
Chadic •
West Chadic • the
Hausa,
Ron,
Bole, and
Angas languages • the
Bade,
Warji, and
Zaar languages •
Biu–Mandara (Central Chadic) • the
Bura,
Kamwe, and
Bata languages, among other groups • the
Buduma and
Musgu languages •
Gidar •
East Chadic • the
Tumak,
Nancere, and
Kera languages • the
Dangaléat,
Mukulu, and
Sokoro languages •
Masa ==Loanwords==