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

Igboid languages constitute a branch of the Volta–Niger language family. The subgroups are:

Williamson and Blench conclude that the Nuclear Igboid languages (Igboid apart from Ekpeye) form a "language cluster" and that they are somewhat mutually intelligible.[1] However, mutual intelligibility is only marginal, even among the Izii–Ikwo–Ezaa–Mgbo languages. Igboid languages are being spoken by nearly 40 million people.[2]

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[3]

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, Ọmagwa (Ọmegwa), Ipo, Ọmudioga, Ọmuanwa, Igwuruta, Egbeda, Alụu, Ịbaa; Southern dialects: Akpọ–Mgbu–Tolu, Ọbio, Ọgbakiri, Rụmuji, Ndele, Emọhua Ikwerre Ìwhuruò`hnà 54,600 (1950 F&J);[4] possibly 200,000 (SIL) Rivers State, Ikwerre, Emohua,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)[5] 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

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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