LESSON TWENTY FIVE Xayawaanada 4 | Animals 4 Duurjoog | Wild Animals

Nkọwa (Introduction) The Igbo language is one of the major languages in Nigeria, spoken predominantly by the Igbos in eastern part of the country. There are currently 7 Igbo speaking states namely Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Delta, Rivers. Though each state has its own variation of Igbo, there is a central Igbo spoken and understood by all. Igbo is a Kwa language of the Benue-Congo subfamily of the Volta-Congo and Atlantic-Congo branches of the Niger-Congo language family. This language course will focus on the central Igbo and point out variations when necessary.

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.