Igboid languages
Branch of the YEAI Languages / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Igboid languages constitute a branch of the Volta–Niger language family. The subgroups are:
- Ekpeye
- Nuclear Igboid: Igbo, Ikwerre, Ika, Izii–Ikwo–Ezza–Mgbo, Ogba, Ishiagu and Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni
Quick Facts Geographic distribution, Linguistic classification ...
Igboid | |
---|---|
Geographic distribution | South central Nigeria, lower reaches of the Niger River and east, south the Benue |
Linguistic classification | Niger–Congo? |
Proto-language | Proto-Igboid |
Glottolog | igbo1258 |
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Williamson and Blench conclude that the Nuclear Igboid languages (Igboid apart from Ekpeye) form a "language cluster" and that they are somewhat mutually intelligible.[1] However, mutual intelligibility is only marginal, even among the Izii–Ikwo–Ezaa–Mgbo languages. Igboid languages are being spoken by nearly 40 million people.[2]