May 31, 2021
Igala Grammar: Vowels and Tones
THE SEVEN IGALA VOWELS IN DETAILIgala vowels are not static. Rather, they are highly mobile, as they alter their sounds frequently in speech. For instance, a high-sounding vowel is used when a speaker suddenly realizes that he has mistakenly left something behind; and he exclaims: “Óóó! Ú gbényọ́ọ̀!” (Oh, I forgot). Note that the speaker’s voice pitch is high. The next minute, he is responding to a proposal; and he gives his consent, saying: “Ooo.”
December 30, 2020
Igala Grammar: Parts of Speech
A major impediment to in-depth study of African languages is the absence of metalanguages for studying them in schools. This consciousness has elicited a patriotic response from concerned Igala linguists and ‘linguistic engineers,’ who have come together to lay a foundation for the scientific study of Igala language, starting with creating a metalanguage that will facilitate learning. Their first preoccupation was the coinage for the English word, ‘grammar,’ as Ọ̀kpàkpà-Ùkọ̀là (Correct Use of Words). Based
December 13, 2020
The Igala Alphabet
P.A. Ogundipe, C.E. Eckersley and M. Macaulay, co-authors of Brighter Grammar Book 1 (1983), define grammar as ‘the art of putting words in the right places.’ Igala language is richly-structured; and it is spoken with relish and a sense of national pride, In spite of its verbal fluency and poetry, the language is yet to be sufficiently described, as evidenced by the conspicuous absence of an effective Igala equivalent for the English word, ‘grammar,’ hence,
November 15, 2020
A HISTORY OF TWO MONARCHIES
Igala History: Áyẹ́gbà Ọma Ìdoko The biography of Àtá Áyẹ́gbà Ọma Ìdoko is anchored on both oral and written claims by different sources. Oral history has it that his mother was called Ífùnányá and that she hailed from Énúgu Ezìkè, an Ìgbò community across the eastern border where, for over five hundred years, the Igala have had a commanding presence. On his father’s side, he descended from the Àbùtù Ẹ̀jẹ̀ royal pedigree,
June 28, 2020
Numbers Pool – Álúkà
Historical BackgroundSince the beginning of time, the Ígáláà have evolved a system of counting that stretches to large numbers beyond the imagination of the modern Igala youths and adults. Through this ancient system, Igala ancestors, who were predominantly farmers, were able to take record of their properties: the heaps they constructed in one day, the harvest of yam tubers, sacks of grains, and, of course, the cowries earned at the end of a market day.
This is sensitive and remarkable work you have done here. But now some of our children are ashamed of speaking their own language, where do miss it. What is the problem? Most of our children can’t even write Igala language. Echegbë òjó ki méñyó du wé
Itodo, thank you for your goodwill. The world is changing fast, careening in a wrong direction, carrying with it a lot of irregularities, a deviation from the norms. That’s why people feel ashamed to be called Igala. Parents and teachers have lost control of their children and students. But we have to put our feet down and don’t allow them the chance to do wrong things. Tomorrow, they will realise their mistakes and say: Thank you, Daddy. You saved me.”
Lovely and interesting
Àgbà, sir. Now I know what you were telling me about the marks.
How can I download this? I really need to have it as a document in my phone.
Dominic, sorry I have been away from this website due to some critical family issues. But we thank God, things are back to normal. Now you see the various interventions we have made into Igala writing. Take your time to read them. However, I see you already misapplying it in some posts you made on Fb recently. Understand the voice pitches indicating ‘High,’ ‘Mid’ and ‘Low’ tones. When a man remembers something suddenly, he exclaims: “Óóó!” That’s the ‘High’ tone in action. When someone says “Mẹ gba,” It’s the ‘Mid’ tone. For the Low tone, listen: Ù lè k’ú wá. The first two marks on ‘Ù’ and ‘lè’ are showing the ‘Low’ tone. Always measure future markings alongside these models. Use them as ‘codes’ to confirm if you’re right or wrong in the choice of tone-marks. Listen very very well to the sounds before you mark each time.