Igboid languages

Igboid languages constitute a branch of the Volta–Niger language family. It includes Ukwuani, and the Igbo languages

Igboid
Geographic
distribution		South central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south the Benue
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo
Subdivisions
Glottologigbo1258[1]

Williamson and Blench conclude that the Igbo languages (Igboid apart from Ekpeye) form a "language cluster" and that they are somewhat mutually intelligible.[2] However, mutual intelligibility is only marginal, even among the Izii–Ikwo–Ezaa–Mgbo languages.[3]

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[4]


LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)
Igbo
ỊkaAgbor (standard form); southern and eastern varieties are more similar to IgboÌḳáAgborDelta State, Ika and Orhionmwon LGAs
IkwereNorthern dialects: Elele, Apanị, Ọmerelu, Ubima, Isiokpo, Ọmagwna (Ọmuegwna), Ipo, Ọmudioga, Ọmuanwa, Igwuruta, Egbedna, Alụu, Ịbaa; Southern dialects: Akpọ–Mgbu–Tolu, Ọbio, Ọgbakiri, Rụmuji, Ndele, EmọhuaIkwerreÌwhnuruò`hnà54,600 (1950 F&J)[5]; possibly 200,000 (SIL)Rivers State, Ikwerre, Port Harcourt and Obio–Akpor LGAs
Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo clusterIzii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo593,000 (1973 SIL)
IziIzii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–MgboEzzi, Izzi84,000 (1950 F&J); 200,000 (1973 SIL)Anambra State, Abakaliki and Ishielu LGAs; Benue State, Okpokwu LGA
ẸzaaIzii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–MgboEza93,800 (1950 F&J); 180,000 (1973 SIL)Anambra State, Ezza and Ishielu LGAs; Abia State, Ohaozara LGA; Benue State, Okpokwu LGA
IkwoIzii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo38,500 (1950 F&J); 150,000 (1973 SIL)Anambra State, Ikwo and Abakaliki LGAs
MgboIzii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–MgboNgbo19,600 (1950 F&J); 63,000 (1973 SIL)Anambra State, Ishielu LGA
OgbahEgnih (East Ogbah), South Ogbah, West OgbahOgba22,750 (1950 F&J)Rivers State, Ahoada LGA
ẸkpẹyẹAccording to clan names: Ako, Upata, Ubye, IgbuduyaEkpeye, Ekpabya (by Abua), Ekkpahia, Ekpaffia20,000 (1953); 50,000 (1969 Clark)[6]Rivers State, Ahoada LGA
Ụkwuanị–Aboh–Ndọnị clusterỤkwuanị–Aboh–Ndọnị150,000 (SIL)Delta State, Ndokwa LGA; Rivers State, Ahoada LGA
ỤkwuanịỤkwuanị–Aboh–NdọnịUtaaba, Emu, Abbi, ObiarukuUkwani, Ukwali, KwaleDelta State, Ndokwa LGA
AbohỤkwuanị–Aboh–NdọnịEbohDelta State, Ndokwa LGA
NdọnịỤkwuanị–Aboh–NdọnịRivers State, Ahoada LGA

See also

References
  1. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Igboid". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  2. Williamson, Kay; Roger M. Blench (2000). African languages: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.
  4. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  5. 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.
  6. Clark, David J. 1969. A grammatical study of Ekpeye. University of London doctoral dissertation.
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