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Edoid languages

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The Edoid languages are a few dozen languages spoken in Southern Nigeria, predominantly in the former Bendel State.[1] The name Edoid derives from its most widely spoken member, Edo, the language of Benin City, which has 30 million native and secondary speakers.

Edoid
Geographic
distribution		South-central Nigeria, west of the Niger River, south of the confluence of the Benue
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Proto-languageProto-Edoid
Subdivisions
  • Delta
  • North-Central
  • Northwestern
  • Southwestern
Language codes
Glottologedoi1239

Classification

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Elugbe (1989)

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The following classification is based on that of Elugbe (1989).[2]

Ihievbe and Aduge are unclassified within their branches.

Lewis (2013)

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An alternative classification of the Edoid languages by Lewis (2013:160):[3] 

Lewis's[4] study is an improvement on Elugbe's classification, as more languages were identified and classified. However, omitted the Uvbie of the South-Western Edoid branch (cf. Emoefe et al. (2017).[5])

Names and locations

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Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[6]

Language Branch Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s)
Degema Delta Atala, spoken in Degema town, and Usokun spoken in Usokun–Degema Dẹgẹma Atala, Usokun (Udekama not recommended) 10,000 (SIL) Rivers State, Degema LGA
Engenni Delta Ediro, Inedua, and Ogua; Zarama in Yenagoa LGA Ngene, Ẹgẹnẹ Ẹgẹnẹ 10,000 (1963); 20,000 (1980 UBS) Rivers State, Yenagoa and Ahoada LGAs
Epie Delta Two clans, Epie and Atiṣa in at least three towns: Agudiama, Akẹnfai, Yẹneguẹ Epie–Atissa, Epie–Atiṣa 12,000 (SIL) Rivers State, Yenagoa LGA
Emai–Iuleha–Ora cluster North-Central Emai–Iuleha–Ora Ivhimion. Spurious languages Ihievbe and Uokha are listed in Ethnologue (2009) Kunibum Ivbiosakon estimated 100,000 plus (1987 Schaefer)[7] Edo State, Owan, LGA
Emai North-Central Emai–Iuleha–Ora estimated 20–25,000 (1987 Schaefer)
Iuleha North-Central Emai–Iuleha–Ora Aoma estimated 50,000 (1987 Schaefer)
Ora North-Central Emai–Iuleha–Ora estimated 30,000 (1987 Schaefer)
Esan North-Central Many dialects Ishan Awain 183,000 (1952); 500,000 estimated in 1963: Okojie & Ejele (1987)[8] Bendel State (now Edo State and Delta State), Agbazilo, Okpebho, Owan and Etsako LGAs
Ikpeshi North-Central 1,826 (Bradbury 1957)[9] Edo State, Etsako LGA
Etsako North-Central Auchi, Uzairue, South Ivbie, Uwepa–Uwano, (Weppa–Wano), Avbianwu (Fugar), Avbiele, Ivbiadaobi Yẹkhee: not all speakers of the language recognise this as the name of the language. Etsakọ Iyẹkhee, Afenmai, Kukuruku (not recommended) 73,500 (1952), 150,000 (UBS 1987) Edo State, Etsako, Agbako and Okpebho LGAs
Ghotuọ North-Central Otwa, Otuọ 9,000 (1952) Edo State, Owan and Akoko–Edo LGAs
Ivbie North–Okpela–Arhẹ cluster North-Central Ivbie North–Okpela–Arhẹ 14,500 (1952); possibly 20,000 (1973 SIL) Edo State, Etsako and Akoko–Ẹdo LGAs
Ivbie North North-Central Ivbie North–Okpela–Arhẹ
Okpela North-Central Ivbie North–Okpela–Arhẹ Okpella, Ukpilla
Arhẹ North-Central Ivbie North–Okpela–Arhẹ Atẹ, Ate, Atte
Yẹkhee North-Central Auchi, Uzairue, South Ivbie, Uwepa–Uwano, (Weppa–Wano), Avbianwu (Fugar), Avbiele, Ivbiadaobi Yẹkhee: not all speakers of the language recognise this as the name of the language. Etsakọ: the language is not the only language listed as being spoken in Etsako LGA. Iyẹkhee, Afenmai, Kukuruku (not recommended) 73,500 (1952), 150,000 (UBS 1987) Edo State, Etsako, Agbako and Okpebho LGAs
Ẹdo North-Central Oviedo, Ovioba Benin Ẹdo (Binĩ) 203,000 (1952), 1,000,000 (1987 UBS) Edo State, Ovia, Oredo and Orhionmwon LGAs
Ọsọsọ North-Central 6,532 (1957 Bradbury) Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA
Sasaru–Enwan–Igwẹ North-Central Enwan, Igwẹ, Sasaru 3,775 (1952) Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA
Unẹmẹ North-Central Uleme, Ileme, Ineme 6,000 (1952). Edo State, Etsako, Agbazilo and Akoko–Edo LGAs. The Uneme are a blacksmith group and live scattered among other language groups.
Uhami North-Western Isua 5,498 (1963) Ondo State, Akoko–South and Owo LGAs
Ukue North-Western Ukpe, Ẹkpenmi 5,702 (1963) Ondo State, Akoko South LGA
Ehuẹun North-Western Ẹkpenmi, Ekpimi, Epimi 5,766 (1963) Ondo State, Akoko South LGA
Iyayu North-Western Idoani 9,979 (1963) Ondo State, one quarter of Idoani town
Ẹmhalhẹ North-Western Somorika (Semolika) 249 in Semolina town (Temple 1922)[10] Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA
Ọkpamheri North-Western Ọkpamheri means ‘we are one’: Okulosho (Okurosho), Western Okpamheri, Emhalhe (Emarle, Somorika, Semolika). Various. Opameri Aduge (appears to be a town name) 18,136 (1957 Bradbury); 30,000 (1973 SIL) Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA, Kwara State, Oyi LGA
Ọkpẹ–Idesa–Akuku North-Western Ọkpẹ, Idesa, Akuku Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA
Ọlọma North-Western 353 (1957 Bradbury) Edo State, Akoko–Edo LGA
Ẹrụwa South-Western Erohwa, Erakwa, Arokwa Delta State, Isoko LGA
Isoko South-Western various Igabo, Sobo (see also under Urhobo) Biotu (not recommended) At least 74,000 (1952 REB); 300,000 (1980 UBS) Delta State, Isoko and Ndokwa LGAs
Okpẹ South-Western Ukpɛ 8,722 (1957 Bradbury) Delta State, Okpe LGA
Urhobo South-Western Several dialects, Agbarho accepted as standard. Okpe and Uvbiẹ, often regarded as dialects of Urhobo, are treated as distinct languages (q.v.) on purely linguistic grounds Sobo (not recommended) (See also Isoko) Biotu (See also Isoko) at least 173,000 (1952 REB); 340,000 (1973 SIL) Delta State, Ethiope and Ughelli LGAs
Uvbiẹ South-Western Uvwie, Evrie, Uvhria, Effurum, Effurun, Evhro (not recommended) 6,000 (1952) Delta State, Ethiope LGA

Comparative vocabulary

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Sample basic vocabulary for some northern Edoid languages from Lewis (2013):

Language eye ear nose tooth tongue mouth blood bone tree water eat name
Ghotuo ɛ́ó íhɔ̀wè ízúé ɛ̄kɔ̄ nímɛ̀lè únù ādɛ̄ ūgūā ɔ̀kpótā āmɛ̄ ījé évà
Sasaru rɛ̄rō wózɔ́ ízúé lɛ̂ːkɔ̄ úrɛ̀rɛ̄ únú ɔ̀rà úgúá ótá āmɛ̄ réʒí ōvā
Ikhin ɛ́ɣó ɛ̀ɣɔ̀ èwè áká úwɛ̀rɛ́ ùnù ɔ́rá ìgùà òrhà ámɛ́ èmāèēè èvà
Arokho ɛ̄xō éxɔ̄ íwè ākɔ̄ óxɛ̀rɛ̄ únù ɔja úgùà úràì āmɛ̄ émàē évà
Uroe ɛ̄xō èkɛ̃̀ ̀ íwè àkù̃ ɔ́rɛ̄mì únù ɛ̀rè ák͡pókà órà̃ āmɛ̄ émírémì êːɲì
Igwe (Sale) ɛ̄xō óxɔ̀ ísúè ākɔ̄ íɲɛ̀rɛ̀ ùnù ɔ̀rà ígúá ítá ̀ àmɛ̀ īdɛ̄ré úrâːmī
Igwe (Oke) ɛ̀rō wórɔ̀ ísúè ɛ̄kō ínɛ̀nɛ̀ únù ɔ̄rá ɔ̄tɛ̄kū úkánɔ́sínóríbè āmɛ̄ ìlélé óvà
Ake ōk͡pɛ́xò exɔ íwè àk͡pàkò úrɛ̀mì únù ɔ́ràì ráì únà àmɛ̀ ùgbài éìɲì
Okpuje ɛ̄xō êːxɔ̀ érùè ákɔ̄̃ óxɛ̀mì únù ɛ̄rē ák͡púkà órà àmɛ̀ ébàè ēhī
Sobongida ɛ̄xō e̋ːxɔ̀ éwè ākū̃ óxɛ̀mì únù ɛ̄rē āk͡pôːkà órà àmè ébàē éhì

Phonology

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Proto-Edoid is reconstructed as having a contrast between oral and nasal consonants and oral and nasal vowels typical for the region. However, in some Edoid languages nasal vowels have been reanalyzed as allophones of oral vowels after nasal consonants, and in others nasal consonants have been reanalyzed as allophones of oral consonants before nasal vowels, reducing the number of phonemically nasal consonants. Urhobo retains three nasals, /m, n, ɲ/, and has five oral consonants with nasal allophones, /ɺ, l, ʋ, j, w/; in Edo this is reduced to one phonemic nasal, /m/, but eight additional consonants with nasal allophones, /p, b, t, d, k, ɡ, kp, ɡb/; and in Ukue there are no indisputably phonemic nasals and only two consonants with nasal allophones, /l, β/.

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Edo | people | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  2. ^ Elugbe, Ben Ohiọmamhẹ. 1989. Comparative Edoid: Phonology and Lexicon. (Delta Series, 6.) Port-Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Press.
  3. ^ Lewis, Ademola Anthony. 2013. North Edoid relations and roots. Doctoral dissertation, University of Ibadan.
  4. ^ Lewis, Ademola Anthony. 2013. North Edoid relations and roots. Doctoral dissertation, University of Ibadan.
  5. ^ Emonefe, A. O., C. U. C. Ugorji and P. O. Ekiugbo. (2017). Is Uvwie a Dialect of Urhobo? University of Benin Journal of Humanities 5(1): 27-52.
  6. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  7. ^ Schaefer, R.P. 1987. An initial orthography and lexicon for Emai: an Edoid language of Nigeria. Indiana University Linguistics Club, Studies in African Grammatical Systems, 5, Bloomington.
  8. ^ Okojie, C. and P.E. Ejele 1987. Esan orthography. In: Orthography Manual V. ed. R.N. Agheyisi. National Language Centre, Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos.
  9. ^ Bradbury, R.E. 1957. The Benin kingdom and the Edo-speaking peoples of south-south Nigeria (Ethnographic survey of Africa, Western Africa 13). London: Oxford Univ. Press; International African Inst. (IAI).
  10. ^ Temple, Olive 1922. Notes on the Tribes, Provinces, Emirates and States of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. Argus Printing and Publishing Co. Cape Town.

Bibliography

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  • Frank Kügler, Caroline Féry, Ruben Van De Vijver (2009) Variation and Gradience in Phonetics and Phonology
  • Elugbe, Ben Ohiọmamhẹ. 1989a. "Edoid". In Bendor-Samuel (Ed.), The Niger–Congo Languages. Lanham: The United Press of America. 291-304.
  • Elugbe, Ben Ohiọmamhẹ. 1989b. Comparative Edoid: phonology and lexicon. Delta Series No. 6. Port Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Press.
  • Blench, Roger. Delta Edoid wordlists.

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