Iyive
Uive
Native toCameroon, Nigeria
RegionSouth West(s) within the above country(s)
EthnicityNdir defined by the language
Native speakers
(2,000 cited 1996)[1]
Official status
Official language in
Cameroon, Nigeria
Regulated byLanguage Academy
Language codes
ISO 639-3uiv Iyive
Glottologiyiv1238  Iyive
Zone A[2]
ELPIyive

Iyive, also referred to as Uive, Yiive, Ndir, Asumbos, is a severely endangered Bantoid language spoken in Nigeria and Cameroon.[3] The ethnic group defined by use of this language is the Ndir.[4][5][1]

General information

Iyive is an indigenous Tivoid language of the Cameroons close to Tiv proper.[6][7] It is spoken in the Southwest Region in the Manyu division, northeast of Akwaya town on the Nigeria border, Yive village.[1] Although they live in Cameroon, the majority of Iyive's linguistic population has been forced to relocate to Nigeria due to conflict.[8]

Official status

Iyive is severely endangered and has been classified as moribund as the language is only spoken by the older generation of Ndir and not passed down to younger generations.[9][3] Iyive is not supported by any government bodies or institutions.[10]

Writing system

Iyive is written using Latin script.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Iyive at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  3. ^ a b ‘’The Endangered Language Project’’
  4. ^ [Alan S. & Regnier, C. (2008). Tivoid Survey. Cameroon: SIL]
  5. ^ [Brenzinger, M. (Eds.). (2007). Language Diversity Endangered. New York, NY: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co]
  6. ^ [Otheguy, O.G.(2008). Minority language use in Cameroon and educated indigenes' attitude to their languages. International Journal of the Sociology of Language. Volume 2008, Issue 189]
  7. ^ [William, F. R. (2003). Tivoid Languages. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press]
  8. ^ Foster, S. E. (2012). ‘’ A Phonology Sketch of the Iyive Language’’ Cameroon: SIL
  9. ^ [Malcolm, G. (1967). The Classification of the Bantu Languages. London: Dawsons of Pall Mall]
  10. ^ [Huge, V. J. & Hardinge, O. (1967). Language, Schools, and Government in Cameroon. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.]

External links

Blench, R. M. ‘’Language: Iyive’’, ‘’Glottolog’’, 2010

‘’Iyive’’, The Endangered language Project’’


Languages of Cameroon
Tivoid languages
Categories