Volta–Niger languages


The Volta–Niger family of languages, also known as West Benue–Congo or East Kwa, is one of the branches of the Niger–Congo language family, with perhaps 70 million speakers. Among these are the most important languages of southern Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and southeast Ghana: Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, and Gbe.
These languages have variously been placed within the Kwa or Benue–Congo families or, starting in the 1970s, combined with them altogether. Williamson & Blench separate the languages here called Volta-Niger from the others. Güldemann fails to see clear criteria for dividing the languages into two or three families and maintains the broad grouping and name of Benue-Kwa for all them.

Branches

The constituent groups of the Volta–Niger family, along with the most important languages in terms of number of speakers, are as follows :
The Yoruboid languages and Akoko were once linked as the Defoid branch, but more recently they, Edoid, and Igboid have been suggested to be primary branches of an as-yet unnamed group, often abbreviated. Similarly, Oko, Nupoid, and Idomoid are often grouped together under the acronym. Ukaan is an Atlantic–Congo language, but it is unclear if it belongs to the Volta–Niger family; Blench suspects it is closer to Benue–Congo.
In an automated computational analysis by Müller et al. :
  • Gbe and Yoruboid are subsumed within Kwa.
  • Edoid and Cross River group together.
  • Akpes and Ukaan group together.
  • Oko is grouped within Idomoid.

    Branches and locations

Below is a list of major Volta–Niger branches and their primary locations in Nigeria based on Blench.
BranchPrimary locations
AkpesAkoko North LGA, Ondo State
Ayere–AhanIjumu LGA, Kogi State
GbeBadagry LGA, Lagos State and adjacent areas
YoruboidSouthwestern and Central Nigeria
EdoidRivers, Edo, Ondo, Delta and Bayelsa States
AkokoAkoko North LGA, Ondo State
IgboidSoutheastern Nigeria, Rivers and Delta States
NupoidNiger, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa States
OkoOgori/Magongo LGA, Kogi State
IdomoidBenue, Cross River, Nasarawa States
UkaanAkoko North LGA, Ondo State, Akoko Edo LGA, Edo state

Comparative vocabulary

Sample basic vocabulary in different Volta–Niger branches:
Languageeyeearnosetoothtonguemouthbloodbonetreewatereatname
Yorubaojúetíimúeyínahọ́nẹnuẹ̀jẹegungunigiomijẹorúkọ
Proto-Yoruboid*e-jú*e-tĩ́*ɪ-ŋmʊ̃́*e-ɲĩ́*ʊ-ɓã́*a-rʊ̃ã*ɛ̀-byɛ̀*V-k'ĩk'ũ*e-gĩ *o-mĩ*jɛ*o-ɗú
Proto-Yoruboid*éjú*étí*ímṵ́*éŋḭ́Yor. ahá̰*ɛ́lṵ ?*ɛ̀gyɛ̀*égbṵ́gbṵ́Yor. igi*ómḭ*jɛṵ*órú- ?
Proto-Edoid*dhI-dhω*ghU-chɔGɪ*I-chuəNi; *-chuveNi*dhI-kωN*U-dhamhɪ*A-nuə*U-ɟɪ-, -ɟɪa*U-thaNɪ*A-mɪN*dhɪ*dhI-ni
Proto-Gbe*-tó*aɖú*-ɖɛ́*-ɖũ; *-ɖũkpá*-ʁʷũ*-χʷú*-tĩ́*-tsĩ*ɖu*yĩ́kɔ́
Akoko ódʒùotouw̃ɔ̃̀éɲì̃ɛŕɛ̀õrũɛ̀dʒɛ̀ɛ̀dʒɛ̀ɔ́hɔ̃̄edʒĩdʒō
Proto-Akpes; Akpes *èyò*àsùgù*àhũ*ìyũ*ìndàlì*onuìkɔ̃̀nɔhuniimiìmũ̀nũ̀
Ayereɛ́jɛ́éndíówṹéyĩ́únúanuèʃwèegbeoŋwuoyinʃeéwú
Ahanewúéndíowũeɲĩirɛ̃́arũèsèigbegbeoɲĩ
Proto-Nupoid*e-wie*CV-tuNukpua*V-bhʊə*jiNkɔN*a-giNtara*V-giə*CV-kiukuNu*V-cigbɔNa*nuNŋʷa*gi*CV-jɛ
Proto-Ebiroid*e-ji*ʊ-tɔkpa*a-ʃɪ*a-ɲɪ*ɪra-rɛ*aɲa*ʧʊku*ɔ-tʃɪ*e-ɲi*rɪ*ɪrɛ-ʃa
Okoáɲẽ́ɔ́tɔ̃́ɔ́mɔ́dɔ́rɛ̀írúɛ́làárɛ́ówóɛ́ŋɔ̂ófúesámaébíjéíwúrù
Proto-Idomoid*eyi*ʊrʊ/a-*eŋgwu*ìmàǹjī*ìmànyì; *ma-yeni ?*ri*ɛɲɪ
Proto-Ukaan*ìdʒì*ʊrʊgV*ɔ̀kɔ̃́rɔ̃̀*ʊ̀ɲʊ̀gV; jɔ̀r*ɛ̀ɲʊ̃́*òŋʷṍ*ùɲṹ*òɣʷó*ɔ̀hʊ̃́nṽ*ùmɔ̃̀*jé*ìnĩ́
Proto-Benue–Congo*-lito*-tuŋi*-zua*-nini, *-nino; *-sana; *-gaŋgo *-lemi; *-lake*-zi; *-luŋ*-kupe*-titi; *-kwon*-izi ; *-ni *-zina

Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
ClassificationLanguage12345678910
AkpesAkpesíɡbōn / ēkìnìīdīanīsāsīnīŋīʃōnītʃānāsītʃēnētʃānāānīŋɔ̀kpɔ̄lɔ̀ʃīyōf
Defoid, AkokoidAriɡidi
Defoid, AkokoidÒɡè
Defoid, Ayere-AhanAyere ĩ̀kã̌ìd͡ʒìītāĩ̄jẽ̄ĩ̄tṹìfàīd͡ʒʷīīrōĩ̄dã̂īɡʷá
Defoid, Ayere-AhanAyuɪdɪahwa /afahataaranaŋaʃatuɡenatɛɛrataraŋaʃ anababoɡ atuluboɡ iʃoɡ / ajalaboɡ
Defoid, Yoruboid, EdekiriCabe ɔ̀kɛ̃mɛ̃́d͡ʒìmɛ̃́tamɛ̃́hɛ̃mɛ́húmɛ̃́fàméd͡ʒemɛ̃́d͡ʒɔmɛ̃́sɛ̃́mɛ̃́wá
Defoid, Yoruboid, EdekiriEde Ica ɔkɔ̃eɟiɛtaɛ̃ɛ̃ɛwuɛfaɛɟɛɛɟɔɛsɔ̃ɛya
Defoid, Yoruboid, EdekiriIdaca òbúméd͡ʒimɛ́tamírĩmɛrúmɛ́fàméd͡ʒemɛ́d͡ʒɔmɛ́sãmaa
Defoid, Yoruboid, EdekiriIfè ɛnɛ́méèdzìmɛ́ɛtamɛ́ɛrɛ̃mɛ́ɛrúmɛ́ɛfàméedzemɛ́ɛdzɔmɛsã́maá
Defoid, Yoruboid, EdekiriIfè ɛ̀nɛ / ɔ̀kɔ̃̀méèdzìmɛ́ɛtamɛ́ɛrɛ̃mɛ́ɛrúmɛ́ɛfàméedzemɛ́ɛdzɔmɛsã́maá
Defoid, Yoruboid, EdekiriUlukwumiɔ̀kɑ̃mɛ́zìmɛ́tɑmɛ́rɛ̃mɛ́rúmɛ́fɑ̀mézemɛ́zɔmɛ̀hɑ̃́mɛ́ɡʷɑ́
Defoid, Yoruboid, EdekiriYorubaoókan eéjì ẹẹ́ta ẹẹ́rin aárùn-ún ẹẹ́fà eéje ẹẹ́jọ ẹẹ́sàn-án ẹẹ́wàá
Defoid, Yoruboid, IgalaIgala éɲɛ́ / ǒkâèdʒìɛ̀taɛ̀lɛ̀ɛ̀lúɛ̀fàèbʲeɛ̀dʒɔɛ̀láɛ̀ɡʷá
Defoid, Yoruboid, IgalaIgala ínyé̩ èjì ẹ̀tā ẹ̀lè̩ è̩lú ẹ̀fè̩ ẹ̀biē ẹ̀jọ̄ ẹ̀lá ẹ̀ɡwá
UkaanUkaan ʃíwātāːs / hrāhrnāʲ / nāhrʊ̀ːn / tòːnhràdáhránèʃìnàːnáʲ / nàːnáhráòʃìòpú *
Edoid, DeltaDegemaɔβʊ́iβə́sáj inísúwón jɪ́sa síjéβə anɪ́ əsí əɡ͡beɲ
Edoid, DeltaEngenniávʊ̀ívàɛ́sààínìììsyònìɛ̀nyísàìsyovàɛ̀nʊ̀màníàvʊ́mó íɡ͡bèì
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-OraẸdo òwó èvá ́èhá èné ìsén or ??èhàn ìhírọ̃n ̃èrẹ̀nrẹ̀n ìhìnrín ìɡ͡bé
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-OraEdo ɔ̀k͡pá / òwo èváèháènɛ́ìsɛ́něhànìhinrɔ̀nèrɛ̀nrɛ́nìhìnrínìɡ͡bé
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-OraEmai ɔ̀k͡paèvàèéàèélèìíhìɛ̀nèéhànìhíɔ́nèɛ́nìsínìɡ͡bé
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-OraEsanɔ̀k͡páèváéàénɛ̃̀ìsɛ̃́éhã́ìhĩ́lɔ̃̀èlɛ̃́lɛ̃̀ĩ̀sɪ̃́lɪ̃̀ìɡ͡bé
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-YekheeEtsako ọkpa eva ela ejiẹ ise esa isevha eleeh ithi iɡbe ̄
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-YekheeGhotuoɔ̀k͡pāèvāèēsàèēnèìīʒè / ìīʒìèìjhēhà / ìēhà jh = a week, vdìhīɲã̄ènhīē nh = n̥ voiceless n ?ìsīìɡ͡bē LM͡L
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-YekheeOkphela oɡ͡ɣʷo ˥˩ ˨evɑ ˨ ˧esɛ ˧ ˨ene ˧ ˨iʃe ˧ ˨esesa ˨ ˧ ˨iʃilʷɑ ˨ ˧ ˨elele ˨ ˩˥ ˨itili ˨ ˩˥ ˧iɡ͡be ˨ ˧
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-YekheeIvbie-North-Okphele-Arhe oɣuoevaesɛeneiʃieesesaiʃiluaeleleitiliiɡ͡be
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-YekheeOsosooɡwo eva esa ene ichie esesa ifuena inyenye isini iɡbe
Edoid, Northwestern, SouthernOkpamheriɔkpaevaesaenenisheeazaizuonuaɛnienisieiɡ͡be
Edoid, SouthwesternIsoko ɔvʊɪ́vɛɪ́saɪ́nɪɪ́sɔɪɪ́zɪ́zaɪ́hɾɛɪ́rɪ́ːɪ́zɪ́ːɪ́kpe
Edoid, SouthwesternIsoko ọvụịvẹịsạịnịisoiịzịzaihrẹịrịịiziiikpe
Edoid, SouthwesternUrhoboɔ̀vòǐvɛ̀ěràɛ̌nèǐjòɾĩ̀ěsã́ǐɣwɾɛ̃́ɛ̌ɾéɾẽǐríɾĩǐxwè
Igboid, EkpeyeEkpeyenwùrnér, ŋìnɛ́ɓɨ̂bɔ́ bh = IPA ɓɨ́tɔ́ ir = IPA ɓɨ́nɔ̂ o̠r = IPA ɓísêɓísûɓɨ́sábɔ̀ɓɨ́sátɔ́ɓɨ́sánɔ̂ or nàzáma or nàzáma ɗiɗì dh = IPA
Igboid, IgboIgbo ótùàbʊ̄ɔ́àtɔ́ànɔ́ìséìsiìàsáààsátɔ́ìtólúìri
Igboid, IgboÉchiè Igbo otùàbʊ̀ɔ́ ~ m̀bʊ̀ɔ̀ ~ nam̀̀tɔ ~ àtɔnɔ ~ ànɔse~ ìseʃiì ~ ìʃiìsaà ~ àsaàsatɔ̄ ~ àsatɔ̄totū ~ ìtolūìri
Igboid, IgboIgbo otùàbʊɔ́àtɔànɔìseìsiìàsaààsatɔ́ìtolú, ̀tolúìri
Igboid, IgboIkwereótùɛ̀bɔ̀ɛ̀tɔ́ɛ̀nɔ̂ìsẽ̂ìsínùɛ̀sâɛ̀sátɔ́tólúǹrí
OkoOko ɔ̀ɔ́rɛ / ɔ̀jɛ́rɛɛ̀bɔ̀rɛ̀ɛ̀taɛ̀naùpiɔ̀pɔ́nɔ̀ɔ́rɛ *úfɔ́mbɔ̀rɛ̀ *ɔ̀nɔ́kɔ́nɔkɔ́nɔùbɔ́ɔ̀rɛ̀ *ɛ̀fɔ
Nupoid, Ebira-GadeEbiraɔ̀ɔ̀nyɪ̄ɛ̀ɛ̀vāɛ̀ɛ̀táɛ̀ɛ̀nàɛ̀ɛ̀hɪ́hɪ̋nɔ̋nyɪ̄ hɪ̋m̋bā hɪ̋n̋tá hɪ̋ǹnà ɛ̀ɛ̀wʊ́
Nupoid, Nupe-Gbagyi, Gbagyi-GbariGbariɡ͡bᵐaːɾíŋʷã̂baŋʷã̂t͡ʃaŋʷã̂ɲiŋʷã̂tⁿùtⁿúwĩ tⁿâba tⁿẫ̂t͡ʃa tⁿâɲi ŋʷã̂wò
Nupoid, Nupe-Gbagyi, NupeKakandaɡúníɡúbàɡútáɡúniɡútũɡútuaɲĩ̀ ɡútuabà ɡútòtá ɡútuani ɡúwo
Nupoid, Nupe-Gbagyi, NupeNupeniníɡúbàɡútáɡúniɡútsũɡútswàɲĩ ɡútwàbà ɡútotá ɡútwã̀ni ɡúwo
Idomoid, Akweya, EloyiEloyi ńɡwònzéńɡwòpóńɡwòláńɡwòndóńɡwolɔ́ńɡwɔ̀rɛ́nyíńɡwòrówóńɡwòràndáńɡwòròndóúwó
Idomoid, Akweya, EloyiEloyi ònzéòpāōláōndōɔ̄lɔ̀ o̠= ɔōròwòɔ̀rɛ̀nyiōràndáòròndōūwó
Idomoid, Akweya, EloyiEloyi ònzéòpāōláōndōō̠lò̠ōròwòò̠rɛ̀nyiōràndáòròndōūwó
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, IdomaAgatuóyè ẹ̀pà ẹ̀tá ẹ̀nẹ̀ ẹ̀họ́ ẹ̀hílí àhápà àhàtá àhànè ìɡwó
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, IdomaAlagoójeèpàètaènɛ̀ɛ̀hɔìhirìàhapààhatáàhánɛ̀ìɡʷó
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, IdomaIdomaéyè ẹpà ẹtá ẹhẹ ẹhọ ẹhili àhapà àhátá àhánẹ iɡwó
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, IdomaIgedeóòk͡pók͡póhîmíìyèhītāīnêhērʊ̄ / īrʊ̄īrʷɔ̀nyɛ̀īrùyèhīnêkúhìhíkítʃúīwō
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, IdomaYalaósèɛ̀pàɛ̀taɛ̀nɛ̀èrwɔèríwiàrapààratáàranɛ̀ìɡwó