| 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 |
The Igboid languages constitute a branch of the Volta–Niger language family.
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 |
References
References
- Williamson, Kay; Roger M. Blench (2000). African languages: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.
- "ISO 639-3 Registration Authority. Request for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code" (PDF). sil.org. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
- Forde, C.D. and G.I. Jones 1950. The Ibo and Ibibio speaking peoples of Southern Nigeria. Ethnographic Survey of Africa. Western Africa part III. International African Institute, London.
- Clark, David J. 1969. A grammatical study of Ekpeye. University of London doctoral dissertation.
- Blench, Roger. 2016. A reconstruction of the phonology of proto-Igboid.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 3.0 license.