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Ika language (Nigeria)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ika
RegionDelta and Edo state. Nigeria
EthnicityIka people
Native speakers
23,000 (2000)[1]
Niger–Congo?
Language codes
ISO 639-3ikk
Glottologikaa1238
Ika

The Ika language is an Igboid dialect, classified under Nuclear Igboid in the Yeai language family.[2]

The dialect is spoken primarily by the Ika people of Delta and Edo states of southern Nigeria.[3]

More specifically, the Ika people are in the North-West of Delta State; but some, like Igbanke, Inyelen and Ekpon, are currently in Edo State. Ika communities mostly comprise the following: Agbor, Owa, Umunede, Mbiri, Abavo, Orogodo, Otolokpo, Igbodo, Ute-Okpu, Ute-Ugbeje, Idumuesah, Akumazi, Ekpon, Igbanke, Inyelen, Iru egbede (Edo State).[3]

Other Ika-speaking communities found in Edo State are Owanikeke, Owa-Riuzo Idu, Igbogili, Ute Oheze, Owa Ute, Oheze Ute, Obagie N’Oheze, Oghada, and Ogan and Ute Obagie N’Oheze. On Delta Radio there is now news in the Ika language. Ikas have started to write the Bible in their language, and the gospels of Mark, Luke, Matthew and John have been published in Ika along with other books.[4] Ifeanyi Okowa is a prominent son of Ika background.[5]

Ika phonological comparisons

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A concise phonological juxtaposition among three distinct Ika dialects.[6]

English Akumuzi (North-East) dialect of Ika Owa (North South) dialect of Ika Agbor (South) dialect of Ika
‘cloth’ akwa ekwa ekwa
'paper' akuwo ekukwo ehuhwo
‘chewing stick’ atu etu etu
‘sponge’ elu eru eru
'sweet' uso uso uswo

Further reading

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  • Uguru, Joy Oluchi (2015). "Ika Igbo". Illustrations of the IPA. Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 45 (2): 213–219. doi:10.1017/S0025100315000067, with supplementary sound recordings.

References

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  1. ^ Ika at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ "Glottolog 4.8 - Ika". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  3. ^ a b Uguru, Joy Oluchi (20 July 2015). "Ika Igbo". Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 45 (2): 213–219. doi:10.1017/S0025100315000067. ISSN 0025-1003.
  4. ^ "Complete Bible now in Ika language". Ika Weekly Newspaper. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  5. ^ Dr, Mefor (28 June 2022). "Igbo ancestry: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has nothing to prove". Thecable.ng.
  6. ^ "The Ika community: a sociolinguistic description - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
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