Southwestern Edoid languages

According to Ethnologue's language family tree classification, Okpe, Urhobo, and Uvwie, along with Eruwa and Isoko, form the five Southwestern Edoid languages under the Benue-Congo group. These languages are primarily spoken by the Urhobo ethnic group in Delta State, Nigeria.

Population

Ethnologue, quoting Johnstone (1993), estimates: - Urhobo: 546,000 speakers
- Okpe: 25,400 (as of 2000)
- Uvwie: 19,800 (as of 2000)

These languages are geographically bordered by: - Izon and Itsekiri to the west and south
- Ukwuani and Isoko to the east
- Edo to the north

Urhobo and Isoko are closely related languages, both belonging to the same linguistic family.

Isoko Literature

There is a notable literary presence for Urhobo and Isoko languages, including: - Bibles and Christian hymn books - Dictionaries: - Urhobo-English dictionaries by Ukere, Osubele, Julius Arerierian, and Ayemenokpe Osubele - A multilingual dictionary by Akpobome Diffre-Odiete featuring English, Okpe, Urhobo, and Uvwie, with over 900 entries

Dialects and Distribution

• Okpe (ISO 639-3: oke), Urhobo (urh), and Uvwie (evh) are distinct languages, not just dialects.
• All are spoken by members of the Urhobo ethnic nation, which comprises 24 political kingdoms:
  • Okpe: Spoken in one kingdom (the largest)
  • Uvwie: Spoken in two kingdoms
  • Urhobo: Spoken in the remaining 21 kingdoms, with Agbarho dialect serving as the standard for writing Urhobo
• Okpe and Uvwie speakers often prefer not to identify their languages as dialects of Urhobo. However, Urhobo, English, or Nigerian Pidgin is used for cross-communal communication.

Language Endangerment

Despite their cultural significance, all three languages are endangered to varying degrees:

Factors Contributing to Endangerment

1. Dominance of Nigerian Pidgin and English
2. Urbanization and cultural shifts, particularly in Sapele and Uvwie-speaking areas
3. Contact with other languages, such as Itsekiri and Izon
4. Non-implementation of National Policy on Education, which mandates mother tongue instruction in early education
5. Social stigma attached to speaking native languages
6. Mixed-language marriages, which often prioritize English for children
7. Exclusive documentation of Agbarho dialect, neglecting Okpe and Uvwie

Degree of Endangerment (Mowarin, 2005)

• Uvwie: Most endangered; severely affected in both urban and rural areas
• Okpe: Endangered in Sapele (major Okpe town) and rural areas
• Urhobo: Less endangered, but still vulnerable to English and Pidgin influence

These languages are now largely restricted to: - Traditional events - Elders' meetings - Some church services - Rural markets and homes

Further Reading

• Arerierian, Julius I. (2008). Ofotẹeta rẹ Urhobo: Dikshọnari rẹ Urhobo. Kwale: SSB Press.
• Aziza, Rose
  • (2007). “Urhobo Morphology”, “Phonology”, and “Syntax” in Basic Linguistics for Nigerian Languages Teachers. Aba: LAN.
  • (1997). Urhobo Tone System. PhD Thesis, University of Ibadan.
• Diffre-Odiete, Akpobome (2014). A Wordlist of Noun and Verb Groups in English-Urhobo-Uvwie-Okpe. Effurun: BISON Books.
• Mowarin, Macaulay (2005). “Language Endangerment in Urhoboland” in Studies in Urhobo Culture. Buffalo, NY: UHS.
• Ojaide, Tanure and Aziza, Rose (2007). The Urhobo Language Today. Lagos: Malthouse Press.
• Ojaide, Tanure and S. S. Ugheteni (1983). Yono Urhobo. Lagos: Macmillan.
• Ojaide, Tanure (2003). Poetry, Performance and Art: Udje Dance Songs of the Urhobo People. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.
• Osubele, Ayemenokpe (2001). A Dictionary of Urhobo Language. Warri: Dove Publishers.
• Ukere, Anthony O. (1990). Urhobo-English Dictionary. n.p.