Ekpeye language

Last updated
Ekpeye
ẹkpeye [1]
Native to Nigeria
Region Rivers State
Ethnicity Ekpeye people
Native speakers
226,000[ citation needed ] [2]
Niger–Congo?
Language codes
ISO 639-3 ekp
Glottolog ekpe1253

Ekpeye language is one of many Igbo dialects spoken in Rivers State, Nigeria. According to Roger Blench, Ekpeye is classified as an Igboid language. [3] The Ogba and Ikwerre dialects are closely related to Ekpeye.

Contents

Writing system

Ekpeye alphabet [1]
abbhchddheggbgwhijkkpkw
lmnnwnyopsshtuwwhyzzh

Phonology

Vowels

Ekpeye has nine vowel phonemes:

Vowels of Ekpeye
Front Back
Close i u
Near-close ɪ ʊ
Close-mid e o
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Open a

The language has no long nasal vowels, no contrast between oral and nasal vowels, and no allophonic variants. The vowels carry tones, as Ekpeye is a tonal language. Ekpeye exhibits active synchronic vowel harmony. [1]

Distribution

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ngulube, Isaac (2011). "Ekpeye Orthography". Orthographies of Nigerian Languages. IX. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  2. Ekpeye at Ethnologue (21st ed., 2018) Closed Access logo transparent.svg
  3. Blench, R. (2013). "A dictionary of Ekpeye : an Igboid language of Southern Nigeria" (PDF). Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.