Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Idoma
Other Sources:Armstrong, Robert G. 1968. "Yala (Ikom): A Terraced-Level Language with Three Tones" JWAL, 49-58.
Consonant system:
p t c k kʷ kp b mb d ɟ ɡ ɡʷ ɡb ŋmɡb f s sj x m n ñ ŋ ŋʷ l r
Stops:p b mb t d c ɟ k ɡ kʷ ɡʷ kp ɡb ŋmɡb
Fricatives:f s sj x
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ ŋʷ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:j ɥ w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:Nˈ lˈ rˈ
Tones:hi mid lo downstep downdrift
Noun Number:s p
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Number:442
Language:Akpa
Location:Nigeria
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Idoma
Consonant system:
Number:443
Language:Igede
Location:SE Nigeria (Benue-Plateau)
Population:250,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Idoma
Other Sources:
Bergman, Richard. 1971. "Vowel Sandhi and Word Division in Igede," JWAL 8, 13-25. Bergman, R. and N. Bergman. 1974. "Igede," in TNTS, 43-50.
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ h m n ñ ŋ ŋm l ɾ
Stops:p b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ ŋm
Laterals:l
Vibrants:ɾ
Modified Consonants:
cj p b ɡ m h r cʷ p b k ɡ č ɡ̌ h m ŋ r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u I ʋ e ǝ o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:ǝ a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:(C)V Nˈ
Tones:hi hi-mid lo-mid lo
Syntax:SVO ND
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:444
Language:Etulo
Location:SE Nigeria (Benue-Plateau)
Population:3,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Idoma
Other Sources:Armstrong, Robert G. 1964. "Notes on Etulo," JWAL 1:2, 57-60.
Consonant system:
t c k kp b d ɟ ɡ ɡb ts dz f s š z m n ñ ŋ ŋm l r
Stops:b t d c ɟ k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:ts dz
Fricatives:f s z š
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ ŋm
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:w
Vowel system:
i u e ǝ o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:ǝ a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ı̃ ɛ̃ ɔ̃
Syllable:Nˈ rˈ
Tones:hi mid lo
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:N-NUM N-POSS
Number:445
Language:Eloyi
Location:N Nigeria
Population:15,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Central Niger: Idoma
Other Sources:Mackay, Hugh D. 1964. "A Word List of Eloyi," JWAL 1:1, 5-12.
Consonant system:
ph th kh kp b d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ f s š v z ž m n ñ ŋ l ɾ
Stops:ph b th d kh ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:f v s z š ž
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:ɾ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Long Vowels:(v̄)
Syllable:Nˈ
Tones:hi mid lo (ris) (fall)
Noun Number:s p
Syntax:NA
Number:446
Language:Northern Akoko
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Yoruba-Northern Akoko
Consonant system:
Number:447
Language:Yoruba
Location:SW Nigeria (Western)
Population:8 million
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Yoruba-Northern Akoko
Dictionary:
Abraham, R. C. 1958. Dictionary of Modern Yoruba. London: Univ of London Press. Crowther, S. et al. 1956. A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language. London: Oxford Univ Press.
Grammar:
Ward, Ida C. 1952. An Introduction to the Yoruba Language. Cambridge: Heffer. Bamgbose, Ayo. 1966. A Grammar of Yoruba. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Press. Ogunbowale, P. O. 1970. The Essentials of the Yoruba Language. London: Univ of London Press.
TextBooks:
Stevick, E. W. and Olallye Aremu. 1963. Yoruba Basic Course. Washington, D.C.: Foreign Service Institute. Wolff, Hans. 1963. Beginning Yoruba. East Lansing: African Studies Center, Michigan State Univ. de Gaye, J. A. and W. S. Beecroft. 1964. Yoruba Grammar. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Rowlands, E. C. 1969. Teach Yourself Yoruba. London: English Unversities Press.
Other Sources:
Bamgbose, Ayo. 1969. "Yoruba," in TNL, 163-72. Oyelaran, Olasope O. 1971. Yoruba Phonology. Stanford: Stanford Univ Diss. Awobuluyi, A. Oladele. 1967. "Vowel and Consonant Harmony in Yoruba," JAL 6, 1-8.
Consonant system:
t k kp b d ɡ ɡb ɡ̌ f s š h m n l ɾ
Stops:b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:ɡ̌
Fricatives:f s š h
Nasals:m n
Laterals:l
Vibrants:ɾ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:Ĩ ɛ̃ ʋ̃ ɔ̃
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:(C)V Nˈ
Tones:hi mid lo
Demonstratives:3
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG ND N-NUM N-POSS N+A+Num+D
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:448
Language:Yoruba
Dialect:Itsekiri
Location:S Nigeria (Mid-Western)
Population:8 million
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Yoruba-Northern Akoko
Other Sources:Opubor, A. E. 1969. "Itsekiri," in TNL, 125-32.
Consonant system:
p t k kʷ kp b d ɟ ɡ ɡʷ ɡb f s š ɣ m n l ɾ
Stops:p b t d ɟ k ɡ kʷ ɡʷ kp ɡb
Fricatives:f s š ɣ
Nasals:m n
Laterals:l
Vibrants:ɾ
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɒ
Nasal Vowels:ı̃ ẽ ã ũ ɔ̃
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:(C)V
Tones:hi mid lo
Number:449
Language:Igala
Location:SW Nigeria
Population:100,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Yoruba-Northern Akoko
Other Sources:Philpot, W. T. A. 1935. "Notes on the Igala Language," BSOAS 7, 897-912.
Consonant system:
p t kp b d ɡb č f s h m n ñ ŋ l r
Stops:p b t d kp ɡb
Affricates:č
Fricatives:f s h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Diphthongs:ai ei
Tones:hi mid lo ris fall
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:2
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG ND N-NUM N-POSS
Noun Incorporation:noun incorp
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:450
Language:Epie
Location:S Nigeria (Rivers)
Population:26,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Delta
Other Sources:Thomas, Elaine and Kay Williamson. 1967. Wordlists of Delta Edo: Epie. Engenni, Degema. Ibadan: Institute of African Studies, Univ of Ibadan.
Consonant system:
(p) t k kp b ɓ d ɗ ɡ ɡb f s v z m n (ŋ) l r
Stops:(p) b ɓ t d ɗ k ɡ kp ɡb
Fricatives:f v s z
Nasals:m n (ŋ)
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u I ʋ e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ṽ all
Modified Vowels:
vowel harmony nasal harmony
Syllable:(C)V Nˈ
Tones:hi lo downstep
Noun Number:s p
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3mf 6
Number:451
Language:Engenni
Location:S Nigeria (Rivers)
Population:12,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Delta
Other Sources:
Thomas, Elaine and Kay Williamson. 1967. Wordlists of Delta Edo: Epie, Engenni, Degema. Ibadan: Institute of African Studies, Univ of Ibadan. Thomas, Elaine. 1974. "Engenni," in TNTS, 13-26.
Consonant system:
p t k kp b ɓ d ɗ ɡ ɡb s š v z m n ŋ l r
Stops:p b ɓ t d ɗ k ɡ kp ɡb
Fricatives:v s z š
Nasals:m n ŋ
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u I ʋ e ǝ o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:ǝ a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:(C)V
Tones:hi lo (ris) (fall) upstep
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:2
Articles:def
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6 + indef
Syntax:SVO NG ND N-POSS
Number:452
Language:Degema
Location:S Nigeria (Rivers)
Population:5,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Delta
Other Sources:Thomas, Elaine and Kay Williamson. 1967. Wordlists of Delta Edo: Epie, Engenni, Degema. Ibadan: Institute of African Studies, Univ of Ibadan.
Consonant system:
p t k kp b ɓ d ɗ ɡ ɡb f s x v z m n ŋ ŋw l r
Stops:p b ɓ t d ɗ k ɡ kp ɡb
Fricatives:f v s z x
Nasals:m n ŋ ŋw
Laterals:l
Vibrants:r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u I ʋ e ǝ o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:ǝ a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ṽ all
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:(C)(C)V(C)
Tones:hi lo downstep
Noun Number:s p
Articles:def
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA ND N-NUM N-POSS N+A+Num+D
Number:453
Language:Okpe1
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Southwestern
Consonant system:
Number:454
Language:Urhobo
Dialect:Agbon
Location:S Nigeria (Mid-Western)
Population:546,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Southwestern
Other Sources:
Kelly, John. 1969. "Urhobo" in TNL, 153-61. Welmers, William E. 1969. "Structural Notes on Urhobo," JWAL 6, 85-107.
Consonant system:
p t c k kp b d ɟ ɡ ɡb ɸ f s š x xw β v z ž ɣ ɣʷ m n ñ ŋm ɾ r̥
Stops:p b t d c ɟ k ɡ kp ɡb
Fricatives:ɸ β f v s z š ž x ɣ xw ɣw
Nasals:m n ñ ŋm
Vibrants:ɾ r̥
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ṽ ɑll
Modified Vowels:
vowel harmony nasal harmony
Syllable:(C)(C)V
Tones:hi lo downstep downdrift
Noun Number:s p
Demonstratives:3
Articles:def
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG ND N-NUM N-POSS
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:455
Language:Urhobo
Dialect:Agbarho
Location:S Nigeria
Population:546,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Southwestern
Other Sources:STAL
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ ɸ f s š x h β v z ɣ m n ñ ŋ ŋm l ľ ɾ r
Stops:p b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:č ɡ̌
Fricatives:ɸ β f v s z š x ɣ h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋ ŋm
Laterals:l ľ
Vibrants:ɾ r
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ı̃ ɛ̃ ã ũ ɔ̃
Tones:hi mid lo [+ 6 ris & fall tones]
Number:456
Language:Uvbie
Location:Nigeria
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Southwestern
Consonant system:
Number:457
Language:Isoko
Location:S Nigeria (Mid-Western)
Population:321,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Southwestern
Other Sources:
Mafeni, Bernard. 1969. "Isoko" in TNL, 115-24. STAL
Consonant system:
p t̪ t k kp b d̪ d ɡ ɡb ɡ̌ f s h β v z j ̂ ɣ m n ñ ŋw l ɾ ɹ̣ ɹ̣̥
Stops:p b t̪ d̪ t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Affricates:ɡ̌
Fricatives:β f v s z j ̂ ɣ h
Nasals:m n ñ ŋw
Laterals:l
Vibrants:ɾ ɹ̣ ɹ̣̥
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u I ʋ e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i I e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u ʋ o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ṽ all
Modified Vowels:vowel harmony
Syllable:(C)(C)(C)V
Tones:hi lo downstep downdrift
Number:458
Language:Eruwa
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: Southwestern
Consonant system:
Number:459
Language:Bini
Location:S Nigeria (Mid-West)
Population:300,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: North-Central
Dictionary:
Melzian, Hans. 1937. A Concise Dictionary of the Bini Language of Southern Nigeria. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Munro, David A. 1967. English-Edo Wordlist. Ibadan: Institute of African Studies, Univ of Ibadan.
TextBooks:Dunn, Ernest F. 1968. An Introduction to Bini. East Lansing: African Studies Center, Michigan State Univ.
Other Sources:Wescott, Roger W. 1965. "Speech Tempo and the Phonemics of Bini," JAL 4, 182-90.
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb f s x h β v z ɣ m n l ḷ r r̥
Stops:p b t d k ɡ kp ɡb
Fricatives:β f v s z x ɣ h
Nasals:m n
Laterals:l ḷ
Vibrants: r r̥
Glides:j w
Vowel system:
i u e o ɛ ɔ a
Front Vowels:i e ɛ
Central Vowels:a
Back Vowels:u o ɔ
Nasal Vowels:ı̃ ɛ̃ ã ũ ɔ̃
Diphthongs:
ie iɛ iɔ ia ue uɛ ua uo uɔ ı̃ɛ ı̃ɔ ı̃a ũɛ ũa
Syllable:(C)V
Tones:hi (mid) lo ris fall
Noun Number:s (p) (only for a few words)
Demonstratives:2
Pronouns:
1 4 2 5 3 6
Syntax:SVO NA NG ND N-NUM N-POSS
Prep/Post:PREP
Number:460
Language:Esan
Alternate Name:Ishan
Location:S Nigeria (Benin)
Population:90,000
Classification:Niger-Kordofanian: Niger-Congo: South Central: Eastern: Edo: North-Central
Other Sources:STAL
Consonant system:
p t k kp b d ɡ ɡb č ɡ̌ f s š x h β v z ɣ m n ñ ŋʷ l ɾ r