Igboid languages

Igboid languages constitute a branch of the Volta–Niger language family. It includes Ekpeye, Ukwuani, and the Igbo languages:

• Ekpeye
• Igbo: Igbo, Ikwerre, Ika, Izii–Ikwo–Ezza–Mgbo, and Ogba.

Igboid
Geographic distribution	South central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south the Benue
Linguistic classification	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Volta-Niger Igboid
Subdivisions	Igbo Ekpeye Ukwuani
Glottolog	igbo1258[1]

Williamson and Blench conclude that the Igbo languages (Igboid apart from Ekpeye) form a "language cluster" and that they are somewhat mutually intelligible.[2] However, mutual intelligibility is only marginal, even among the Izii–Ikwo–Ezaa–Mgbo languages.[3]

Names and locations

Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[4]

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, Ọmagwna (Ọmuegwna), Ipo, Ọmudioga, Ọmuanwa, Igwuruta, Egbedna, Alụu, Ịbaa; Southern dialects: Akpọ–Mgbu–Tolu, Ọbio, Ọgbakiri, Rụmuji, Ndele, Emọhua	Ikwerre		Ìwhnuruò`hnà				54,600 (1950 F&J)[5]; possibly 200,000 (SIL)	Rivers State, Ikwerre, 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)	Anambra State, Abakaliki and Ishielu LGAs; Benue State, Okpokwu LGA
Ẹzaa	Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo		Eza						93,800 (1950 F&J); 180,000 (1973 SIL)	Anambra State, Ezza and Ishielu LGAs; Abia State, Ohaozara LGA; Benue State, Okpokwu LGA
Ikwo	Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo								38,500 (1950 F&J); 150,000 (1973 SIL)	Anambra State, Ikwo and Abakaliki LGAs
Mgbo	Izii–Ẹzaa–Ikwo–Mgbo		Ngbo						19,600 (1950 F&J); 63,000 (1973 SIL)	Anambra State, Ishielu LGA
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)[6]	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

• List of Proto-Igboid reconstructions (Wiktionary)

References

1. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Igboid". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
2. Williamson, Kay; Roger M. Blench (2000). African languages: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.
4. Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
5. 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.
6. Clark, David J. 1969. A grammatical study of Ekpeye. University of London doctoral dissertation.

• Blench, Roger. 2016. A reconstruction of the phonology of proto-Igboid.