Isoko language

Isoko
Isoko
Region	Nigeria
Ethnicity	Isoko
Native speakers	420,000 (2001)
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta–Niger yeai Edoid Southwestern Isoko; ; ; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-3	iso
Glottolog	isok1239

The Isoko Language is an Edoid language, one of the languages in Delta State spoken by the Isoko people in Isoko South, North and part of Ndokwa East Local Government Areas of Delta State, Southern part of Nigeria in Niger Delta region. It is also spoken in some parts of Bayelsa. The Isoko language has close similarities between them and Edo people with other Edoid language because it is an Edoid language. The Isoko people are “an ethnic nationality made up of people and their ancestral roots can be traced through history to the Benin (Aka) kingdom, attested to by the linguistic and cultural similarities that exist between the Isoko people and the Benin (Aka) people” although a few of the Isoko communities or clans have their origins attached to the Ibo language and Urhobo language. Some 750,000 people consider themselves Isoko.^[2] Language is a mark of identity and plays an all-important role in the life of a people. The Isoko language however, is being threatened with extinction as reported by Idudhe (2002), as a result of neglect in teaching, learning and use. ^[3] The Isoko language has about 20 to 21 dialects, but the Aviara/Uzere dialect is the standard dialect of the language.^{[citation needed]}

Michael A. Marioghae, working with Peter Ladefoged in 1962, made one of a few audio recordings of sample Isoko words that are made available at the UCLA phonetics archive.^[4]

Phonology[]

Alphabet

A B D E Ẹ F G H I J K L M N O Ọ P R S T U V W Y Z

The Vowels

A E Ẹ I O Ọ U

The Consonants

B D F G H J K L M N P R S T V W Y Z

Digraphs

GB, GH, KP, HW, WH, TH, SH, NW, NY, CH

Some greetings in Isoko Language[]

Greetings in English and their Translations in Isoko
Longest time	U kri nọ!	Kinọ ẹro!
Well done	Whọ kobiruo	Whọ daoma/Do
Bye bye	Yere ob'uwou	Jọ tou tou
How is your family?	Ẹvẹ ẹkuẹ ra?	Kọ ẹvẹ obọ uwou?
Hope all is well?	Wha sasa?
Have you eaten?	Whọ re emu no?	Whọ re ọrẹ no?/whọ lọ no?
Good morning/afternoon	Merigwo	Do
Thank you	WHẸ KOBIRUO	Do

References[]

^ Isoko at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
^ "Isoko". Oxford Reference. doi:10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100012876. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
^ Idudhe, P.A (2002). Threat of Extinction to Minority Languages: An Overview of the Isoko Language” in Arohunmolase Oyewole. Ondo: Complete Computers and Education Services.
^ "Isoko". archive.phonetics.ucla.edu.

External links[]

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[e18-1] Isoko at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)

[2] "Isoko". Oxford Reference. doi:10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100012876. Retrieved 2021-09-16.

[3] Idudhe, P.A (2002). Threat of Extinction to Minority Languages: An Overview of the Isoko Language” in Arohunmolase Oyewole. Ondo: Complete Computers and Education Services.

[4] "Isoko". archive.phonetics.ucla.edu.

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