Ekpeye language

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

Ekpeye is one of many languages spoken in Rivers State. It is spoken by a culturally homogeneous people who are located in different administrative units known as Igbu (Kingdoms). Ikwerre is one the languages spoken in Rivers State and it is related to Ekpeye. Earlier articles described Ekpeye as having four mutually intelligible dialects classified according to the designations of the different Igbu as Ubie, Akoh, Igbuduya and Upata. The 'four dialects' only have minor differences in lexicon and phonology. In phonology, for example, the only difference is in the use of the alveolar implosive/dh/ by the Ubie and Igbuduya speakers while Akoh and Upata speakers use the alvelar plosive /t/ before a verbal suffix -hwu. It is important to note that the four Igbu mentioned have undergone further divisions.

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

Related Research Articles

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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