Ijaw languages
Language family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ijaw languages (/ˈiːdʒɔː/),[1] also spelled Ịjọ,[2] are the languages spoken by over 14 million Ijaw people in Nigeria.[3]
distributionSouthern Nigeria,
Niger Delta
- East
- Central
- West
| Ijaw | |
|---|---|
| Izon | |
| Geographic distribution | Southern Nigeria, Niger Delta |
| Ethnicity | Ijaw people |
| Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo?
|
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 / 5 | ijo |
| Glottolog | ijoo1239 |
Classification
The Ijo languages were traditionally considered a distinct branch of the Niger–Congo family (perhaps along with Defaka in a group called Ijoid).[4] They are notable for their subject–object–verb basic word order, which is otherwise an unusual feature in Niger–Congo, shared only by such distant potential branches as Mande and Dogon. Like Mande and Dogon, Ijoid lacks even traces of the noun class system considered characteristic of Niger–Congo. This motivated Joseph Greenberg, in his initial classification of Niger–Congo, to describe them as having split early from that family. However, owing to the lack of these features, linguist Gerrit Dimmendaal doubts their inclusion in Niger–Congo altogether and considers the Ijoid languages to be an independent family.[5][6]
The ijoid languages can be classified into three main linguistic groups, Eastern Ijo, Western Ijo and Central Ijo, with the Central Izon (Ijaw) language being the most common.[7][8]
- Ijoid
- Eastern Ijo
- Central Ijo/Inland Ijo
- Western Ijo
- Furupagha, Apoi, Olodiama, Arogbo etc
Names and locations
Below is a list of some Ijaw language names, groups, and locations.[8][9]
| Language | Group | Alternate Names | Speakers | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oruma | Central Ijo | Kąąma, Tugbaru | Bayelsa State | |
| Nembe | Central Ijo | Nimbi, Akaha | Brass, Akassa, Nembe | Bayelsa State |
| Kalabari | Eastern Ijo | Degema, Abonema, Kula, Ke, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Bille, Krakrama etc | Rivers State | |
| Ogbia | Central Ijo | Kolo, Anyama, Immiringi, Emakalakala/Amakalakala, Ogbia, Ewoma, etc | Bayelsa State | |
| Bille | Eastern Ijo | Degema, Bille | Rivers State | |
| Wakiriki | Eastern Ijo | Kirike | Okirika, Ogu-Bolo | Rivers State |
| Okodia | Central Ijo, Western Ijo | Akita | Buseni, Yenagoa, Operemo, Opukuma etc | Bayelsa State, Edo State |
| Epie/Atissa | Central Ijo | Yenagoa, Ekpetiama, Akenfa, Gbaran, Agudama, Epie, Atissa etc | Bayelsa State | |
| Biseni | Central Ijo | Buseni | Biseni, Mbiama, Akinima, Engeni, Egbema etc | Bayelsa State, Rivers State |
| Central Izon (Ijaw) | Central Ijo, Western Ijo | Ijaw, Izon, Ijo | Burutu, Sagbama, Bomadi, Warri, Oporoza, Tuomo, Kolokuma, Patani, Southern Ijaw, Ekeremor, Focardos, Ndoro, Opokuma, Egbema, Zide, Kabo, Age, Toru-Orua, Ogobiri, Amassoma, Aleibiri, Torugbene, Angiama, Ayamasa, Igbematoru, Azuzuama, Anyama Ijaw, Okumo/Ukomo, Tarakiri, Furupagha, Boma (Bumo), Oporoma, Olodiama, Pakiama, Oboro, Isama, Akugbene, Okologba etc | Bayelsa State, Delta State |
| Apoi | Central Ijo, Western Ijo | Oboro, Oju-ala, Apoi, Adolesemo, Ese-Odo, Inikorogha, Taribo etc | Bayelsa State, Ondo State, Delta State | |
| Abua/Odual | Central Ijo | Abua, Odual | Rivers State | |
| Arogbo | Central Ijo, Western Ijo | Finiama, Akpata, Opuba, Ukpe, Ajapa, Arogbo etc | Bayelsa State, Ondo State | |
| Abureni | Central Ijo | Abureni, Ogbia | Bayelsa State | |
| Ibani | Eastern Ijo | Opobo, Bonny, Finima, Nkoro, Borokiri, Oloma, Abalama, Peretside etc | Rivers State | |
| Obolo | Eastern Ijo | Andoni | Akaradi, Andoni, Anyama-aganna, Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Anyamabeko etc | Rivers State, AkwaIbom State |
In the diaspora
Berbice Creole Dutch, an extinct creole spoken in Guyana, had a lexicon based partly on an Ịjọ language, perhaps the ancestor of Kalabari.[10]
Education and media
In June 2013, the Izon Fie instructional book and audio CDs were launched at a ceremony attended by officials of the government of Bayelsa State. The Niger Delta University is working to expand the range of books available in the Ijo language. Translations of poetry and the Call of the River Nun by Gabriel Okara are underway.[11]
See also
- List of Proto-Ijaw reconstructions (Wiktionary)