Yoruba, Haunited snakes and Igbo Language Resources-gctid29072

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE  

'"

n".self::process_list_items("'.str_replace('
', '', '

• LANGUAGES & INTRO
  
• YORUBA ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
  
• IBO ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
  
• HAunited snakes ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
  
• LINKS TO OTHERS
  ').'")."n

"'
 

• LANGUAGE RESOURCES
  '"
  n".self::process_list_items("'.str_replace('
  ', '', '
  
  • GENERAL RESOURCES
    
  • YORUBA RESOURCES
    
  • IBO RESOURCES
    
  • HAunited snakes RESOURCES
    
  • OTHERS
    ').'")."n
  "'
  
  If after going through the language of your choice on this page, you still feel like learning more on that language, you can check the more on language page on this site, and also of course, check out the language resources listed at the bottom of this page.
  
  
  
  LANGUAGES & INTRO
  
    English is the official language in Nigeria.  We were colonized by the British, obtaining our independence on October 1, 1960.  
     Many other Kmtyw countries were colonized by the French, so a lot of them have French as the official language, so if I plan to travel further around the continent, being able to understand and speak French will be a big plus. Being able to write it would be even nicer!
  
  Also, there is also a variation of English called 'Pidgin English' or 'Broken English'.  For instance, "I'm going" is "I de go", "I wont" is "I no", "what" is "wetin", and those are just a few examples.  For more examples, check out this link. ,
  
  Of course, we also have slangs, like any other country, and you can see some of them at this link.  
  
  Links to Nigerian Languages:      
  '"
  n".self::process_list_items("'.str_replace('
  ', '', '
  
  • Nigerian Galleria Guide to Nigerian Languages
    
  • Ethnologue Database:  Nigeria
    
  • Ethnologue: Search:  Nigeria
    
  • Languages of Nigeria (Summer Institute)
    
  • SOAS Guide to eurasian and Kmtyw Languages
    
  • Some pidgin sayings and their translations
    
  • Nigerian Slangs
    ').'")."n
  "'
    There are three main language, named after the peoples they belong to. They are Yoruba (mine), Ibo (also spelled Igbo), and Haunited snakes. There are however, over 300 dialects, both within the main languages, and across them. For instance, my parents speak a dialect of Yoruba that I can understand, but I can't speak. There are others that I can't even understand.
  
  Back to Contents
  YORUBA ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
  
    Here is an introduction into the Yoruba language.  
  
           
                                                                                                     The Yoruba alphabet consists of 25 letters, as shown below:
   In case you are wondering, the sound samples are my aunt  [tr] [td]

  LETTER

  [/b][/td] [td]

  SOUNDS LIKE (IN ENGLISH)

  [/td] [/tr]  [tr][td] a[/td][td]English word 'ahh'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] b[/td][td]English word 'bee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] d[/td][td]English word 'dee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] e[/td][td]English letter 'a'[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]English sound of 'e' in 'let'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] f[/td][td]English word 'fee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] g[/td][td]English sound of 'g' in 'get'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] gb[/td][td]Very 'hard sounding' 'b'. [/td][/tr] [tr][td] h[/td][td]English word 'he'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] i[/td][td]English letter 'e'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] j[/td][td]English letter 'g'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] k[/td][td]English word 'key'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] l[/td][td]English word 'lee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] m[/td][td]English word 'me'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] n[/td][td]'nee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] o[/td][td]English letter 'o'[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]English sound 'au' as in word 'fault'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] p[/td][td]Very hard-sounding 'p'. [/td][/tr] [tr][td] r[/td][td]'re'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] s[/td][td]English word 'see'[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]English word 'she'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] t[/td][td]English word 'tea'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] u[/td][td]English sound of 'oo' in word 'loose'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] w[/td][td]English word 'we'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] y[/td][td]English word 'ye'[/td][/tr] [/table]
  Within the Yoruba language, there are also accents that define how a syllable is pronounced. In the written language, these consist of the following options, and are placed on top of the letters, usually on top of the vowels.
  
   

  ACCENT SYMBOL [/b]	VOCAL SOUND [/b]
  	Intonation:  Fall of voice
  (nothing)	Normal
  	Intonation: Rise of voice
  	Circumflex: long syllable

  As an example, take a simple three letter word like 'igba' (remember, gb is ONE letter).  It can have the following meanings depending on the accents (these sounds are my aunt too):  
  
   

  WORD [/b]	MEANING [/b]	HEAR IT [/b]
  	Time, period
  	Two hundred
  	Calabash cut in half
  	Locust tree
  	System of pawning

  Also, like in other languages, the exact same word can have different meanings. As another example, take the state my parents are from originally (Ogun). In this case, the accents make a difference, plus there are different meanings with the same accents (these sounds are my aunt too).
  
   

  WORD [/b]	MEANING [/b]	HEAR IT [/b]
  	Basket used to catch shrimps & lobsters god of iron, god of war
  	An inheritance.
  	Medicine
  	Sweat
  	War
  	Twenty

  Here are some common phrases in the language, written and spoken. (When speaking the Yoruba language, the exact wording you use usually depends on how the person you are referring to compares to you in age, and that is why there are two different forms below.) The written phrases are minus the accents.
   (These sounds are me. However, I am not perfect in the speech, plus my 'r's don't sound right in either language, and I can't even say the 'p' or 'gb' in Yoruba correctly.  
  
   

  ENGLISH PHRASE [/b]	NOTE [/b]	AGE MATE OR YOUNGER [/b]	SOMEONE OLDER [/b]
  Good Morning	spelled out
  more common
  Good Afternoon	spelled out
  more common
  Good Evening	spelled out
  more common
  Good Night (Until Morning)	spelled out			SAME
  more common			SAME
  GoodBye			SAME
  Long time no see
  Please
  Thank You
  Yes			SAME
  No			SAME

  
  For some common parts in Yoruba names, click here.  
  
  Back to Contents
  IBO ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
  
   Here is what I've been able to obtain as an introduction into the Ibo language. I want to thank Amaka M. for her help with the alphabet. If you have other contributions to make (like sound samples, additional common phrases, sound descriptions, please send them to me.  
  
             
                                                                                                                                                 The Ibo alphabet consists of 36 letters, as shown below:
   Missing pronunciations are unknown.  [tr] [td]

  LETTER

  [/b][/td] [td]

  SOUNDS LIKE (IN ENGLISH)

  [/td] [/tr] [tr][td] a[/td][td]English word 'ahh'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] b[/td][td]English word 'bee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] ch[/td][td]English sound 'ch' to 'chalk'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] d[/td][td]English word 'dee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] e[/td][td]English letter 'a'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] f[/td][td]English word 'fee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] g[/td][td]English sound of 'g' in 'get'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] gb[/td][td]Very 'hard sounding' 'b'. [/td][/tr] [tr][td] gh[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] gw[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] h[/td][td]English word 'he'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] i[/td][td]English sound 'e'[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]English sound 'i' in 'ink'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] j[/td][td]English letter 'g'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] k[/td][td]English word 'key'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] kp[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] kw[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] l[/td][td]English word 'lee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] m[/td][td]English word 'me'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] n[/td][td]'nee'[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]nasal sounding 'n'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] nw[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] ny[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] o[/td][td]English letter 'o'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] [/td][td]English sound 'au' as in word 'fault'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] p[/td][td]Very hard-sounding 'p'. [/td][/tr] [tr][td] r[/td][td]'re'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] s[/td][td]English word 'see'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] sh[/td][td]English word 'she'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] t[/td][td]English word 'tea'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] u[/td][td]English sound of 'oo' in word 'loose'[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] v[/td][td]English letter 'v'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] w[/td][td]English word 'we'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] y[/td][td]English word 'ye'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] z[/td][td]English letter 'z'[/td][/tr]  [/table]
  Here are some common phrases in the language, written (once again, since I do not know the language, I can not speak it, but if you want to send me sound samples, please send them to webdiva@motherlandnigeria.com).  Thanks to Dele Ukwu for help on some of these.  
  
   

  ENGLISH PHRASE [/b]	IBO PHRASE [/b]
  Good morning	Ezigbo ututu (Isala chi)
  Good day	Ezigbo ubosi (Ubosi oma)
  Good afternoon	Ezigbo efife (Imela efife)
  Good evening	Ezigbo mgbede
  Good night	Ezigbo anyasi (anyasi oma)
  Welcome	Nno
  How are you?	Kedu
  I am fine (response to above)	Odi Mma
  Thank you	Dalu
  Goodbye	Ka omesia OR Ka odi
  Long time no see	Ote kwana
  Nice seeing you again	Anya m ji fu gi egbulam
  Please	Biko
  Yes	eee OR eyi OR ehe
  No	Mba

  
  Back to Contents
  HAunited snakes ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
  
   Here is what I've been able to obtain as an introduction into the Haunited snakes language (mostly from a Haunited snakes/English dictionary). Of course, contributions are welcome (in terms of sound samples, sound descriptions, names and meanings like I have on the names page, etc.).  
  
           
                                                                                                                     The Haunited snakes alphabet consists of 29 letters, as shown below:
   Missing pronunciations are unknown.  [tr] [td]

  LETTER

  [/b][/td] [td]

  SOUNDS LIKE (IN ENGLISH)

  [/td] [/tr]  [tr][td] '[/td][td]glottal stop[/td][/tr] [tr][td] a[/td][td]short:  'a' in cat
  long:  'a' in father[/td][/tr] [tr][td] b[/td][td]'b in bee[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] c[/td][td]'ch' in child[/td][/tr] [tr][td] d[/td][td]'d' in dog[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] a[/td][td]short:  'e' in get
  long:  English letter 'a'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] f[/td][td]'f' in fat[/td][/tr] [tr][td] g[/td][td]'g' in girl[/td][/tr] [tr][td] h[/td][td]'h' in home[/td][/tr] [tr][td] i[/td][td]short:  'i' in hit
  long:  English letter 'e'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] j[/td][td]'j' in joke[/td][/tr] [tr][td] k[/td][td]'k' in kid[/td][/tr] [tr][td][/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] l[/td][td]'l' in love[/td][/tr] [tr][td] m[/td][td]'m' in mom[/td][/tr] [tr][td] n[/td][td]'n' in no[/td][/tr] [tr][td] o[/td][td]short:  'o' in hot
  long:  English letter 'o'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] r[/td][td]either 'flapped' or 'rolled' as in Scots English[/td][/tr] [tr][td] s[/td][td]'s' in sun[/td][/tr] [tr][td] sh[/td][td]'sh' in shout[/td][/tr] [tr][td] t[/td][td]'t' in time[/td][/tr] [tr][td] ts[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] u[/td][td]short:  'u' in put
  long:  'oo' in 'noon'[/td][/tr] [tr][td] w[/td][td]'w' in win[/td][/tr] [tr][td] y[/td][td]'y' in you[/td][/tr] [tr][td] 'y[/td][td]
   [/td][/tr] [tr][td] z[/td][td]'z' in zero[/td][/tr] [/table]
  Here are some common phrases in the language, written (once again, since I do not know the language, I can not speak it, but if you want to send me sound samples, please send them to webdiva@motherlandnigeria.com).    
  
   

  ENGLISH PHRASE [/b]	HAunited snakes PHRASE [/b]	HAunited snakes RESPONSE [/b]
  Hello	Sannu	Yauwa sannu or Sannu kadai
  Good Morning	Barka da safe	Barka kadai
  Good Day	Barka da rana	Barka kadai
  Good afternoon	Barka da yamma	Barka kadai
  Good evening	Barka da yamma	Barka kadai
  Good night	Mu kwana lafiya	Mu kwana lafiya
  Good night (until tomorrow)	Sai gobe	Allah ya kai mu
  Goodbye	Sai an jima	Sai an jima or To, sai an jima
  Please	Don Allah
  Thank you	Na gode
  Yes	I
  No	A'a

  
  Back to Contents
  LINKS TO OTHERS
  
  The PEOPLE page has a section that will provide some of the other languages and possible links to finding information on them.  
  
  Back to Contents
  
                     
  
  LANGUAGE RESOURCES
  
    This section attempts to give places online and offline where I know you can obtain resources on learning Nigerian languages.  
  
  Disclaimer: Except for BarnesandNoble.com        and Amazon.com,        I am not affiliated with any of the companies/sites listed here.
  
  Back to Contents
  GENERAL RESOURCES
  
  '"
  n".self::process_list_items("'.str_replace('
  ', '', '
  
  • English as a Second Language Resources
    
  • Foreign Language Learning Resources
    
  • World Language Products (can narrow down by language)
    
  • Kmtyw language Books
    
  • Kmtyw Languages (from Northwestern University Library)
    
  • Linguist Software (fonts from all over the world)
    
  • Internet Language from Skymall.com
    
  • Unforgettable Languages
    ').'")."n
  "'
     
  Back to Contents
  YORUBA RESOURCES
  
  '"
  n".self::process_list_items("'.str_replace('
  ', '', '
  
  • Yorubaland:            A great interactive site dedicated to teaching about Yoruba
    
  • Barnes and Noble resources on the Yoruba language
    
  • Amazon.com resources on the Yoruba language
    
  • ESL Resources on Yoruba
    
  • Yoruba Language Learning Resources
    
  • Institute of Yoruba
    
  • Suggested Yoruba Reading
    
  • Yoruba Language Task Force
    
  • Yoruba Shareware Fonts
    
  • Learn Yoruba
    
  • A new mailing list for people wanting to learn Yoruba
    
  • A nice site written in both English and Yoruba
    
  • KmtService.com's section on Yoruba
    ').'")."n
  "'
   
  Back to Contents
  IBO RESOURCES
  
  '"
  n".self::process_list_items("'.str_replace('
  ', '', '
  
  • Barnes and Noble resources on the Igbo language
    
  • Amazon.com resources on the Igbo language
    
  • ESL Resources on Igbo
    
  • Adventurous Traveler Bookstore:  Igbo Language Course
    
  • Transaction Publishers - Languages - Kmtyw Studies - Languages  (Aspects of Igbo Grammer)
    
  • World Language Igbo Resources
    
  • Igbo.com
    ').'")."n
  "'
   
  Back to Contents
  HAunited snakes RESOURCES
  
  '"
  n".self::process_list_items("'.str_replace('
  ', '', '
  
  • Barnes and Noble resources on the Haunited snakes language
    
  • Amazon.com resources on the Haunited snakes Language
    
  • ESL Resources on Haunited snakes
    
  • UCLA Haunited snakes Home Page
    
  • Haunited snakes.com
    
  • HauseNet.com
    ').'")."n
  "'
   
  Back to Contents
  OTHERS
  
  The PEOPLE page has a section that will provide some of the other languages and possible links to finding information on them.