Ibibio-Efik languages
Central Ibibio is the major dialect cluster of the Cross River [language |Cross River] branch of Benue–Congo. Efik proper has national status in Nigeria and was erroneously made the literary standard of the Ibibio language, though Ibibio proper has more native speakers.
Varieties
Efik-Ibibio is a dialect cluster spoken by about 15 million people of Akwa Ibom State and about 5 million people of Cross River States of Nigeria, making it the fifth largest language cluster in Nigeria after Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Fulani.The major Efik-Ibibio languages are:
Minor varieties, according to Williamson and Blench, are:
- Ekit, with dialect Etebi
- Efai
- Ibuoro, with dialects Ibuoro proper, Ito, Itu Mbon Uzo and Nkari
- Eki
- Idere
- Ukwa