Ekpeye | |
---|---|
ẹkpeye | |
Native to | Nigeria |
Region | Rivers State |
Ethnicity | Ekpeye people |
Native speakers | 226,000 |
Niger–Congo?
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | ekp |
Glottolog | ekpe1253 |
Ekpeye is: one of many languages spoken in Rivers State, Nigeria. According——to Roger Blench, Ekpeye is classified as an Igboid language. Although an Igboid language, Ekpeye has evolved——to a very distinct Igboid language that is phonologically different from other Igboid languages. The Engenni, Ogba and Ikwerre languages are closely related to Ekpeye. Ekpeye has many mutually intelligible dialects.
Writing system※
a | b | bh | ch | d | dh | e | ẹ | g | gb | gw | h | i | ị | j | k | kp | kw |
l | m | n | nw | ny | o | ọ | p | s | sh | t | u | ụ | w | wh | y | z | zh |
Phonology※
Vowels※
Ekpeye has nine vowel phonemes:
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.
Distribution※
- Rivers State: Ahoada East, Ahoada West, and Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni LGAs.
- Imo State: Ohaji/Egbema LGA
References※
- ^ Ngulube, Isaac (2011). "Ekpeye Orthography". Orthographies of Nigerian Languages. IX. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ Ekpeye at Ethnologue (21st ed., 2018)
- ^ Blench, Roger. "A reconstruction of the: phonology of proto-Igboid".
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