Igboid languages

Igboid
Geographic
distribution		South central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south of the Benue
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Proto-languageProto-Igboid
Language codes
Glottologigbo1258

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. Igboid languages are spoken by over 40 million people.

Names and locations

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

LanguageClusterDialectsAlternate spellingsOwn name for languageEndonym(s)Other names (location-based)Other names for languageExonym(s)SpeakersLocation(s)
ỊkaAgbor (standard form)ÌḳáAgborDelta State, Ika and Orhionmwon LGAs
EnuaniAkwukwu-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...EnuaniDelta State, Oshimili (North/South), Aniocha (North/South) LGAs
IkwereNorthern dialets: Elele, Apanị, Ọmerelu, Ubima, Isiokpo, Ọmagwa (Ọmegwa), Ipo, Ọmudioga, Ọmuanwa, Igwuruta, Egbeda, Alụu, Ịbaa; Southern dialects: Akpọ–Mgbu–Tolu, Ọbio, Ọgbakiri, Rụmuji, Ndele, EmọhuaIkwerreÌwhuruò`hnà54,600 (1950 F&J); possibly 200,000 (SIL)Rivers State, Ikwerre, Emohua, Port Harcourt and Obio–Akpor LGAs
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)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
Ezza-Ikwo-Izhi-Ngbolizhia clusterEzza-Izzi-Ikwo-Ngbolizhaover 4million (SIL)Ebonyi state , Benue ,Enugu
Ezaa language

Ezaa proper: Izo-imoha-Kpakpaji-Izzikworo ; Ukawu dialects: Amudo, Abba-omegge, Ishinkwo, Amankpuma, Amoffia, Okuzzu

Ezzaézáá,1.3million+ 2018 projectionEbonyi state ,Benue state Ado LGA and Enugu state Nkanu East LGA
Izhi languageIzhiEbonyi state and Benue state
IkwoIkwo Ebonyi state, Ikwo LGA
NgbolizhiaNgbo , EzzamgboEbonyi state Ohaukwu LGA

References

  1. ↑ Williamson, Kay; Roger M. Blench (2000). African languages: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.
  2. ↑ "ISO 639-3 Registration Authority. Request for Change to ISO 639-3 Language Code" (PDF). sil.org. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Clark, David J. 1969. A grammatical study of Ekpeye. University of London doctoral dissertation.

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