Ch.+2+Igbo+Language+-+BJ

=﻿Language of Igbo =

Igbo is one of the most indigenous languages of Southern Nigeria and is the second most popular language. It is spoken by an estimated amount of 20-25 million people. There are four official languages of nigeria and Igbo language is a member of the Niger- Congo family languages. Variety of dialects of Igbo language include Owerri (Isuama), Onitsha, Umuahia, Orlu, Ngwa, Afikpo, Nsa, Oguta, Aniocha, Eche, Egbema, Oka (Awka), Bonny-Opobo, Mbaise, Nsuka, Ohuhu, Unwana. The dialects vary in inherent intelligibility. Among the dialects, the standard literary form is developing based on the dialects of Owerri and Umuahia. The language is used officially in the southeast. It is the main trade language of Abia, anambra,

Alphabets and Pronounciations


This is the official Igbo alphabet and pronoucitation.From the numerous Igbo language dialects, there are some which are not mutually intelligible. The standard written form of Igbo is based on Owerri and Umuahia. It has been used since 1962.

Understanding of language:
Igbo is mainly a spoken language today, and not much of the literature such as writing exists. Reading and writing Igbo is not widespread around the world, it is mostly used as a spoken language. Igbo is taught at all levels in eastern Nigerian schools, but English remains as the literacy language that is to be studied further - on. These days, in many urban areas, English often replaces Igbo. Igbo is a tonal language, which means it has tones, two distinctive tones, high and low. And in some cases there is a third town, and down-stepped high tone is also recognized. Many names in Igbo langauge is fusions of older original words and phrases. Example: A Igbo word for vegetable leaves is "akwukwo nri," which literally means "leaves for eating," or "vegetables."

Igbo, just like many other West African languages, has borrowed many of the words from English. Example of loanwords: Blue is Blu Operator is Opareto

This is a map of Nigeria, mainly where the Igbo langauge is spoken.

Video
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This is a Igbo language convention held somewhere in Washington D.C. you can get a basic understanding of how the langauge sounds like in a conversation and speeches.

External Link:
If you are interested in the Igbo language and how it developed, you can visit this website to find <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">out more in- dept information about the history and development. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are interested in learning the Igbo language, here is some ways to learn it. []

Picture Sources:
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Works Cited:
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "Ethnologue Report for Language Code: Ibo." //Ethnologue, Languages of the World//. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ibo>. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "Igbo Language - NigerianWiki." //Main Page - NigerianWiki//. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://nigerianwiki.com/wiki/Igbo_language>. "Igbo Language, Alphabet and Pronunciation." //Omniglot - the Guide to Languages, Alphabets and Other Writing Systems//. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://www.omniglot.com/writing/igbo.htm>. // IGBO //. University of Pennsylvania. PDF. Time, By This. "Igbohistory." //Columbia University in the City of New York//. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00fwp/igbo/igbohistory.html>.