Igboid languages
Branch of the YEAI Languages
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Igboid languages constitute a branch of the Volta–Niger language family.
Geographic
distributionSouth central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south of the Benue
distributionSouth central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south of the Benue
Proto-languageProto-Igboid
| Igboid | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | South central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south of the Benue |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo? |
| Proto-language | Proto-Igboid |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | igbo1258 |
Williamson and Blench conclude that the Igboid languages form a "language cluster" that are somewhat mutually intelligible.[1] Igboid languages are spoken by over 40 million people.[2]
Names and locations
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]
| Language | Cluster | Dialects | Alternate spellings | Own name for language | Endonym(s) | Other names (location-based) | Other names for language | Exonym(s) | Speakers | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ịka | Agbor (standard form) | Ìḳá | Agbor | Delta State, Ika and Orhionmwon LGAs | ||||||
| Enuani | Akwukwu-Igbo, Illah, Ebu, Okpanam, Atuma, Ukala-Okpunor, Ukala-Okwute, Ogbe-Onihe, Asaba, Oko-Amakom, Oko-Anala, Okwe, Igbuzo, Ogwashi-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Okiti, Ubulu-Unor, Ubulu-Ogume, Ubulu-Isiogogo, Onicha-Olona, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Uku, Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, Issele-Uku, Issele-Azagba... | Enuani | Delta State, Oshimili (North/South), Aniocha (North/South) LGAs | |||||||
| Ikwere | Northern dialets: Elele, Apanị, Ọmerelu, Ubima, Isiokpo, Ọmagwa (Ọmegwa), Ipo, Ọmudioga, Ọmuanwa, Igwuruta, Egbeda, Alụu, Ịbaa; Southern dialects: Akpọ–Mgbu–Tolu, Ọbio, Ọgbakiri, Rụmuji, Ndele, Emọhua | Ikwerre | Ìwhuruò`hnà | 54,600 (1950 F&J);[4] possibly 200,000 (SIL) | Rivers State, Ikwerre, Emohua, Port Harcourt and Obio–Akpor LGAs | |||||
| Ogbah | Egnih (East Ogbah), South Ogbah, West Ogbah | Ogba | 22,750 (1950 F&J) | Rivers State, Ahoada LGA | ||||||
| Ẹkpẹyẹ | According to clan names: Ako, Upata, Ubye, Igbuduya | Ekpeye, Ekpabya (by Abua), Ekkpahia, Ekpaffia | 20,000 (1953); 50,000 (1969 Clark)[5] | Rivers State, Ahoada LGA | ||||||
| Ụkwuanị–Aboh–Ndọnị cluster | Ụkwuanị–Aboh–Ndọnị | 150,000 (SIL) | Delta State, Ndokwa LGA; Rivers State, Ahoada LGA | |||||||
| Ụkwuanị | Ụkwuanị–Aboh–Ndọnị | Utaaba, Emu, Abbi, Obiaruku | Ukwani, Ukwali, Kwale | Delta State, Ndokwa LGA | ||||||
| Aboh | Ụkwuanị–Aboh–Ndọnị | Eboh | Delta State, Ndokwa LGA | |||||||
| Ndọnị | Ụkwuanị–Aboh–Ndọnị | Rivers State, Ahoada LGA | ||||||||
| Ezza-Ikwo-Izzi-Ngbolizhia cluster | Ezza-Izzi-Ikwo-Ngbolizha | over 4million (SIL) | Ebonyi state , Benue ,Enugu | |||||||
| Ezaa language |
Ezaa proper: Izo-imoha-Kpakpaji-Izzikworo ; Ukawu dialects: Amudo, Abba-omegge, Ishinkwo, Amankpuma, Amoffia, Okuzzu | Ezza | ézáá, | 1.3million+ 2018 projection | Ebonyi state ,Benue state Ado LGA and Enugu state Nkanu East LGA | |||||
| Izi language | Izi | Ebonyi state and Benue state | ||||||||
| Ikwo | Ikwo | Ebonyi state, Ikwo LGA | ||||||||
| Ngbolizhia | Ngbo , Ezzamgbo | Ebonyi state Ohaukwu LGA |
See also
- List of Proto-Igboid reconstructions (Wiktionary)
