Isoko
RegionNigeria
EthnicityIsoko
Native speakers
680,000 (2020)[1]
Niger–Congo?
Language codes
ISO 639-3iso
Glottologisok1239

Isoko[2] is one of the languages in Delta State[3] spoken by the Isoko people in Isoko South, North and part of Ndokwa East Local Government Areas [4] of Delta State,[5] Southern part of Nigeria in Niger Delta region.[6] It is also spoken in some part of Bayelsa. The Isoko language [7] has close similarities between them and Edo people with other 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.[8] Language[9] is a mark of identity and plays an all-important role in the life of a people. The Isoko language [10] however, is being threatened with extinction as reported by Idudhe (2002), as a result of neglect in teaching, learning and use.[11] The Isoko language[12] has about 20 to 21 dialects, but the Aviara/Uzere dialect is the standard dialect of the language.[13]

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.[14]

Orthography

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

Vowels

A E Ẹ I O Ọ U

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 Merigwẹ Do
Thank you WHẸ KOBIRUO Do

References

  1. ↑ Isoko at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ↑ "language | Definition, Types, Characteristics, Development, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  3. ↑ "Delta State Government- The BIG Heart". Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  4. ↑ "Nigeria: Administrative Division (States and Local Government Areas) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  5. ↑ "Brief History of Delta State:: Nigeria Information & Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  6. ↑ "The Niger Delta – Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group". Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  7. ↑ "language | Definition, Types, Characteristics, Development, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  8. ↑ "Isoko". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  9. ↑ "language | Definition, Types, Characteristics, Development, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  10. ↑ "language | Definition, Types, Characteristics, Development, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "language | Definition, Types, Characteristics, Development, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  13. ↑ "language | Definition, Types, Characteristics, Development, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  14. ↑ "Isoko". archive.phonetics.ucla.edu.


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