The Edoid languages are a few dozen languages spoken in southern Nigeria. Edoid-speaking ethnic groups are predominantly located in the States of Edo and Delta however, smaller Edoid-speaking communities are also present in the states of Ondo, Bayelsa, and Rivers. The term "Edoid" for the language group derives from its most widely spoken member, Edo, which is natively spoken in Southern Edo. Edoid languages collectively have approximately 10 million primary and secondary speakers.
Classification Elugbe (1989) The following classification is based on that of Elugbe (1989).Elugbe, Ben Ohiọmamhẹ. 1989. Comparative Edoid: Phonology and Lexicon. (Delta Series, 6.) Port-Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Press.
Edoid Delta: Degema, Epie, Ẹgẹnẹ (Engenni) North-Central Edo: Edo (Bini), Ivbiosakon (Ora, Emai, Iuleha), Esan (Ishan) Yekhee: Ghotuo, Yekhee, Enwan, Igwe, Ikpeshi, Okpela (Ivbie North, Arhe), Ososo, Sasaru, Uneme ?Ihievbe Northwestern: Osse River: Ehuẹun–Ukue, Iyayu–Uhami Southern Northwestern: Okpamheri, Akuku, Okpe, Oloma ?Aduge Southwestern: Isoko, Urhobo, Eruwa, Okpe, Uvbie
Ihievbe and Aduge are unclassified within their branches.
Lewis (2013) An alternative classification of the Edoid languages by Lewis (2013:160):Lewis, Ademola Anthony. 2013. North Edoid relations and roots. Doctoral dissertation, University of Ibadan.
Proto-Edoid North-Western Okpella, North Ibie Atte, Enwa, Ikpeshi Ibilo, Dagbala, Aiyegunle, Somorika Akuku Okpe North-Central Ghotuo, Sasaru, Igwe, Ososo Eese, Ihievbe, Uneme-Yekhee, Uokha-Uroe-Ake-Warake, Ikhin-Arokho, Esan, Bini South-Western Okpe Urhobo Isoko Eruwa Delta Epie-Atisa Egene (Engenni) Degema
Lewis'sLewis, Ademola Anthony. 2013. North Edoid relations and roots. Doctoral dissertation, University of Ibadan. 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).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.)
Names and locations Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).
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) Bayelsa State, Yenagoa and Ahoada LGAs Rivers State Epie Delta Two clans, Epie and Atiṣa in at least three towns: Agudiama, Akẹnfai, Yẹneguẹ Epie–Atissa, Epie–Atiṣa 12,000 (SIL) Bayelsa 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)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. 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)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. Bendel State (now Edo State and Delta State), Agbazilo, Okpebho, Owan and Etsako LGAs Ikpeshi North-Central 1,826 (Bradbury 1957)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). 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)Temple, Olive 1922. Notes on the Tribes, Provinces, Emirates and States of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. Argus Printing and Publishing Co. Cape Town. 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 Fon South Dahomey Gbe 5,000,000 (1957 Bradbury) Benin Republic Ewe East-Ghana Togo Gbe 10,000,000 (1957 Bradbury) Ghana, Togo
Comparative vocabulary 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 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, , and has five oral consonants with nasal allophones, ; in Edo this is reduced to one phonemic nasal, , but eight additional consonants with nasal allophones, ; and in Ukue there are no indisputably phonemic nasals and only two consonants with nasal allophones, .
See also List of Proto-Edoid reconstructions (Wiktionary)
Notes
References
Bibliography 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.