Igboid languages
Igboid | |
---|---|
Geographic distribution | South central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south the Benue |
Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo? |
Proto-language | Proto-Igboid |
Glottolog | igbo1258 |
Igboid languages constitute a branch of the Volta–Niger language family. The subgroups are:
- Ekpeye
- Nuclear Igboid: Igbo, Ikwerre, Ika, Izii–Ikwo–Ezza–Mgbo, Ogba, Ishiagu and Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni
Williamson and Blench conclude that the Nuclear Igboid languages (Igboid apart from Ekpeye) form a "language cluster" and that they are somewhat mutually intelligible. However, mutual intelligibility is only marginal, even among the Izii–Ikwo–Ezaa–Mgbo languages. Igboid languages are being spoken by nearly 40 million people.
Names and locations
Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
Language | Cluster | Dialects | Alternate spellings | Own name for language | Endonym(s) | Other names (location-based) | Other names for language | Exonym(s) | Speakers | Location(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Igbo | ||||||||||
Ịka | Agbor (standard form); southern and eastern varieties are more similar to Igbo | Ìḳá | Agbor | Delta State, Ika and Orhionmwon LGAs | ||||||
Ikwere | Northern dialects: Elele, Apanị, Ọmerelu, Ubima, Isiokpo, Ọmagwna (Ọmuegwna), Ipo, Ọmudioga, Ọmuanwa, Igwuruta, Egbedna, Alụu, Ịbaa; Southern dialects: Akpọ–Mgbu–Tolu, Ọbio, Ọgbakiri, Rụmuji, Ndele, Emọhua | Ikwerre | Ìwhnuruò`hnà | 54,600 (1950 F&J); possibly 200,000 (SIL) | Rivers State, Ikwerre, Port Harcourt and Obio–Akpor LGAs | |||||
Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo cluster | Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo | 593,000 (1973 SIL) | ||||||||
Izi | Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo | Ezzi, Izzi | 84,000 (1950 F&J); 200,000 (1973 SIL) | Ebonyi State, Abakaliki, Izzi, and Ebonyi LGAs; Benue State, Okpokwu LGA | ||||||
Ẹzaa | Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo | Eza | 93,800 (1950 F&J); 180,000 (1973 SIL) | Ebonyi State, Ezza and Ishielu LGAs;
Benue State, Okpokwu LGA | ||||||
Ikwo | Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo | 38,500 (1950 F&J); 150,000 (1973 SIL) | Ebonyi State, Ikwo and Abakaliki LGAs | |||||||
Mgbo | Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo | Ngbo | 19,600 (1950 F&J); 63,000 (1973 SIL) | Ebonyi State, Ishielu and Ohaukwu 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) | 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 |
See also
- List of Proto-Igboid reconstructions (Wiktionary)