UNIT 2 ISI NKE ABỤỌ IGBO SOUNDS AND TONES

Objective

the tone marks are located above vowels,and vowel look alikes. Ihe mmuta (Objectives) As learners of Igbo language, it is crucial to master the tonality of the language in order to avoid mistakes and confusions with words that are similar in their graphem

Introduction

Nkọwa (introduction) Igbo is a tone language just like many African languages. This means that some Igbo words look alike in their spellings but have different sounds and meanings. These words can be distinguished using tone marks - “ákàrá údà” in writing or voice pitches in speed. For example, the word “akwa” can mean many different things when given different tone marks or pronounced in different voice pitches. àkwá (low/high) – egg àkwà (low/low)– bed ákwà (high/low) – cloth ákwá (high/high) – cry The above words might seem difficult to grasp and articulate but with the use of the tone marks and the different voice pitches, a native speaker will be able to differentiate them easily. The key is consonant practice. Humming and whistling are also helpful when marking the tones. Often the tone marks are located above vowels,and vowel look alikes.

Lesson Vocabulary

Maka		Because
Na		Is/are
Nwe		Have
Nwe		Have
Tinye		Put
Tiwara		Broke

Lesson Conversation:

Lesson Monologue

Lesson Note

Grammar Notes

IGBO SOUNDS AND TONES

There are three basic tones.
Uda ala (low tones)
Uda etiti (mid tones)
Uda elu (high tones)
Each tone has a distinctive mark.
Low Tone: ( ` ) àkwà (bed)
Mid Tone: ( – ) egō (money)
High Tone: ( ´ ) ákwá (cry)
Note: although helpful, the use of tone marks is not a common practice.

TONAL MARKERS: High tone (udaelu)

1. ísí – head
2. ányá – eye
3. ókú – fire
4. éhí – cow
5. ákí – palm nut
6. ọkpụkpụ – bone
7. úgwú – hill
8. ígírígé – dew
9. áwụkwó – book
10. íké – power
11. ígwú – lice
12. nnú – salt
13. mbó – finger nail
14. ímí – nose
15. áká – hand
16. ényí – elephant
17. nrí – food

Mid tone (ụdaetiti)

1. ụkā – sour
2. éwī – rabbit
3. ánū – bee
4. égō – money
5. ányánwụ – sun
6. ịchụ – to pursue
7. anwụ – mosquito
8. mmérī – defeat
9. úgbō – farm
10. éwū – goat
11. ánū – meat
12. mgbā – wrestling
13. ézē – teeth
14. ọnụ – mouth

Low tone – ụdaala

1. àlà – land
2. àkwà – bed
3. àkù – wealth
4. àgbà – jaw
5. ìgbà – drum
6. òkàrà – half
7. mgbè – when
8. ùdò – eagle
9. ènwè – monkey
10. ùkpàlà –
species of
grasshopper
11. àjà – sacrifice
12. àmàrà – favor

High & Low Tone / Low & High Tones

1. ézè – king
2. ákwà – cloth
3. úlò – house
4. óbì – heart
5. mbè – tortoise
6. ntì – ear

Low & High Tones
1. òké – rat
2. ùbé – pear
3. ìgbé – box
4. ùbá – wealth
5. àhú – body
6. òbí – central common room in a house, like a family room
Note that no word has only mid tones.

Lesson Exercise

Class Exercise

Insert the appropriate tone marks. Listen carefully as these words are pronounced. Pronounce each using their different tones.

1) mi mụ ra

2) ha ya fa

3) ba ba ba

4) re re re

5) sa sa sa

6) fa fa fa

7) kp kp kp

8) ch ch ch

9) gh gh gh

10) gw gw gw

11) nw nw nw

12) ny ny ny

13) sh sh sh

14) kw kw kw

15) gb gb gb

16) fụ fụ fụ

17) fọ fọ fọ

18) so so so

19) lu lu lu

Ihe Odide (Assignment)

Say and record these words in their correct tones.

1) ákwà (egg)

2) ányà (eyes)

3) isi (head)

4) égēdègē (type of dance)

5) úlò (house)

6) ákwùkwó (book)

7) àkwà (cry)

Listen carefully to these words and insert the appropriate tone marks.

1) aka (hand)

2) ụzọ (door)

3) eze (teeth)

4) eze (king)

5) akpa (bag)

6) nti (ear)

7) afọ (stomach)

8) enwe (monkey)

9) ọnụ (mouth)

10) ike (bottom)

Distinguish meanings by tone marking these words :

1. akwa – egg akwa – cry akwa – cloth akwa - bed

2. eze – teeth eze – king

3. nti – cheek ntị - ear

4. obi – heart obi – compound

5. Enyi – friend enyi – elephant

Word play and sound discrimination

1. Eze tiwara eze ihu ya.

2. Akwa din a Akwa.

3. M bere akwa na akwa maka m nọdụrụ ala na akwa.

4. M tinye akwa na akpa.

5. Eze nwe obi di mma